Lesson 4 explores the human side of quality: culture. Every organisation has a culture — whether intentional or accidental — and it profoundly shapes behaviour, communication, morale, and decision-making.
In this lesson, you’ll learn about Schein’s three-level model of organisational culture:
- Artifacts — the visible surface
- Values — the stated beliefs
- Assumptions — the deep, often unconscious drivers of behaviour
We’ll also look at why culture matters so much, and how a toxic culture can harm individuals, organisations, and even society.
By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to:
- Identify examples of artifacts, values, and assumptions in your own workplace
- Recognise how culture influences behaviour and decision-making
- Understand how good and bad cultures form over time
- Reflect on how culture shapes the student and staff experience
This lesson often clicks with people — it explains why some workplaces “feel” great and others feel difficult, even when doing the same tasks.
