ORGANIZATION THEORY AND DESIGN

Most often, values are reinforced in public declarations, like the aptly named list of core values, but also in the common phrases and norms individuals repeat often. Shared basic assumptions are the bedrock of organizational culture. They are the beliefs and behaviors so deeply embedded that they can sometimes go unnoticed. Basic assumptions manifest themselves in a variety of ways. Sometimes they are reflected in the espoused values and in artifacts, sometimes not. But when basic organizational assumptions don’t align with espoused values, confusion arises. They share beliefs that creativity thrives under constraints, or that the best work is done using constantly evolving teams. Sharing ideas openly, allowing for limited risk taking, and celebrating failures as learning opportunities are all basic beliefs of creative organizations.