How important is it to have a company business culture?
In a difficult social and economic conjuncture for Greek reality, entrepreneurship is going through a period of challenge and some ideas have been overshadowed or have lost their momentum. One of these ideas is also the concept of business culture.
What do we mean by the term business culture?
Business culture represents the collective values, beliefs and principles of organizational members of the company and is derived from individual factors such as business history, the product, the market, technology, strategy, the type of employees, the style of management and national culture. It is also the model of collective attitudes and assumptions, which are taught to new members and workers as a way of perception, thought and action.
If we consider why there is a lack of business culture to small and medium-sized Greek businesses or why the importance of business culture is not communicated, we will draw some conclusions about the perception of entrepreneurship in Greece. The term, is too often perceived, as a further commercial trick and not as the creation of an appropriate base for innovation and the acquisition of business skills.
But how important is the application of business culture to a small and medium business?
Contrary to the common belief, business culture is so important to an enterprise like the other processes. By implementing a unified business policy, not only there is a synergy in the values and behavior of employees, but also in their interaction with the outside environment of the company.
By the way, this common policy smoothes different behaviors and, in the long run, transmits a competitive advantage on businesses that have a commonly accepted policy. This policy is not the same for all businesses and is structured according to the nature and characteristics of each business.
The idea of the business culture behind every business and organization, reflects the values and the beliefs of the founding members and employees, regardless their size. And of course, this value system becomes essential when it is followed in practice by everyone in the business. From business culture no one is excluded.
The history and uniqueness of the business may have forged its culture and helped it overcome any difficulties and obstacles it has encountered so far, but just as the entrepreneurial activity is not static, so does the business culture. It must change and adapt to the needs arising in an ever-changing world.
Every business, small or big, should have its own identity and invest in the creation of its own corporate culture.
P.G.A. & E.L.
