Organisational culture exerts a powerful influence on all organisations, affecting employees’ decisions and actions, for better or worse.
It has been defined by researchers as the “learned patterns of beliefs, values, assumptions, and behavioral norms” - but more simply, it’s ‘how we do things around here’.
Its impact on economic and financial stability, ethical conduct and broader organisational behaviour is increasingly recognised by regulators, economists and business leaders, escalating the need for effective approaches for measuring and shaping it.
Associate Professor Zara Whysall’s research uncovers the importance of alignment in organisational culture, which often goes unaddressed. This is when the typical practices, behaviours, attitudes and values reflected across your organisation are consistent with the key policies, formal processes and corporate values that you promote.
Cultural misalignment is often undetected but represents serious risk which, as our latest research reveals, is impacting many organisations across the UK.
Highlights from our research into organisational culture
Free resources
Start shaping your workplace culture by downloading the free resources below.
Shift Happens: Strategies for Organisational Culture Evolution
This white paper consolidates academic research to help leaders, managers and HR practitioners get to grips with organisational culture.
UK Organisational Culture Revealed
This infographic reveals the findings from a recent survey of 1,179 managers and employees across the UK, providing insights into the current nature and impact of organisational culture.
This includes the degree of alignment between internal culture and what organisations portray externally, and the impact of culture on key issues such as diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI), and employee wellbeing.
Our services
We help organisations of all sizes, across the private and public sector, to understand and shape their organisational culture using pragmatic, impactful, evidence-based approaches. Learn more below, or for further information contact zara.whysall@ntu.ac.uk
Secure dedicated graduate and academic expertise to inject new knowledge and insight into solving your challenge, typically over an 18 month to 2-year project.
Use the existing knowledge of our academics to help you crack your organisational culture challenges or aspirations, and bring ideas to life.
If you have a great idea or concept that you want to develop but don’t have the resources or knowledge to do it in-house, you can work with NTU experts to commission contract research of any length.
We offer a range of leadership and management development programmes and short-courses courses. Many of these have been co-created to meet the needs of organisations, small and large, linked to professional standards and delivered to facilitate applied, work-based learning. We can also develop bespoke courses specifically for your organisation.
Staff profile: Dr Zara Whysall
Dr Zara Whysall is an Associate Professor of Business Psychology who straddles academia and industry. She is a Chartered Psychologist and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society, with over two decades of experience in consultancy and training roles in public and private sector organisations. She conducts research and consultancy within public and private sector organisations, on topics including:
- Organisational Culture Change
- Employee Wellbeing
- Talent Management and Development
Listen to the podcast episode
Managing wellbeing at work: are we thriving or just surviving?
Mental health issues can affect one in four people at some point in their lives, and can have a profound influence on employee welfare – often leading to prolonged absences from the workplace. Amidst the prevalence of hybrid working, what actions can employees, managers and employers take to support mental health in the workplace?
Associate Professor Zara Whysall and Professor Steve Brown from Nottingham Business School offer actionable advice and guidance on fostering a culture of positive mental health in the workplace.
Listen below, or find the episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or YouTube.
Find out more about Nottingham Business School
Nottingham Business School
Join our vibrant community that blends academic excellence with real-world impact. Experience practical, hands-on learning in a world-class environment, and gain the skills, knowledge, and confidence to become a leader who shapes the future of business.
Centre for People, Work and Organizational Practice
The research within the Centre explores the ways in which leadership and HR practices influence employees’ attitudes and behaviours at work.