Culture eats Strategy

 

National cultures are usually stronger than company policies, definitely in the long run.

 

If a strategy or a policy does not match with certain values or preferences in a specific community, then the strategy has little chance to be successful. Culture will always over-rule strategy.

 

• Competitive policies will not work in a Consensus culture

• Individual rewards will not work in a Collectivist culture

• Team awards will not work in a Individualist culture

 

In these cases, the community will adapt the policy / strategy in such a way that it fits with their value system.