I have written frequently about problem workplaces, but have not discussed the important fact that most of these started out as desirable places to work. In fact, almost all of the companies I worked for were, or had been at one time, a fantastic place to build a career.<\/p>\n
From what I observed, some of the problem workplaces I encountered actually provided stimulating and rewarding work environments before their decline occurred and there were common patterns in almost every decline. <\/p>\n
Even the best working environments can become unhealthy if the corporate culture sickens and dies after repeated attacks from within. If management does not realize what a treasure they have in their corporate culture, they may stand idly by while new executives uproot and destroy it. Some executives may not even recognize the power of the
\ncorporate culture, perhaps because they had little part in creating it. <\/p>\n
The corporate culture is the informal agreement on how the company is being run. <\/em><\/p>\n Ask any sociologist what happens when you mess with the mores and folkways of a group. (cue the disaster music…)<\/p>\n The corporate culture is created by the combined actions of the The fast growth of some companies brings new managers on These new, second generation, management people are often drawn from They are often better at playing politics than the original staff, They may be sincere and dedicated, but the harder they work to Eventually they transform the company into a soulless industrial machine and everything is perfect!<\/p>\n At this point, the most capable employees have long since been seeking positions elsewhere.<\/p>\n If the original management does not recover its senses and take If you have worked for a company that went through this transformation, I’d be interested in your comments.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I have written frequently about problem workplaces, but have not discussed the important fact that most of these started out as desirable places to work. In fact, almost all of the companies I worked for were, or had been at one time, a fantastic place to build a career.<\/p>\n From what I observed, some of the problem workplaces I encountered actually provided stimulating and rewarding work environments before their decline occurred and there were common patterns in almost every decline. <\/p>\n Even the best working environments can become unhealthy if the corporate culture sickens and dies after repeated attacks from within. If management does not realize what a treasure they have in their corporate culture, they may stand idly by while new executives uproot and destroy it. Some executives may not even recognize the power of the The corporate culture is the informal agreement on how the company is being run. <\/em><\/p>\n Ask any sociologist what happens when you mess with the mores and folkways of a group. (cue the disaster music…)<\/p>\n
\nemployees and executives during the early life of the company. The
\nrituals and values that are created through the struggles of early
\ncompany life are a powerful bond that ensures cooperation and mutual
\nsupport. They facilitate communication of necessary information upwards
\nand downwards throughout the organization.<\/p>\n
\nboard who know little of these rituals and their importance. When these
\nvalues are unknown or ignored by these second generation managers, the
\nworkforce is given notice that they no longer have a voice in company
\naffairs. <\/p>\n
\nlarge corporations with feudal corporate cultures. They bring their
\n"efficiency-based" culture with them and make little attempt to
\nunderstand or make use of the culture which has made the company
\nsuccessful.<\/p>\n
\nso they rise to positions where they can do real damage to the
\ncorporation they were brought in to assist.<\/p>\n
\norganize and staticise things, and reduce every activity to numbers,
\nthe closer they come to killing off the original company culture.<\/p>\n
\nsteps to restore some of the early corporate culture, the company
\nbecomes one of the problem workplaces I have described elsewhere.<\/p>\n
\ncorporate culture, perhaps because they had little part in creating it. <\/p>\n