Why Corporate Culture Matters

Culture can make or break the success of any company or organization, regardless of size. Take for example, the well-documented cases of NASA and their sub-contractors like Morton-Thiokol having a culture where engineers have been so disrespected that tragic loss of life has ensued. These incidents have become infamous examples of lack of ethics from both the Challenger Disaster (Boisjoly, 1987) and the Columbia Space Shuttle Disaster (Berger, 2013). More recently, the culture of massive corporations like Amazon has come under fire for unethical practices: “Business Insider has cataloged a litany of complaints about below-market pay, unreasonable hours and a toxic culture” (Carmichael, 2022), not to mention their astoundingly high alleged 150% turnover rate (Segal, 2022). Although business for Amazon is thriving, the above examples show how adverse corporate cultures can eventually lead to loss of profit, loss of employees, and even loss of life.

Conversely, positive organizational cultures can attract talented employees, assist with customer retention, and foster both retention and growth (Kohll, 2018). Web sites like http://www.glassdoor.com point job seekers to companies known for treating their employees and customers equitably with salaries, benefits, opportunities, dignity, and autonomy, measured in part from detailed employee reviews (Best Places to Work 2022, 2022). Surprisingly, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory has finally made the list as “the most welcoming and open organization that fosters diversity, equity, and inclusion to ensure everyone reaches their highest potential and feels they belong” (NASA Jet Propulsion Labratory, 2022). Anyone who has worked in a positive, supportive environment, as I have (for the most part) here at SLCC, will understand how essential corporate culture is for health and well-being, both physical and mental.