Corporate culture in IT: How it turns a company into a talent magnet

What is corporate culture?

Corporate culture is the microclimate of a company, formed to unite all employees with a common goal and values. It is not just a company policy, but its “spirit” that helps employees feel part of the team and grow.

Why do companies actively implement corporate culture?

The goal of managers is to create a sustainable business. Corporate culture is one of the tools to achieve this goal, because it helps to increase productivity and retain talent, and also contributes to the professional and cultural development of employees.

In turn, culture provides employees with support, motivation and a comfortable working environment, contributing to their satisfaction and growth as specialists.

What is behind a successful corporate culture? Its 3 main components: mission, values, norms and rules.

A company’s mission is the reason for the business’s existence, its purpose beyond profit. The mission helps to focus on the long term and inspires the team to achieve big goals. For example, Microsoft’s mission, “to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more,” is focused on creating technologies that help people and organizations realize their potential.

Values ​​are the principles on which the work process and interaction within the team are built. A kind of moral compass that guides the behavior of employees and shapes the atmosphere in the company. According to a LinkedIn study, 70% of employees believe that cultural fit is more important than salary, which emphasizes the importance of values. It is very important that your values ​​take into account openness and trust within the team. As Google has shown, this affects many processes in the company.

And finally, regulations. So that each employee and even a candidate does not get lost in guesswork about what your company and team are like. What they should expect from management and colleagues at different stages of interaction and how work processes are organized in the company – the rules of corporate culture are formed by management. A study by McKinsey shows that companies with clearly defined rules and procedures have a 25% lower risk of conflicts and misunderstandings. The more transparent and accessible an employee’s understanding of their role in the company is, the fewer doubts and negative motives they have.

When every component is thought out to the smallest detail: the mission inspires, the values ​​unite, and the rules simplify communication, the company becomes not just a place of work, but a community where everyone feels their importance and participation in a big cause.

Types of Corporate Culture

• Hierarchical Culture
  This is a culture based on a clear structure, rules, and procedures. Companies with a hierarchical culture value stability, control, and a clear vertical of authority. An example is General Electric or large public corporations, where accountability and adherence to protocols are important.
• Innovative Culture
  Such companies are focused on innovation, experimentation, and continuous development. Such organizations encourage new ideas, flexibility, and risk. A prime example is Apple, where innovation is a key element of success and companies are always looking for new opportunities to create unique products.
• Result-oriented culture
  Here, efficiency and goal achievement come first. Results are valued above the process, and employees are motivated to achieve maximum results. At Amazon, efficiency, speed, and customer satisfaction are important at every level of the business.
• Team-oriented culture
  This culture values ​​teamwork, collaboration, and the involvement of all participants in the process. Employees actively interact with each other, decisions are made collectively, and the company encourages openness and trust. Examples include Slack or Spotify, where the emphasis is on communication and team synergy to achieve common goals.
• Culture of development and learning
  In such organizations, the emphasis is on the growth and training of employees. Companies strive to invest in the professional development of their employees, encourage experimentation and offer opportunities for career growth. For example, Microsoft, which implements a “growth mindset” culture.
• Culture of caring for employees
  This type of culture focuses on creating a favorable and supportive work environment where employees feel valued, cared for and cared for.
• Competitive culture
  In such companies, employees are motivated to compete and achieve high results. Leadership, initiative and the desire to be the best are valued here. At Oracle, competition among employees is even encouraged.

Each type of culture has a different impact on the work environment, employee motivation and the strategic development of the company. The choice of the type of corporate culture depends on the goals of the business and its specifics. It is not necessary to stop at something specific, the main thing is to understand what is important for the development of your business.

Benefits of a Strong Corporate Culture

Research shows that companies with a strong corporate culture demonstrate 21% higher employee productivity and 50% lower employee turnover. This is due to the fact that employees who share corporate values ​​and feel part of a team are more engaged in their work and motivated to achieve common goals.

In addition, companies with a positive corporate culture achieve a 15% higher level of customer satisfaction. This happens because engaged employees perform their tasks better, communicate with the client in a good mood, which directly affects the customer experience. Another advantage of a positive culture is a decrease in stress and burnout by 37%.

In addition, companies with a strong corporate culture experience 20% less internal conflicts, since clear norms and values ​​improve communication and resolve conflicts that arise.

How to Create and Maintain an Effective Corporate Culture

1. Create a mission and company values

Start by clearly articulating your company’s mission and core values ​​that will guide all employees. These values ​​should be simple, understandable, and reflect the essence of your company.

Tip: Involve key employees in the process. The mission and values ​​will have more meaning if they are created jointly with the team.

1. . Explain the mission and values ​​to the team

Once the mission and values ​​are defined, make sure that every employee understands and shares them. Hold regular meetings where the company’s goals and how the values ​​help achieve them are discussed.

Tip: Design visual elements (logos, slogans, posters) that will remind you of the mission and values. Hold discussions so that employees better understand how this affects their daily work.

1. Ensure transparent and open communication

Open and transparent communication is a key element of culture, especially in IT companies. Encourage the free exchange of ideas, opinions, and information.

1. Hire people who fit your culture

Hire employees who not only have the right technical skills, but also the right personalities. Cultural fit should be one of the key factors when selecting candidates.

Tip: Add an interview stage on values ​​and teamwork. Ask candidates to tell you how they solved problems in a team setting or how they work in a creative environment.

1. Foster an atmosphere of trust and collaboration

Create an environment where every employee feels part of the team and can trust their colleagues and management. Encourage open discussion of problems and mistakes, rather than punishing them.

1. Invest in employee development

Learning and development are an integral part of a successful corporate culture, especially in IT. Provide employees with resources for professional development and personal growth.

Tip: Provide access to learning platforms (Coursera, Udemy), conduct internal trainings and technical meetups.

1. Build loyalty through recognition

Develop a culture of recognizing employee success. This can range from a formal reward system to everyday praise for accomplishments.

Tip: Create a recognition system where employees receive informal bonuses for each achievement or valuable suggestion, such as thank-you notes or small prizes.

1. Listen to employees and take their opinions into account

Systematically collect feedback from employees to understand what is working and what needs to be improved. This will help keep the company culture fresh.

Tip: Use satisfaction surveys, gather ideas at quarterly meetings, and organize one-on-one meetings with employees to hear their thoughts and suggestions.

1. Encourage work-life balance

Caring about the work-life balance of employees strengthens their loyalty and productivity. Implement initiatives that support employee health and well-being.

Tip: Offer flexible hours, remote work options, team-building events, and rest days.

1. Continuously evolve the culture

Corporate culture is not static — it should evolve with the company. Conduct regular assessments of how the current culture is helping or hindering the achievement of goals, and make adjustments as needed.

Creating and maintaining a corporate culture is an ongoing process. By starting with the formation of a mission and values, you can build an environment in which every employee feels valued and involved, which ultimately benefits both the team and your business.

Corporate culture through an employee’s eyes

How can a corporate culture help improve the work environment?

If the corporate culture supports openness and feedback, you have the opportunity to directly discuss with management your wishes for improvement. For example, if you are not satisfied with the equipment or office furniture, you can suggest updating or improving these elements.

Companies that care about the well-being of employees often create areas for quiet work or relaxation. If you feel that you have difficulty concentrating in a common space, you can suggest creating such areas.

When there is a lack of opportunities for growth, a development-oriented corporate culture offers training or professional development programs. For example, you can ask management to provide access to courses that will help you develop professionally.

And some companies organize regular game days right in the office. Joint movie viewings, board games, or even mini-carnivals are popular. A very effective way to relieve stress and bring the team closer together.

Board games are often held in our office, the most popular of which are Machi Koro, Equivoki, Citadels, and of course, everyone loves to play “2 Truths 1 Lie”.

Another unusual idea in the context of cultural development is the creation of a creative space. If you have an allergy to animals in your office, and game activities like Monopoly did not work out, try organizing art therapy or a master class. This greatly helps to relax, get inspired and return to work with new ideas.

What can I do as an employee to fit into the corporate culture?

1. Study and understand the company’s corporate values. And don’t forget to check if they match mine.
2. Pay close attention to how people communicate in the team, what standards of politeness and cooperation are accepted, and try to support them.
3. Be active – whether it’s participating in discussions, helping colleagues, or making suggestions for optimizing work. This will help show that you share the company’s values ​​and are eager to contribute. And remember – the main thing in this matter is not to overdo it.
4. Be open to cooperation, share your knowledge and skills, help colleagues in difficult situations.
5. Be interested in opportunities for training and professional development. Take part in trainings or programs offered by the company.
6. Always adhere to ethical standards – be honest in reporting, respect the confidentiality of information, and take responsibility for your mistakes.
7. If you have ideas on how to improve processes, services, or products, don’t be afraid to express them and participate in their implementation. This will show your interest in the company’s development.
8. Participate in volunteer projects, green initiatives or charity programs if they are important to the company. This will show that you not only work, but also share the company’s mission.

Conclusion

Corporate culture is the soul of a company. It defines how we work, interact, and achieve goals together.

For companies that are just starting to build or update their culture, it is important to first clearly understand what values ​​and principles will be their foundation. Start with discussions with the team, listen to the opinions of employees, and be ready for changes. This will help make the culture truly alive and working.