Culture is not a surface phenomenon, it is our very care
Edgar ScheinRead
A pattern of shared basic assumptions invented, discovered, or developed by a given group as it learns to cope with its problems of external adaptation and internal integration that have worked well enough to be considered valid and therefore, to be taught to new members as the correct way to perceive, think and feel in relation to those problems.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote discusses how groups develop shared beliefs and values to address challenges they face, shaping their collective identity.
Edgar Schein's quote emphasizes the importance of culture as a collective framework within a group. It highlights how shared assumptions evolve as a group learns to navigate its external challenges and internal dynamics, forming a set of beliefs that guide their perception and response to problems. These culturally ingrained values and practices are then transmitted to new members, ensuring continuity and coherence within the group.
Themes
CultureBeliefsGroup DynamicsShared AssumptionsIdentity
In practice
Example use cases
During a workshop on organizational culture, this quote can be used to illustrate how shared values shape behavior.
More from Edgar Schein
All quotes →Culture is the deeper level of basic assumptions and beliefs that are shared by members of an organization, that operate unconsciously and define in a basic 'taken for granted' fashion an organization's view of its self and its environment.
Edgar ScheinRead
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