It is this focus on changing the organization's culture from which the State Department could learn the most. Working at Caterpillar, I saw the strong emphasis placed on fostering a culture in which employees are given the authority, tools, and resources to do their best work. These values are not unique to Caterpillar, but are exhibited at most other successful organizations, both in the private and public sectors. Open Communication . Listening to employees was a centerpiece of Caterpillar's culture change effort.
Employee satisfaction is measured in twice-yearly surveys.
Decision-making at Caterpillar was consistently pushed down to the lowest possible bureaucratic rung through decentralizing and delayering. Robotic carts deliver inter-office mail at Caterpillar's headquarters, freeing up employees to take on more challenging responsibilities. Risk Taking . Caterpillar recognizes that the real risk lies in not challenging and improving processes. Sense of Urgency .