Making Organizational Culture Great: Moving Beyond Popular Beliefs - Jennifer Chatman & Glenn R. Carroll

Making Organizational Culture Great: Moving Beyond Popular Beliefs

(Authors: Jennifer Chatman & Glenn R. Carroll)

A groundbreaking, research-backed guide by world-renowned management experts that debunks common workplace myths and reveals how to use culture as a powerful strategic asset.

Despite extensive evidence proving that culture directly impacts business performance and the bottom line, many leaders remain skeptical or uncertain about how to effectively shape it. Is culture too vague to measure objectively? Do executives merely try to force values onto employees? How can companies ensure valuable employees aren't left out by the dominant culture?

In Making Organizational Culture Great, psychologist Jennifer A. Chatman and sociologist Glenn R. Carroll draw on decades of social-science research to evaluate and debunk widespread misconceptions. Moving beyond superficial perks like free snacks and team retreats, they redefine culture as a rigorous social control mechanism that aligns employee behaviors with organizational goals.

Featuring real-world case studies from leading global corporations and non-profits—including Apple, Netflix, Google, Disney, Ford, Cisco, and Southwest Airlines—Chatman and Carroll provide actionable levers to build, maintain, and adapt a high-performing culture that drives long-term success.

Key Features:

• Grounded in Rigorous Science: Blends psychological and sociological research to provide empirical, data-driven frameworks for managing culture.

• Debunks Popular Workplace Myths: Evaluates common misconceptions around cultural change, alignment, and employee retention.

• Culture as a Hard Strategic Tool: Explains how culture functions as a mechanism for social control, strategic execution, and operational performance.

• Real-World Corporate Examples: Packed with practical insights and case studies from companies like Apple, Netflix, Ford, and Southwest Airlines.

• Essential Guide for Leaders & HR Executives: A vital masterclass for CEOs, HR leaders, corporate strategists, consultants, and management students.