Institutional culture refers to the shared values, norms, beliefs, practices, and assumptions that shape the behavior and identity of an organization or institution — such as a hospital, university, corporation, or government body.
* Unwritten rules: “How things are done here.” * Power structures: Who makes decisions and how. * Communication style: Formal vs. informal, transparent vs. opaque. * Attitudes toward change: Innovative, conservative, risk-averse, etc. * Moral tone: What is rewarded or punished — excellence, loyalty, conformity, silence?
* In a surgical department, an institutional culture may value hierarchy and decisiveness. * In a university, it may promote intellectual freedom or, conversely, bureaucratic inertia. * In a corporation, it could center around competition, innovation, or compliance.
Institutional culture influences everything from decision-making and staff morale to patient outcomes, academic integrity, or employee turnover. It often persists regardless of individual leadership — and can resist or facilitate change.