So, what is culture?
Before trying to know what is safety culture
we should understand what is the concept or organizational culture.
This is an easy question, but not everybody can explain
what organizational culture is.
Culture can be defined as the basic assumptions,
shared values and beliefs that guide how employees
behave toward others and address their work.
So let's see an example of what culture is.
This people are working in a very relaxed environment.
All of them share their organizational culture
and no one is shocked of working here.
So, that doesn't mean that all the industries and organizations
have or must work the same way
or the way they work here.
Which means that there are as many organizational cultures
as companies. And most of them will be similar
inside their business field.
When we think of organizational culture we have to know
that it is similar to an iceberg.
Only a one ninth is seen and the rest is hidden.
Like the iceberg, part is above the surface,
but the rest is under the water.
So, from the top to the bottom, we will see that on the top,
or at the top, and as the most visible part of the organizational culture,
we have the artifacts.
Those are the first thing
that an outsider to the organization will see.
And are the most obvious things,
like the language on the technology we have,
The emotional displays, the physical structure
or the dress code.
Beneath that we have another fundamental part.
And that fundamental part of the organizational culture
are the norms and values.
We'll have all those conscious beliefs, ideologies, rationalization,
leadership style. All of this is what or was what the organization tells us
that are part of their culture.
And if we go deeper,
finally we will have underlying assumptions.
They are unconscious and they are taken for granted.
Beliefs and values. We have perceptions, thoughts and feelings.
From the top to the bottom,
the artifacts are at the pick of the iceberg.
They are visible and easy to change.
It's the way we say we get things done.
The deeper levels are less accessible,
the lower they are, and thus, they are harder
and more difficult to change.
So it's the way we belief get the things done.
It is not good for us to change the artifacts.
But we must influence the assumptions.