Why Things Stay the Same

Why things stay the same:

A sample cultural web analysis and potential actions to address identified issues

Consider the following worked example of a cultural web analysis.

How might it assist in addressing cultural issues?

Web element / Identified factors / Potential actions /
Stories / Grapevine tales of:
Ø Delays in getting information and financial updates
Ø The time a wrong project was debited
Ø Lack of trust in the university systems / Ø Investigate the reasons for delays in receiving information and address the causes
Ø Review the systems and their effectiveness to address areas requiring refinement
Ø Promote the changes, highlighting the benefits of the improved systems /
Routines / Ø High use of personal spreadsheets to keep financial records
Ø No project management practices in place
Ø Projects often running over budget and being bailed out / Ø Develop common routines that are easy to use and readily understood by people
Ø Build checks and balances into the routines to ensure projects are controlled
Ø Ensure staff are trained in the required processes /
Controls / Ø Chief Investigators not accountable for expenditure
Ø Research budgets do not follow a standard financial template allocation
Ø No annual review of expenditures
Ø Examples of misappropriation have been found / Ø Provide clearer guidelines for investigators as to their responsibilities and obligations
Ø Ensure all CIs employ the standard financial template
Ø Undertake regular audits
Ø Investigate misappropriations as soon as they are identified /
Organizational structures / Ø No role has responsibility for oversight of the department research budget expenditure
Ø Projects do not include a research manager role / Ø Assign responsibilities to an official role and ensure that individual has the resources and authority to provide the necessary quality assurance /
Power structures / Ø Chief Investigators see the funding as their money
Ø Information about expenditure is kept confidential
Ø The right to spend is jealously guarded / Ø Develop guidelines on financial expenditure, including the responsibility of CIs as to fund dispersals
Ø Provide ongoing education /
Symbols / Ø Research funding is a high-status activity – more money means you are a better researcher, and only high-status people should be involved / Ø Assist early-career staff to obtain funding
Ø Encourage sponsorship and mentorship of newcomers to help them gain funding /

Source: Adapted from Johnson. G., & Scholes, K. (2008) Exploring corporate strategy: Text and cases (8th edition), p. 198. © Simon and Schuster Europe Ltd 1998. © Pearson Education Limited 2002, 2008. Used with permission.