Organizational culture in public sector organizations: Promoting change through training and leading by example
Leadership & Organization Development Journal
ISSN: 0143-7739
Article publication date: 1 September 2005
Abstract
Purpose
To provide two possible approaches for enhancing organizational culture awareness and promote cultural change in public sector organization. These approaches include training and leading by example.
Design/methodology/approach
Literature outlining fundamental aspects of organizational culture is summarized, serving as a foundation for reviewing the potential value of training as a method for enhancing public managers' awareness of organizational culture. This is followed by an illustrated example of how the culture was changed in major department of a public organization through leading by example.
Findings
Training and leading by example can serve as effective methodologies for promoting culture awareness and brining about culture change in organizations.
Practical implications
The article highlights some interesting similarities and differences between cultures in public organizations and cultures in private sector organizations. The differences, in particular, reinforce the importance of training and leading by example to guide public sector employees through the complex dynamics often embodied within culture transformations in organizations.
Originality/value
While there are some important similarities between cultures of private sector and public sector organizations, the differences existing in public sector organization cultures create unique challenges for managers trying to evoke change. The article provides a unique perspective on applying training and leading by example to the context of public sector organizational culture.
Keywords
Citation
Schraeder, M., Tears, R.S. and Jordan, M.H. (2005), "Organizational culture in public sector organizations: Promoting change through training and leading by example", Leadership & Organization Development Journal, Vol. 26 No. 6, pp. 492-502. https://doi.org/10.1108/01437730510617681
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2005, Emerald Group Publishing Limited