Understanding Organizational Culture through Schein's Model, by Jonathan H. Westover PhD

The HCL Review Podcast

Abstract: This article explores Edgar Schein's influential model of organizational culture and its application for business leaders seeking to assess and influence culture within their industries. Schein defines culture as having three levels - artifacts, espoused values, and basic underlying assumptions. By examining culture through this framework, leaders gain a nuanced understanding of both visible and unconscious drivers of employee behaviors and organizational dynamics. The article discusses how leaders can analyze each level of culture and provides industry examples from healthcare and higher education. It argues that understanding culture's deeper roots allows leaders to intentionally shape artifacts and espoused values in a way that aligns all levels and helps evolve basic assumptions over time. Using Schein's model, leaders are equipped with a practical tool for purposefully examining and impacting their unique organizational culture to cultivate high performance, fulfill missions, and drive business success.