THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENT IN CREATING A SUCCESSFUL ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURAL CHANGE

Russell Davis
Steven Cates
Purdue University Global

ABSTRACT

There is a tremendous history of published research where the Organizational Culture
Assessment Instrument (OCAI) has been used in various settings and findings identifying current
and preferred cultural dimensions. Little research actually shows where the culture was changed
in those researched environments. This study addresses the implementation of OCAI instrument on
employees within an organization and the effects on the culture change as an outcome from the
use of the OCAI. It also addresses the actions taken by a new leader of an organization. The OCAI
was used by the new leader to gain a deeper understanding of the organizations’ current
perceived culture and was pivotal in identifying the culture gap in moving toward a preferred
culture over an 18 month period. This is a longitudinal study of this organizational development
process. Findings indicate that the OCAI was effective at identifying what culture dimensions
needed to change.

Keywords: Organizational Culture, Assessment Instrument, culture dimensions