So let’s talk about uncertainty.
Not every culture has a high degree of tolerance for uncertainty. Consider American culture and the degree to which we rely on Day Planners, Outlook, Blackberry, and other similar instruments all in an effort to structure our day.
By the way…I’m an Outlook guy.
Anyhow, in many cultures this is is far from the case. The idea of planning out every moment of one’s life is an absurd notion in a number of cultures around the world.
Essentially, Uncertainty Avoidance is the degree to which a society or culture establishes norms, processes and rituals to avoid uncertainty (Northouse 2007). Similarly, this exists in organizational culture as well. Think about Six Sigma as an example of a way an organization implements a process to avoid having an out desirable outcome. Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) are yet another
Consider your own organization. To what degree is uncertainty a part of the culture? What measures are in place to avoid an unexpected outcome? How does this define the culture?
All questions to think about in identifying what is important in your organization.
Reference
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