Here is the link to the Storify presentation Mr. Zutz shared with us. Below is the final video from it.
Please respond to this prompt: "Do you believe this to be true? What type of culture fits you best as you move into the world of college and work?"
Culture is vital. For me as a teacher, my culture is you guys and what we learn from each other and how much fun we have. That's simply the reason why I say I have the greatest job in the world. It's because of the culture WE have created here. I give you the conditions. But that's only half the battle. You guys bring the work, the talent, the passion, the personalities, and so on to thrive under the conditions I set. That's what makes me love my job so much. It's because of the culture of 205.
ReplyDeleteWhen Brooke and Mr. Zutz were talking about culture in a hospital, I remember the summer after first grade when I broke my ankle and spent a week in the hospital. The nurses doted on me and took great care of a very nervous and frightened six year old who was away from home.
My strongest memory is when I used the urinal pan as a star ship for my Star Wars figures. Don't worry the urinal pan was clean! But while doing it I lost Boba Fett's gun. I was distraught. Those nurses turned the room upside down and search all over for that gun until they found it.
The culture those ladies went out of their way to create for me (and they didn't have to do any of that) left an impression that is still with me. That's the power of culture and being in your element and being a linchpin.
Just from hearing the guy talk, it sounds like making culture and strategy work together is a strategy in itself. The way that these videos are talking about it makes it seem less about the culture, and far more about quantifying exactly what needs to be done to trick everything into working like they want. It's kind of ironic.
ReplyDeleteAs an addition to my own comment, I find that I work the best in a culture that allows me to be who I really am without playing any specific role. This includes things like Knowledge Bowl, or even some of my favorite classes.
DeleteI agree that culture is more important than strategy. If everyone knows what the they are supposed to be doing, it doesn't necessarily mean that they will want to do it. People will buy into to good culture though. If they like the culture, they will probably work their hardest and actually care about whatever the cause is. Strategy is a great addition to culture, but without culture, strategy is useless.
ReplyDeleteGoing forward, I want to be able to go to school or work somewhere where there is not just strategy, but also culture. I think a culture where I was always being challenged, but also able to be creative in my solutions would be best for me.
Disregard "the" at the beginning of the second line...
DeleteI think that it is definitely important to have a good culture along with a sound strategy. It relates to Godin's idea of tribes. When people believe in what you are doing they want to work for you instead of being forced to carry out your strategy. Having a good culture in everything that you do is vital. It gives your cause more than just a clean cut strategy; it makes people want to work for you.
ReplyDeleteIn college and later work I want a culture that is fun and honest. Also, I want a culture that is openminded and doesn't stifle anyones creativity. That is what I want as part of a work and college culture.
I agree that a great culture produces great results. It is essential. A culture of people that trust each other can create powerful things, whereas a strategy can only do so much. For me, a great culture is being surrounded by people that lighten the mood, are capable of battling adversity, and are intelligent.
ReplyDeleteI definitely buy into the importance of culture. Although I was far from the best on the team, joining tennis last year was one of the best decisions I've made in my high school career. The difference in our team's culture from last season to this season was so crazy. In all honestly, I was probably a better tennis player last year than I was this year. I didn't improve at all this year. This season was so much more fun though. Everyone on the team got so close, and although I didn't play top varsity or win any huge matches, I had a blast. It taught me how it important it is to be a part of a team and make memories with them.
ReplyDeleteIn the future, I want to be in a culture full of people who are excited to learn. I want to be with people who are open to change and trying new ideas. I think that would motivate me more than anything.
I believe in the importance of culture. In order to have a strategy work to its fullest potential it needs to be implemented in a culture that supports it. Having a good culture is key to success and productivity. For me, I want to be in a relaxed and caring culture. I work best when I am in a calm atmosphere and don't feel socially uncomfortable. I hope to be able to go to a school where I can meet people like me and have a supportive, fun-loving, easy-going community around me. Also having professors who have great strategies backed up with a good classroom culture would be ideal for me, and other students, to learn.
ReplyDeleteI think that it is is important to have a good culture. Culture for me is being around people who have are open mined and supportive. One of the areas I think its important to have a good culture is sports teams. Our softball team has a good culture. We all have fun playing softball and are supportive of one another even if we have a bad game. This past year our team had more team bonding opportunities which helped us come closer as a team and be successful.
ReplyDeleteIn the future I hope to get a job as a teacher somewhere that has a good culture. I want to work in a school where the rest of the staff have fun personalities and are open to new ideas. I think it is important to work in a place where people support your ideas or ways of working. Having a good culture is one of the key things to being successful.
I agree with Brittany. A good culture for me would include being around people who are open minded and supportive. One of my examples for that would be at LHS. The staff is always supportive and there for a student when they need help. They let you know when you do something great, but they also let you know when you make a mistake. This communication can be a key to success because if you let mistakes slide by then there won't be improvement. However, on the other side of that you also need to be supportive and reassure someone that they are doing a good job. For me personally, when someone gives me a compliment about my work, it just makes me want to work that much harder and to continue success.
DeleteIn the future whether I am a teacher, occupational therapist, or a nurse, I hope the culture is supportive and open minded. I would like the staff to be supportive behind my ideas, but I would also like them to be open minded enough to contribute their own ideas. Encouragement would never hurt either, in a hospital or school setting, there will obviously be some rough days, and to have the staff behind me and encouraging me would drive me to continue working my hardest.
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ReplyDeleteFor me, culture involves a place where I can make a few mistakes and learn from them. Two summers ago was my first summer working at Cenex. I won't mention any names, but my boss was a very harsh man. Any little mistakes that were made resulted in someone getting a serious earful. As far as I know, no one liked him, and when he left, there were a lot of happy people, including me. As soon as the summer was over I decided I was going to quit, I never worked up the courage to tell Berg that, so I went back to work. It turned out that a few months prior to my return, the very rude man either quit or was fired. A new boss-type-person turned out to be very nice. I actually didn't mind going to work because he was understanding and kind.
ReplyDeleteI overcame my dip by staying as a gas pumper at Cenex. The culture, which was once frosty and hostile, is more welcoming now. I'm the kind of person who needs to be in an environment where making a mistake here and there is okay. However, corrections are made, and I'll hopefully learn from them. I do want a place where I can strive to be my best in a field of likeminded people.
I think that in order to be successful you need to have a good strategy, but an even better culture. If you have a good culture people will actually want to be a part of it. Culture allows people to be who they are and voice their opinion, instead of being just another piece of the puzzle that makes the strategy work.
ReplyDeleteThe type of culture I want to work in is one where I'm able to work with friends who make work fun. I won't always have a good day, so I'm going to need people who support me so my work doesn't suffer because of it. I'm going to need a culture where others need a challenge, as well as I do.
A good culture is more important than strategy because everyone can have a strategy, but not everyone has a good culture. Having a good strategy is normal, but having a good culture is what separates people and makes them great. As an example, a team with a good strategy wins some games and has an alright record, but a team with a good culture who believes in each other and really wants to win, will go even farther. The best teams have both good strategy and culture.
ReplyDeleteIn the future I plan on working in a hospital or clinic setting. I want to work with people who truly care about their job and are passionate about it. Any hospital can have a good strategy, and most hospitals have some of the same ones, but not all have a welcoming atmosphere. I want to work in a place that patients feel at home in. Being at a hospital or clinic is bad enough, but if the people around are friendly and caring, it makes it a little bit better.
I strongly agree with Brooke about teams needing a good culture. All the great teams you hear about have the best cultures. They all want to be there and enjoy everything about the sport. Strategy will only get you so far, and when it comes down to it the teams with the best culture will come out on top in the end. So I think culture is very, very important, not just in sports, but in everything you do. For example, if you dread going to work everyday you do not have a very good working culture. You should be allowed to make a few mistakes while testing out new things and have a say in some things. Strategy will come into play and keep everything going on the right path. I want to work in a place where people enjoy what they do and are excited about it. I'm not exactly positive what career I would like to pursue, but I am confident that I want to look forward going to work and enjoy the people I work with.
DeleteI believe culture is very important. Culture for me is being around people that I can relate to, and get along with. Culture is being able to mesh people's personalities and have everyone and everything running smoothly. For me, I want to be in a culture where you know you are safe and everyone has your back. Somewhere that you can relax but be productive at the same time. Culture for me may not always be in a team, I enjoy working alone on certain projects and that way I can focus on what I want. But teamwork is vital to culture as well, it is better to get more ideas than just your own. Culture is just a fun, easy going environment where everyone can be productive in their own ways. It is being passionate about what you are doing and that is the type of environment I hope to be in with my career.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me that culture, and strategy, are two entirely different things that must coexist. To me culture is more important. Culture is the people, its what makes up everything, and holds it all together. People is what fills companies, schools, and communities. Without people, none of these things would exist. Companies couldn't run, schools would educate no one, communities wouldn't exist. Only when people who are passionate about something come together, they you see real progress. Then you see change, and ideas, and excitement. When someone is passionate about something. They find others who are passionate about the same thing. Those people come together, and when you put all those people together. Things you didn't think would ever be possible, will become reality.
ReplyDeleteFor me personally, this is the culture I want to be in. Where the people are so passionate about it, that they can put aside all differences, to work together. I want to work in a place, where you can literally feel the culture in the air. Where if an outsider walks in, they can sense it. They can sense the excitement, and see it in every single person who walks by. They can tell that something special is happening here. That this is a culture, a small community, of people who are dedicated, passionate, and love what is happening here.
I agree with Nick on the point that you need a good strategy, but good culture is more important. Even if you have a amazing culture, if you are totally winging it, there is a fair chance that things aren't going to work out. However, even if there is a great strategy, but a terrible culture, there is absolutely no chance of success. With out that culture, nobody will buy in. Having commitment of the team is the most important thing there is. With a good culture, the team will still stick together even if the going gets rough. On the flip side, even with a good strategy, if there is no culture and trust, the goal will fall through. Culture is more important than strategy.
ReplyDeleteI think that culture is more important than strategy, but you also need good strategy. With good culture you believe in one another and the bond is stronger, so you trust more of each other. But you also need the strategy because if you do not know what is going on you are not going to know how to get to your end goal no matter how good your culture is.
ReplyDeleteThe type of culture that I want to work in is the type that people are so passionate about that people can tell that this is what you love to do. This is your passion. Where people enjoy going to work everyday and everyone gets along.
I think it's safe to say to say that culture is vital. There has been a lot of comparison between strategy and culture and it is true, they are a hard to pair to mesh. Despite how difficult it might be to acquire a good base for both, it needs to be done in order to have success. Strategy is what keeps the system going. As Greg Lane pointed out in the video, strategy is logical, forward moving, and market focused. They don't seem like very enjoyable points but they are needed in order to be successful. He described culture as emotional, historical, and people focused. Now these points seem more appealing as they apply to us on a more personal level.
ReplyDeleteCulture is extremely important to me. In certain environments, I feel very comfortable in and I am able to perform my best. But in others I can become shy and awkward. This has to do with culture. What best fits me and allows me to succeed is being around people who are openminded, not judgmental and fun to be around. If I have this in my college career and my future job, I will be able to do my best work and find what I truly enjoy.
Culture and strategy are two concepts that really everybody should understand separately, but when put together the coinciding answer is not really clear. This is why there are many different interpretations of the two concepts, strategy and culture, the connection to these two concepts are indeed open to interpretation. For example the pragmatic interpretation found in the video are.
ReplyDeleteSTRATEGY
Logic
Forward thinking
Market focused
CULTURE
Emotional
Historical
People Focused
- Now all of the points under strategy can be applied to all of the points under culture and vise versa. If you are market focused then you are also people focused because the people drive the market. If you are thinking towards the future it is common practice to look towards history, or at least what we know of history because scientist say that there patterns in nature and that nature often repeats itself. but the link between logic and emotion is more complicated. Emotion drives our current state of logic and our logical problem solving skills. If we are in a good emotional state compared to a bad one we tend to think differently about whatever task is at hand and more easily come up with the correct situation to whatever the problem is.
I agree that culture is very important. But you also must have a strategy for you to be able to create a good culture. If you have a strategy for how you will create a culture they depend on each other. Without a good strategy you will not have a good culture. Likewise without a good culture your strategy will not be able to succeed. They are different things but have to work together.
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