Adaptive Organizational Culture

I came across the concept in the context of reviewing a paper on CEO Charismatic Leadership (Waldman and Yammrino).


Adaptive and nonadaptive cultures is  a distinction suggested by Kotter and Heskett (1992).

Adaptive cultures are characterized by common values and ways of behaving that emphasize innovation, risk taking, candid communication, integrity, teamwork, and enthusiasm.

Non-adaptivecultures stress order and efficiency, and they are averse to change, innovation, and risk-taking.

Waldman and Yammarino developed the proposition that  adaptive cultures will tend to precede or allow for the emergence of charismatic leadership more than non-adaptive cultures.  Adaptive cultures  not only tolerate but even encourage higher autonomy, intellectual stimulation, and novel solutions. They depend on members' commitment and a high level of trust among members, and cannot reside in highly mechanistic organizations that rely primarily on bureaucratic controls (Shamir and Howell).





Kotter and Heskett 1992
J.P. Kotter, J.L. Heskett
Corporate culture and performance (Book)  The Free Press, New York (1992)


Organizational and contextual influences on the emergence and effectiveness of charismatic leadership
Boas Shamir, Jane M. Howell
The Leadership Quarterly
Volume 10, Issue 2, Summer 1999, Pages 257–283