Johnson and Scholes Cultural Web

Definition

The Johnson and Scholes Cultural Web is a model that illustrates the elements of an organization's culture, helping to understand how culture influences change and strategy. It consists of six interconnected elements: stories, rituals and routines, symbols, organizational structure, control systems, and power structures. By analyzing these components, organizations can better manage cultural aspects during change initiatives.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Cultural Web is useful for diagnosing cultural issues that may affect the success of change initiatives within an organization.
2. Each of the six elements of the Cultural Web is interrelated; a change in one can impact the others.
3. Analyzing the Cultural Web helps identify cultural strengths that can be leveraged during change management efforts.
4. Stories within an organization often shape its identity and influence employee behavior, making them a critical component of the Cultural Web.
5. The Cultural Web can be used as a diagnostic tool to highlight areas that may require adjustment to align with new strategic goals.

Review Questions

• How does the Johnson and Scholes Cultural Web model help in understanding an organization's readiness for change?
  • The Johnson and Scholes Cultural Web model helps by providing a comprehensive framework to assess various elements of an organization’s culture. By examining stories, rituals, symbols, organizational structure, control systems, and power structures, leaders can identify cultural strengths and weaknesses. This understanding allows for a more informed approach to managing change initiatives, ensuring that cultural factors are considered in strategy development.
• Discuss how each element of the Cultural Web can influence the effectiveness of change management strategies.
  • Each element of the Cultural Web plays a vital role in shaping employee perceptions and reactions to change. For instance, rituals and routines dictate how employees interact with new processes; symbols represent organizational values that can either support or hinder change. Control systems can either reinforce desired behaviors or create resistance. Finally, power structures reveal who holds influence in the organization, affecting how change is accepted or opposed. An effective change management strategy must take all these elements into account to align with organizational culture.
• Evaluate the implications of neglecting any element of the Cultural Web during a significant organizational change initiative.
  • Neglecting any element of the Cultural Web during a change initiative can lead to significant challenges and resistance. For example, if stories and rituals are overlooked, employees may feel disconnected from the organization’s mission or uncertain about new practices. Ignoring control systems may result in inadequate support for new behaviors. Furthermore, failing to address power structures might leave influential stakeholders feeling sidelined, leading to pushback against changes. Overall, disregarding any part of the Cultural Web risks undermining the entire change effort and can hinder long-term success.

Related terms

Organizational Culture: The shared values, beliefs, and behaviors that shape how members of an organization interact and work together.

Change Management: The process of preparing, supporting, and helping individuals or teams in making organizational change.

Stakeholder Engagement: The process of involving individuals or groups that may be affected by or have an influence on organizational decisions and changes.