Speaker: Scott E. Page (University of Michigan, Santa Fe Institute). (website)

Title: Organizations and Cultural Coherence

Abstract: I construct a mathematical framework to elucidate and analyze the interdependence between structural features of an organization and some of its cultural attributes.  By the structure of an organization, I mean whether individual actions are assigned hierarchically, agreed upon through a more equal democratic process, or encouraged through incentives.  By culture, I will focus on standard measurable features such as tightness, individualism, trust, risk taking, and uncertainty avoidance.  I show that congruence – the alignment of organization structure and culture – though an often articulated organizational goal does not, except in rare cases, imply efficiency.   The creation of a healthy, constructive culture and not congruence should therefore be the goal of organizations.