Introduction

This chapter sets up the exploration of organizational culture from a values-based perspective. This introductory chapter outlines the relationship between organizational cultures and common and personal values and delves into why it is so hard to achieve organizational flourishing, looking into the tendency for organizations to develop “Or” cultures, in which conflicting needs are addressed by prioritizing one competing dynamic over another. The chapter then explains the possibilities of shifting from “Or” to “&” cultures, whereby the focus shifts from tension reduction to tension management, and both sides of singular organizational dynamics are honored, creating a more optimizing, values-centered culture. Explaining how and why these “&” cultures lead to organizational flourishing, the chapter introduces the Essential “&s” covered in the book, and their Transformative Optimizers – the dynamics that enable flourishing. The chapter concludes by outlining the principles and processes which underpin this work, from Giving Voice to Values and the Authentic Excellence framework.