The pressures applied by top management and oversight entities are instrumental in clearly defining and communicating the need for improved program operations and, most important, in redefining the organizational culture.
Defining the needs is very important. 
mnli hypothesis: Defining the needs is very important.  premise: The pressures applied by top management and oversight entities are instrumental in clearly defining and communicating the need for improved program operations and, most important, in redefining the organizational culture.