I recently came across an insightful article by a friend that inspired this post: "Culture shapes behavior, and without the right culture, even strong processes fail." While the article primarily focused on "culture and process", I’d like to elevate the conversation to a broader level—"Culture and Strategy"—drawing on my personal experience in the IT industry over the past 25 years.

Concentrating solely on strategy or culture would be a misstep. A strategy that presents a broad vision but neglects the necessary cultural requirements is likely to fail, particularly if it doesn't leverage existing strengths. Conversely, changing a culture without a clear and compelling strategic direction can lead to wasted efforts or even disruptions. 

In fact, culture and strategy have a symbiotic relationship: Culture and strategy are two essential pillars of a business, deeply intertwined and critical to an organization's success and shaping the outcomes. Each profoundly influences the other. A vibrant, positive culture can provide a strategic edge, aligning employees and leadership around a shared vision. Strengthening corporate culture is often part of the foundational steps toward transformation, alongside initiatives like optimizing efficiency, revitalizing development processes, and accelerating data-driven change. If a company's strategy is focused on innovation and a culture that values creativity, employees are more likely to explore new ideas, take calculated risks and learn from failures which becomes a powerful driver of strategic execution. 

Unfortunately, In the pursuit of short-term objectives, some leaders cut corners, compromising the principles. Often driven by insecurity or pressure to deliver immediate results, this shift creates ambiguity around core values, which ultimately plays a significant role in the organization's decline. Resistance to change, lack of accountability, and a "check-the-box" mentality can further erode cultural integrity, making long-term success increasingly difficult to achieve.

Each organization encounters its own distinct challenges and context. Certain strategic moments in an organization’s journey significantly influence outcomes. Successfully navigating these moments can create a multiplier effect on other initiatives, as individuals adopt new ways of working, embrace the right cultural mindset and become more supportive of the overall program.  So, cultivate a culture and strategy of Aspire, Assess, Act, and Achieve!