Culture evolution map

The question it helps answer

Use the culture evolution map to organise the reasoning behind this question: Which cultural traits should be preserved, adapted, or retired as the company scales? The working view makes trait, original purpose, and current effect visible so discussion can move from general opinion to a specific action or decision.

When to use it

Use the culture evolution map when people working on organization and culture are using different mental models for trait, original purpose, and current effect, and that difference is changing choices or coordination.

What it is

The culture evolution map is a set of connected concepts for examining one situation from several necessary angles. Its core working elements are trait, original purpose, current effect, and preserve. Those elements belong together because each changes how the others should be interpreted or acted on.

Core elements

Trait

Capture trait only at the level needed to answer: Which cultural traits should be preserved, adapted, or retired as the company scales? Use observable evidence, name any unresolved judgment, and state what action or choice this entry can change. Within the culture evolution map, connect this entry to original purpose so the relationship can be reviewed rather than inferred.

Original purpose

State the intended contribution in plain language and distinguish the enduring purpose from the current plan. Within the culture evolution map, connect this entry to current effect so the relationship can be reviewed rather than inferred.

Current effect

Capture current effect only at the level needed to answer: Which cultural traits should be preserved, adapted, or retired as the company scales? Use observable evidence, name any unresolved judgment, and state what action or choice this entry can change. Within the culture evolution map, connect this entry to preserve so the relationship can be reviewed rather than inferred.

Preserve

Capture preserve only at the level needed to answer: Which cultural traits should be preserved, adapted, or retired as the company scales? Use observable evidence, name any unresolved judgment, and state what action or choice this entry can change. Within the culture evolution map, connect this entry to adapt so the relationship can be reviewed rather than inferred.

Adapt

Capture adapt only at the level needed to answer: Which cultural traits should be preserved, adapted, or retired as the company scales? Use observable evidence, name any unresolved judgment, and state what action or choice this entry can change. Within the culture evolution map, connect this entry to retire so the relationship can be reviewed rather than inferred.

Retire

Capture retire only at the level needed to answer: Which cultural traits should be preserved, adapted, or retired as the company scales? Use observable evidence, name any unresolved judgment, and state what action or choice this entry can change. Within the culture evolution map, connect this entry to mechanism so the relationship can be reviewed rather than inferred.

Mechanism

Capture mechanism only at the level needed to answer: Which cultural traits should be preserved, adapted, or retired as the company scales? Use observable evidence, name any unresolved judgment, and state what action or choice this entry can change. Within the culture evolution map, connect this entry to evidence so the relationship can be reviewed rather than inferred.

Evidence

Name the evidence, its date and owner, and any limitation that affects how confidently it can be used. Within the culture evolution map, connect this entry to owner so the relationship can be reviewed rather than inferred.

Owner

Assign one accountable owner and distinguish final accountability from contributors, reviewers, and people who must be informed. Within the culture evolution map, connect this entry to evidence so the relationship can be reviewed rather than inferred.