Leading Organizational Culture

Abstract

The literature on educational leadership and management has referred to culture since at least the 1970s. Despite the concept’s mention in over one-third of articles written in this journal, there has been little in-depth engagement with how leaders might influence it and the ethical issues involved. The article argues that leadership must engage with culture as a key mediator of power within organizations. Four levels of cultural activity are suggested: the cultural context created by global phenomena; the cultures of local communities; the organizational culture; and the sub- and counter-cultures within the organization. The article considers a bifurcation in the skills assumed necessary to respond to, on one hand, multi- or intra-culture and, on the other, organizational culture. The article suggests that the degree of perceived difference from norms dictates leaders' orientation to and engagement with culture, with cultural competence generally promoted only in relation to multicultural issues. It concludes that leaders are currently ill-served by encouragement to focus on aligning the organization’s members to a single, strong culture and that the persistent surface engagement with culture may perpetuate inequalities. The need to move leaders to engage more deeply with the power and complexity of culture is indicated.