Background

This client operates in the Public Sector, focusing on research, science, and innovation, employing approximately 1,220 employees nationally.

Business Challenge

As part of its Vision 2030 and Strategy 2025, the client sought to assess and realign its organisational culture to support a high-performance, inclusive and values-driven work environment. Leadership recognised the need to surface existing cultural norms, evaluate alignment with strategic goals, and deepen employee engagement around institutional values and transformation. The culture work also needed to reflect the complexity of the client’s multiple business units and subcultures.

Laetoli’s Approach

• Designed a multi-dimensional culture assessment using four organisational development frameworks:
  • Burke-Litwin Model of Organisational Effectiveness
  • Edgar Schein’s Culture Framework
  • Harrison’s Typology of Organisational Culture
  • Change Leaders’ Roadmap (CLR)
• Applied Schein’s Iceberg Model to facilitate structured conversations about the visible and invisible elements of culture
• Designed and administered a bespoke culture survey across all business units
• Assessed alignment of institutional values to employee experience through both qualitative and quantitative inquiry
• Enabled employees to identify positive, negative, and missing cultural elements influencing strategic delivery
• Facilitated feedback processes with the Executive, Board, and divisional units
• Developed and Integrated Change Management Plan to guide the Culture Change Process

Key Deliverables

• Customised the client Culture Survey Instrument
• Comprehensive Culture Analysis Report covering: Leadership, Management, Teamwork, Policies, Innovation, Strategy, Decision-Making, Voice, Transformation, Diversity & Inclusion, Accountability, Collaboration, and Change Management
• Culture Mapping using Schein’s artefacts–values–assumptions framework
• Sub-culture reports and thematic summaries per business unit
• Recommendations to realign culture with Vision 2030 priorities

Outcomes & Successes

• Surfaced distinct subcultures across the client business units
• Strengthened organisational self-awareness on values alignment and inclusivity gaps
• Supported evidence-based reflection and strategic realignment
• Enabled the Board and Executive to assess organisational readiness for transformation
• Delivered a well-governed and evidence-based engagement process across a national footprint

Lessons Learned

• Integrating theory-rich frameworks with employee voice yields meaningful diagnostic insights
• The Iceberg metaphor made it easier for non-specialists to participate in discussions about abstract cultural elements
• Grounding culture work in strategic vision ensures relevance and sustainability
• Visible executive sponsorship and academic credibility improve stakeholder trust in survey outcomes

The client confirmed that Laetoli “delivered a well-governed, professional engagement process aligned to the client’s vision and transformation agenda. The Laetoli team demonstrated adaptability, thought leadership, and high standards of quality. The Board, Executive, and operational business units were highly satisfied with the insights generated and the clarity of the reports delivered”.