Creating Organizational Culture

The process of creating an organizational culture is complex. Organizational heroes, rites and rituals, and communication networks play key roles in creating organizational culture (Deal & Peterson, 1998). 

Many successful organizations have their heroes. Heroes can be born as well as created. Some are heroes who are born with a vision and creativity. Others are those the institutions has made by noticing and celebrating memorable moments that occur in the daily life of the organization. Heroes perpetuate the organization’s underlying values, providing role models, symbolizing the organization to others and to set performance standards that motivate participates achievement. In many schools, the local heroes exemplars are core values and provide models of what everyone should be striving towards (Lunenburg & Ornstein, 2000).

Another key aspect in creating organizational culture are the everyday activities and celebrations that characterize the organization. Most successful organizations feel that their rituals and symbolic actions should be managed. This can be through the administration, faculty committees and parent groups. Norms of collegiality, improvement, and connection reinforce and symbolize what the school is all about (Hopfenberg, 1995).

Stories or myths of heroes are transmitted by means of the communication network. This network is characterized by various individuals who play a role in the culture of the organization.  These can come from the school’s history and traditions via written and oral legacy.

School leaders include administration, faculty, parents and community members developing positive values and a shared vision. School leaders from every level are key to creating school culture. Principals communicate core values in their school buildings. Teachers reinforce values in their words and behaviors. Parents enhance spirit when they visit the school, attend events and participate in school governance as well as celebrate success. In the strongest school culture, leadership comes from many sources (Potter, Bulach, Fiore & Halsey, 2000).

Written by Les Potter 

Les Potter, Ed. D., is a retired educator with 35 years in US K-12 education (28 in administration), 10 years in higher education and 8+ years in international education. Currently, Les is working as a consultant and living in Cairo Egypt.