Making Strategy Work: Leading Effective Execution and Change, Second Edition

Chapter 8. Managing Culture and Culture Change

Introduction

Managing culture is important to strategy execution. A solid alignment of culture and execution methods fosters execution success, while a misalignment can create horrendous problems.

James Burke, a past CEO of Johnson & Johnson, was emphatic and succinct years ago when he explained his company’s outstanding performance and ability to handle crises by stating that, “Our culture is really it.” Even at the time of his death in 2012, J&J still focused on its “Credo” as a statement of culture and how to compete and treat customers and employees. Culture is alive, openly discussed, and important at J&J. We can add a simple fact to Burke’s statement: Culture can make a big difference in ...