Establishing a culture of continuous improvement
This article will provide an overview of organisational culture and how it is created and the practical steps that can be taken in order to shape it. An organisation's culture has a significant impact on its ability react to market changes, create innovative products and services, and adopt efficient processes and practices. This paper is for managers in a variety of organizations who want practical advice and information that will help them create an environment that allows them to adopt continuous improvement methods such as Six Sigma, Lean and Continuous Improvement. Definition of Organizational Culture A company's culture is a collection of all the beliefs, values, assumptions, principles and myths that guide individuals and groups in their thinking, decisions, and performance. Edgar Schein (MIT), who is credited for inventing the term "Corporate Culture", stated in his book Organizational Culture & Leadership (2nd edition, 1992, Jossey-Bass), that culture is ...