Culture is not a surface phenomenon, it is our very care
Edgar ScheinRead
Culture is the deeper level of basic assumptions and beliefs that are shared by members of an organization, that operate unconsciously and define in a basic 'taken for granted' fashion an organization's view of its self and its environment.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Culture shapes how an organization perceives itself and interacts with its environment through shared, often unconscious beliefs.
Edgar Schein's quote highlights the fundamental role of culture within an organization. He describes culture as the underlying beliefs and assumptions that members share, which function without conscious awareness. These elements profoundly influence how the organization defines itself and responds to its surroundings, often manifesting in a way that feels self-evident to its members. Understanding this deeper layer of culture is essential for leaders aiming to guide their organizations effectively.
Themes
CultureOrganizationBeliefsAssumptionsLeadership
In practice
Example use cases
In a leadership seminar discussing organization growth, one could refer to this quote to emphasize the importance of culture.
More from Edgar Schein
All quotes →A pattern of shared basic assumptions invented, discovered, or developed by a given group as it learns to cope with its problems of external adaptation and internal integration that have worked well enough to be considered valid and therefore, to be taught to new members as the correct way to perceive, think and feel in relation to those problems.
Edgar ScheinRead
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