The Corporate Culture Survival Guide

No, it's not. In The Corporate Culture Survival Guide, Edgar Schein reveals how that's merely the tip of the iceberg, an iceberg that managers ignore at the peril of their company's future. Underneath lies the much-harder-to-grasp "essence" of the company, the "learned, shared, tacit assumptions on which people base their daily behavior." These assumptions are learned over time and in different internal and external environments, becoming, as Schein puts it, the "residue of success." As these assumptions influence all aspects of how a company functions, discovering their nature and cause is vital to the success of any new organization-wide venture or strategy. In the second half of the book, Schein illustrates how, using this knowledge, a company's culture can be deliberately created or changed. Supported by numerous case-study examples, his advice is pertinent to startups, mature companies, and blended organizations.

If you're the type of manager that needs a quick-fix solution, with simple catch phrases and an easy Five Step Program to Success, this book is not for you. Nor are the benefits to be gained from acquiring the depth of knowledge and insight needed to understand, work with, and transform your corporate culture. Using intelligent, lucid prose, Schein provides this kind of insight and more; he tells cautionary as well as inspiring tales of what this insight can mean for your company, and offers useful suggestions for putting knowledge into practice. --S. Ketchum

Product Description
Corporate culture pioneer Edgar H. Schein gets back to basics and delivers a dynamite primer on changing cultures packed with practical advice. Here, Schein separates the sense from the nonsense regarding culture change theory and practice and tells in plain terms how readers can assess their organization to determine if its current culture fits its people and products. He then examines corporate culture on three levels--behaviors, values, and shared assumptions--and shows how each factors into change initiatives. Framed around the questions managers ask most often, the book uses case studies to show what successful change looks like and to demonstrate how you can dismantle a dysfunctional culture.

A Warren Bennis Book

Dr. Michael Beitler
Author of "Strategic Organizational Change"


The corporate culuture survial guide   April 3, 2003
3 out of 14 found this review helpful

This book summarize the content of corporate culture very good and provide me with culture concept.


Insightful!   May 30, 2001
Rolf Dobelli (Luzern Switzerland)
18 out of 19 found this review helpful

Edgar H. Schein provides an excellent conceptual explanation of culture in general and corporate culture in particular. He shows how cultures arise and explains why it is so hard to examine and change an embedded culture. He also lays out practical plans for assessing culture. These plans are not simple or easy, but they promise great reward if carefully followed. Case studies illustrate the concepts and show how corporate problems can be seen in terms of culture. The first half of the book, which lays out the concepts of culture, is especially clear. The second half, which examines cultural issues in various kinds of organizations, uses more jargon and is a bit murkier. Overall, we [...] recommend this book as especially useful for anyone dealing with change, be it moving to a new organization, considering or coping with a merger or acquisition, or even planning to work with people from another group, company or background.



With all thy getting, get understanding   April 18, 2001
9 out of 15 found this review helpful

What an absolutely brillant book!

How many people do you know spend time agonizing over something said or an action taken by someone in Senior Management ? How many people do you know who spend time wrestling with stated "values" in light of mixed messages from members of Senior Management ?

Vex no more! Mr Schein does an fantastic job helping readers change their thought paradigms. How often do books like this come around ? IT is a classic, add it to your library which should already have Drucker, Juran, Deming, Crosby, Weinberg, Maxwell, Covey and Nadler works. Some may find this a bit difficult to read, but endure, focus your thoughts and reap the enormous benefits!!