The visibility of organizational culture in a long-term care facility

Our findings suggest that the perceptions of the staff members and families are not easily discernible by administrators or outsiders such as family members. This inability to judge important changes in the culture of an organization has important consequences for management. If administrators cannot tell which groups perform in the desired direction, they are not in a position to reward and reinforce desired behaviors. If cultural changes are necessary prerequisites to ensure organizational survival, how will an organization be able to create and maintain changes in the culture if there is no prevailing culture that is visible or public to others? More importantly, how will an organization be able to create a visible culture to others if management does not agree on what constitutes successful change? Nursing leaders who understand organizational culture concepts will be in a better position to influence the successful outcome of organizational change.