Organizational Culture and Changes of Command
Abstract
The culture of a military organization provides the commander with a powerful tool with which to achieve success by outlining the values, systems, and procedures that the unit uses to succeed. The incoming commander needs to understand what organizational culture is, how it functions, what it does, and how to change it in order to maximize individual and organizational success during his or her command tour. Immediately following the change of command, a new commander, eager to accomplish as much as possible in the next twenty-four month, may ignore the existing culture and attempt to install familiar values, systems, and procedures that produced success in the past. While these cultural attributes may have worked in his or her previous unit, they may not be appropriate to or accepted by new unit. A new commander will expend significant effort overcoming the resistance to change caused by the sudden shift in the organization's culture. Alternatively, the new commander can use the limited time and effort available to work within the existing culture, making changes where required, to achieve personal and organizational success.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 26, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA236818
Entities
People
- Michael A. Ellicott
Organizations
- United States Army War College