Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument

Robert Quinn and Kim Cameron researched what makes organizations effective and successful. Based on the Competing Values Framework, they developed the Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument that distinguishes four culture types. See their book: Diagnosing and Changing Organizational Culture.

Competing values produce polarities like: flexibility versus stability and internal versus external focus. These two polarities were found to be most important in defining organizational success.

The polarities construct a quadrant with four types of culture: Clan Culture - internal focus and flexible A friendly workplace where leaders act like father figures. Adhocracy Culture - external focus and flexible A dynamic workplace with leaders that stimulate innovation. Market Culture - external focus and controlled A competitive workplace with leaders like hard drivers Hierarchy Culture - internal focus and controlled A structured and formalized workplace where leaders act like coordinators.

Cameron & Quinn found six key aspects that will make up a culture. These can be assessed in the Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument (OCAI) thus producing a mix of these four archetypes of culture. Each organization or team will have its unique mix of culture types. By assessing the current organizational culture as well as the preferred situation, the gap and direction to change can be made visible. This can be the first step to changing organizational culture.