Why you Should Change an Organizational Culture Slowly

      
			              Forum
			            
							              44

		            		Jaap de Jonge
Editor, Netherlands
			            
Why you Should Change an Organizational Culture Slowly

	          		You consistently hear lots of people talking about the need to change the culture of organizations. Technology-oriented people in particular stress the need to do so quickly, radically and even totally.
But in my opinion, it is normally advisable to proceed slowly / gradually when attempting to change an existing organizational culture.

Reasons for not changing organization cultures fast / abruptly are that the RESISTANCE TO SUCH CHANGE is likely to increase if:
The changes are more comprehensive or faster;
The changes intervene deeper in the private life of people;
The people involved are less aware of the reasons for the change;
The current culture is stronger.
X

							  			Welcome to the Changing Organization Cultures forum. The topic being discussed here is: "Why you Should Change an Organizational Culture Slowly". 
										
Get access to all of our 900 knowledge centers about management.  Join more than 1,000,000 other members. 

										Log in

Comments

																	  	Sort by date
																	  	Sort by rating
																		
Rating

										              8

						            	Graham Williams
Management Consultant, South Africa
												
				                Why You Should Change an Organizational Culture Slowly

													The larger the organization, the more likely will there be a variety of sub cultures - and changes n... Sign up
				              
										              5

						            	Paramathmuni srinivas Kumar
India
												
				                Stress Levels Will Be Under Control

													A change at any part of organization will have consequences for every other part of the organization... Sign up
				              
										              6

						            	Maurice Hogarth
Consultant, United Kingdom
												
				                Changing Culture Carefully

													People accept change that is personally advantageous. If there is "something in it for me" then it w... Sign up
				              
										              6

						            	Warren D. Miller, CPA, CFA
Strategy Consultant, United States
												
				                Good Luck on Changing a Culture

													I won't say it's impossible, but, most of the time, the likelihood of changing the culture of a comp... Sign up
				              
										              3

						            	Tom Wilson
HR Consultant, United States
												
				                Good Luck, Indeed: Cultural Transformation is crap.

													@Warren Miller, CFA, CPA: Trotsky observed that trying to transform a culture is like trying to resu... Sign up
				              
										              9

						            	Javier Elenes
Business Consultant, Mexico
												
				                The SIZE Is More Relevant than the PACE of the Change

													The pace of the change (fast or slow) is not a decision of the executives of the organization. It is... Sign up
				              
										              7

						            	Gregory Johnson
Coach, United States
												
				                Careful Dance of (Culture) Change...

													It would seem that someone is always promoting CHANGE in many features of an organization. I always ... Sign up
				              
										              3

						            	Samuell Yew
Project Manager, Malaysia
												
				                Big Change / Small Changes Considerations

													Culture is a delicate and sensitive thing. It’s not visible and it’s often not discussed. So if cult... Sign up
				              
										              4

						            	Steven Keleman, Ed.D.
Management Consultant, United States
												
				                Size and Complexity Affect the Pace of Culture Change

													By its very nature, my experience is culture change often runs at its own pace. What affects any rat... Sign up
				              
										              3

						            	Graham Williams
Management Consultant, South Africa
												
				                Why You Should Change an Organization Culture Slowly

													Steven K makes good points eloquently. Depending on the size and nature of the change, pace may vary... Sign up
				              
										              4

						            	Iraklis Goniadis
Business Consultant, Greece
												
				                The Personality Matters

													The more an individual identifies himself through his role or job within an organization and not by ... Sign up
				              
										              3

						            	Qazi Ata
Consultant, Pakistan
												
				                Sub-cultures in Different Departments

													@Graham Williams: Very true, large organizations have sub-organizational cultures. It’s important to... Sign up
				              
										              6

						            	Abdourahmane DIOP
Management Consultant, Senegal
												
				                Culture (Change) Can't be Done Quickly

													A culture change does not become a reality in a day. It is the result of interactions over a longer ... Sign up
				              
										              1

						            	Tom Wilson
HR Consultant, United States
												
				                Contingency Planning and Cultural Resilence

													@Abdourahmane DIOP: Well, in general, my purpose for enriching a culture has to do with sustainabili... Sign up
				              
										              4

						            	David Figuera
Consultant, Venezuela
												
				                What are we Trying to Change Anyway?

													Inreed we must be aware that in general terms, culture does not change overnight. Thus, pretending t... Sign up
				              
										              2

						            	Mallika T R
Manager, India
												
				                Change is Constant - Whether Slow or Fast!

													Change is necessary. Change w.r.t. culture is taking place everywhere. However, there is also resist... Sign up
				              
										              4

						            	Graham Williams
Management Consultant, South Africa
												
				                Changing Organization Cultures is Needed

													Maybe I'm being simplistic, but:

	The world is changing - increasing diversification, technology ... Sign up
				              
										              10

						            	Jaap de Jonge
Editor, Netherlands
												
				                Lessons Learned About the Need to Change an Organizational Culture Slowly

													Thank you all who participated.
I'd like to summarize the key takeaways (so far) from our debate.
... Sign up
				              
										              3

						            	Jose Luis Roces
Professor, Argentina
												
				                The Leadership Process is the Key

													I agree with Jaap de Jonge’s opinion, after 25 years working as a manager on culture transformation,... Sign up
				              
										              -2

						            	William E. Linzey
Business Consultant, United States
												
				                Speed - versus - Surviving

													Changing an Organization's Culture is done for a reason. And that reason is the former culture is no... Sign up
				              
										              2

						            	Gary Wong
Consultant, Canada
												
				                Organization Culture Sometimes Changes very Quickly

													The speed of oculture change can vary. One phenomenon of a complex adaptive system is the Butterfly ... Sign up
				              
										              0

						            	Maurice Hogarth
Consultant, United Kingdom
												
				                Cultural Evolution or Trauma

													Culture is a consequence of: the Senior Managers’ behaviour x Environmental turbulences.
The changi... Sign up
				              
										              4

						            	David Wilson
Manager, Canada
												
				                Is the Existing Culture Toxic, Poor, Bureaucratic or Flexible and Innovative?

													In organizations with toxic cultures, change must be quick and decisive.
In poor cultures, the prob... Sign up
				              
										              2

						            	Mariano Talanchuk
HR Consultant, Argentina
												
				                Size, culture and complexity.

													@Javier Elenes:  Size is important, but each specific culture has its own rhythm and cadence of chan... Sign up
				              
										              1

						            	William E. Linzey
Business Consultant, United States
												
				                Reply to David Wilson

													@David Wilson: Well said, David. The purpose of changing organizational culture is due to a challeng... Sign up
				              
										              2

						            	Michael Norris
Director, United States
												
				                Culture is Deep-Rooted

													@Warren Miller, CPA, CFA:
“Culture eats strategy for breakfast” is a famous quote from legendary ma... Sign up
				              
										              2

						            	Molokanova
Professor, Ukraine
												
				                Change of Organizational Culture

													I completely agree with the majority of the authors. A culture change does not become a reality in a... Sign up
				              
										              0

						            	Franco Savanco
Entrepreneur, Argentina
												
				                Why you Should Change an Organizational Culture Slowly

													The matter here is why we should do it slowly, rather than questioning if doing is the right move or... Sign up
				              
										              1

						            	Philippe Guenet
Coach, United Kingdom
												
				                Changing the Culture is Left to the Dispositionality of People

													Changing culture makes big headlines at the moment and the dominant narrative in Agile is the about ... Sign up
				              
										              2

						            	Serghei Dascalu
Strategy Consultant, Ukraine
												
				                Corporate Culture = DNA

													Corporate culture is often described as the DNA of an organization. Of course, we now have genetical... Sign up
				              
										              1

						            	Cebile Sifundza
Student (Other), Swaziland
												
				                Change in Organizations

													People by nature resist change. Therefore, change has to come slowly in a sense that you must first ... Sign up
				              
										              2

						            	D. Liely
United States
												
				                Leadership Process

													@Jose Luis Roces: I agree the culture of the organization flows from Leadership and the type of lead... Sign up
				              
										              1

						            	David Wilson
Manager, Canada
												
				                Cultural Change Involves People

													Whenever an organization creates change, it needs to follow a strategy and it needs a plan. Most of ... Sign up
				              
										              1

						            	Dr. Winston Lynch
Director, United States
												
				                Organizational Cultural Change Must be on the Continuum

													Examining and understanding the culture of the organization is a significant part of the change effo... Sign up
				              
										              0

						            	Warren D. Miller, CPA, CFA
Strategy Consultant, United States
												
				                Re: Corporate Culture = DNA (Serghei Dascalu)

													@Serghei Dascalu: Thank you for your post, Serghei. I appreciate your take on why a company is succe... Sign up
				              
										              1

						            	Dr. Obaid Aldarmaki
Lecturer, United Arab Emirates
												
				                Practical Topic

													Sometimes bringing up changes to the organization in a fast track can be considered, for instance if... Sign up
				              
										              2

						            	Jayaram
India
												
				                How to Change Organisational Culture

													The need to change the organizational culture must be well thought off at management level. Communic... Sign up
				              
										              3

						            	Mrs. Sayran Ghafuri
Coach, Iraq
												
				                What Time Does it Take for a Cultural Change in an Organization?

													Is it possible to determine / estimate the period of time that the organization needs for cultural c... Sign up
				              
										              2

						            	Molokanova
Professor, Ukraine
												
				                Culture Change and Sustainable Development

													The link between strategy and culture should be well established. So, if the strategy changes, then ... Sign up
				              
										              1

						            	Borje Vickberg
Sweden
												
				                Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast!

													It is difficult and sometimes impossible to change the culture of an organization. Sometimes it is w... Sign up
				              
										              3

						            	SHAIQ ALI MIRZA
Manager, Pakistan
												
				                Why you Should Change an Organizational Culture Slowly

													In my view everything needs to be changed positively with the passage of time and living in their cr... Sign up
				              
										              3

						            	Gary Wong
Consultant, Canada
												
				                Different Systems (Environments) that Organizations Face

													@Mrs.Sayran Ghafuri: All organizations encounter 3 basic systems in the real world: Order, Complex, ... Sign up
				              
										              2

						            	Mrs. Sayran Ghafuri
Coach, Iraq
												
				                Cultural Change is Affected by Emotions

													@Gary Wong: Mr. Gary, you have provided a good explanation. I agree with you that the type of enviro... Sign up
				              
										              1

						            	Warren D. Miller, CPA, CFA
Strategy Consultant, United States
												
				                A Question, if you don't Mind. . 

													@Gary Wong: What's with 'Order" and "Complex" and "Chaotic"? Why do you list one noun and two adject... Sign up
				              
										              2

						            	carlos peritus
Business Consultant, United Kingdom
												
				                Start Faster with Rapid Cycle Projects and Then Share it and Scale Up the Change

													From my direct experience with business transformation, the use of cross-functional teams in Rapid c... Sign up
				              
										              1

						            	Anonymous
												
				                Culture Rooted from the Word 'Cult'

													Culture Rooted from the Word 'Cult'. Cult in turn comprises of two broad elements.
1. Beliefs Syste... Sign up
				              
Leave a comment

		                            More on Changing Organization Cultures:
		                          
													            	Summary
													            
												              Discussion Topics
												            
		                          	How can we MEASURE Mindset Change?
👀Why you Should Change an Organizational Culture Slowly
Changing Organization Cultures: What is the Critical Element to Start?
How to Change Bad Norms or Behaviors of your Team?
Is Culture Change not Manipulating Employees?
Organization Cultures Have to Change
What is Organisational Culture?
Culture Change and Coalitions
Engage People in Vision, Strategy and Culture Change
The Leader's Role in Culture Change
Change in 3rd World Countries Vs. Developed World
Changing Culture Through Working on TRUST
Organizational Culture and Intellectual Capital System
🔥Shaping Organization Culture through Stories
Unoffical Leaders and Cultural Change
Organizational Development and Organizational Culture

		                              Special Interest Group
		                            
Do you know a lot about Changing Organization Cultures? Become our SIG Leader