Culture and behaviour

Understanding and influencing organisational systems and human behaviour is integral to developing a positive culture and working environment.

It has become increasingly important for all people professionals to have a good understanding of organisation culture and behaviour. Historically, we may have expected Organisational Development (OD) specialists to hold this knowledge; however, whilst OD specialists certainly have a deep understanding of this in the work they do, all people professionals need a common understanding of the way culture and behaviour impact on people practice, and vice versa.

This area of the new Profession Map encompasses behavioural science, which can provide a rich source of insight for people professionals. It includes knowing:

how different leadership and people practices, along with ethical perspectives, impact on behaviour and culture
how to enable high levels of people engagement and promote learning
how giving people a meaningful voice enables people professionals to influence behaviour, unlock potential and shape organisational culture.

WCHG case study: Home is where the heart is

By making volunteering a strategic priority, Wythenshawe Community Housing Group has created a scheme that’s the beating heart of the community. Read WCHG's story.

Foundation level

At this level you'll understand:

What culture is and why it’s important
That an organisation is a whole system, and that your work and actions have an impact elsewhere
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What ethics is, and that your actions have consequences
That people learn and develop in different ways
How employee engagement impacts the way people feel at work
The importance of listening to a diverse range of voices

Associate level

At this level you'll understand:

What a positive culture looks and feels like
How people practices impact on behaviour, culture, systems and structures
Different models of organisation behaviour (eg team performance; group dynamics; systems theory; high performance organisations theory)
Different theories about human behaviour (eg decision-making theory, nudge theory, self-determination theory, neuroscience)
Different ethical perspectives and how they influence your own values and decisions
Different ways of learning, different approaches to professional development, and how to apply them in everyday situations
Basic theories of motivation, and the factors that affect employee engagement
Tools and methods to give a diverse range of people the opportunity to be heard

Chartered Member level

At this level you'll understand:

How to apply different approaches of culture development, and integrate and align people practices
How to apply models of systemic thinking to a range of people practices
How to use models of organisation behaviour to diagnose and address organisation challenges
Models and theories of human behaviour, and how to use them to shape people practices that deliver value
Different ethical perspectives, and how different mindsets and values influence internal and external decision-making
Emerging learning trends and theories, and how they apply to the ongoing development of people
How to apply different engagement approaches, and the drivers and enablers of engagement
The relationship between culture and voice, and how to apply tools and methods that give a diverse range of people a voice

Chartered Fellow level

At this level you'll understand:

The impact that wider cultures have (eg country, sector) on building and shaping organisation culture
How systemic approaches contribute to organisation performance
How to use an understanding of organisation behaviour to create value for people and improve organisation performance
How to use an understanding of human behaviour to improve organisation performance and deliver value for people within and beyond the organisation
Different ethical perspectives, mindsets and values, and their implications for organisation culture
Emerging learning trends and theories, and how to build learning into people strategies
How to create the right environment to engage workers, and drive organisation effectiveness through engagement
Different approaches to engaging diverse voices, and how these approaches create strategic value for people and organisations

Things to start thinking about

Use these prompts to reflect on your understanding of Culture and behaviour and uncover areas for future professional development.

How do leadership and people practices in your area of work impact on behaviour and wider culture?
How do you use insights from behavioural science to inform your work?
When did you last measure and understand organisational culture in your organisation?
How do ethical norms and mindsets influence behaviour and shape culture, and what implications does this have for your work?

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