Ron Westrum’s Typology of Organisational Culture

Ron Westrum’s A Typology of Organisational Culture identifies three distinct types of organisational culture based on how information flows within organisations.

Pathological

In pathological organisations, information is withheld and used as currency for personal gain. Messengers are shot, messages are isolated, and people fear speaking up due to potential retaliation. When punishment is expected, people tend to deny or cover up mistakes.

Bureaucratic

This rule-based culture makes business units within the same organisation compete with each other, operating by their own rule books. Business units seek advantages over one another and protect their territories at the expense of the entire organisation’s benefit.

Generative

In generative environments, people are naturally inquisitive. Information reaches whoever needs it accurately and timely, satisfying receivers’ needs rather than givers’ preferences. Innovation and safety are hallmarks of generative organisations. When problems arise, people ask questions without seeking to punish those responsible, enabling global fixes that benefit the entire organisation. Good information flow helps people buy into the organisational mission, making local conflicts trivial compared to shared beliefs.