The Game is Afoot: Organizational Culture Assessment by Sherlock Holmes
Like the legendary Sherlock Holmes, leaders can use deductive reasoning to uncover their organization's true culture. Holmes' method of drawing conclusions from specific observations is surprisingly effective for understanding organizational culture.
As Holmes noted in A Study in Scarlet, "From a drop of water... (you can) infer the possibility of an Atlantic or a Niagara." Similarly, your company's culture reveals itself through observable "clues" or cultural artifacts like:
· Rules (both explicit and implicit)
· Behavioral norms
· Dress codes
· Office environment
· Rituals and traditions
· Company "urban legends"
· Industry jargon
Consider this real-world example: Compare a high-end retailer like Nordstrom with a thrift store like Goodwill. Beyond price differences, notice the lighting, merchandise presentation, employee-customer interactions, staff attire, and overall ambiance. These artifacts reveal distinct cultures; neither is "wrong" but designed for different purposes.
Among other things, my workshop explores these concepts further, including Holmes' use of "deductive syllogism" as a practical tool for cultural analysis. Interested in learning more? Let's talk about bringing this workshop to your organization!
