Reframing Organizations, 3rd ed.

Chapter 14

Organizational Culture in Action

Organizational Culture in Action

The Eagle Group’s sources of success Leading principles

The Eagle Group’s Sources of Success Why do some groups produce extraordinary

results while others produce little or nothing? Play, spirit, and culture are at the core of peak

performance.

Success Principles

How someone becomes a group member is important.

Diversity provides a team’s competitive advantage.

Examples, not command, hold a team together.

A specialized language fosters cohesion and commitment.

Leading Principles (II)

Stories carry history and values and reinforce group identity.

Humor and play reduce tension and encourage creativity.

Ritual and ceremony lift spirits and reinforce values.

Leading Principles (III)

Informal cultural players make contributions disproportionate to their formal roles.

Soul is the secret of success.

Conclusion

The symbolic perspective questions traditional views on team building. Having the right structure and people is

important but not sufficient. The essence of high performance is spirit. Team building at its heart is a spiritual

undertaking.