The dimensions of adaptive cultures presented below are derived from field studies of organizations attempting to obtain radical gains in productivity and satisfaction. These studies were performed in existing organizations. They were not start-ups or new ventures. At one level a culture is a set of shared norms, values, and beliefs. At another, it has consequences for our behavior, both as individuals and when we cooperate with one another in groups.
Adaptive cultures specify new ways of thinking, acting, and cooperating.
The Thinking Dimensions There are three new ways of thinking that characterize adaptive cultures. The concept is similar to, but broader than, customer focus. External focus is chosen to indicate that everyone concentrates on delivering critical outputs and services to groups and organizations that are outside their segment of the organization. This is also different from the thinking that dominated the 1980s. In Stage I and II organizations, goals were much more important than processes.