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Culture is often defined as “the way we do things around here”. Organisational culture is the leaders responsibility as “culture is the shadow of the leader”. If this is true the question is how is the culture embedded and transmitted by leaders? Edgar Schein in his book “Organizational Culture and Leadership” provide some clues. In the book Edgar lists the following:

“Primary Embedding Mechanisms

• What leaders pay attention to, measure, and control on a regular basis


• How leaders react to critical incidents and organizational crises


• How leaders allocate resources


• Deliberate role modeling, teaching, and coaching


• How leaders allocate rewards and status


• How leaders recruit, select, promote and excommunicate

Secondary Articulation and Reinforcement Mechanisms

• Organizational design and structure


• Organizational systems and procedures


• Rites and rituals of the organization


• Design of physical space, facades, and buildings


• Stories about important events and people


• Formal statements of organizational philosophy, creeds, and charters”

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