Arthur, I use very simple questions to help me start figuring out what is
going on in an organizations' current culture ( I do human resources
strategies consulting). I start with
-what makes "us" us - what does "everyone just know" about what our
goals and work patterns are
-what does "everyone know" they should do (like never discussing X)
-what does everyone know they should not do (career killers or
whatever)
Often this starts out with difficulty ( do we think about breathing air so
long as it is not noxious?) but I ask about simple things - dress, meeting
behavior to get going.
Then I try to move into what isn't working and why. Hope this reduces
your nervousness to the energizing level,
patria frame
Strategies for Human Resources Alexandria, VA, USA
StratHR4PF@aol.com
--Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>