Corporate culture is much more than just the fruit basket and the soccer ball in the break room. It is at the heart of every company and decisively shapes how employees work together, which values are lived out and how the brand is perceived externally. In this article, we highlight the essence of a healthy corporate culture, show you how you can promote it in a targeted manner and which practical measures and tools can help you develop and live a strong and authentic corporate culture.
What is a corporate culture?
Corporate culture comprises the system of shared values, social norms, and symbols that shape the behavior, decisions, and feelings of members of an organization. It significantly influences how leadership is lived, relationships are shaped and decisions are made, and permeates all levels of the organization — from upper management to employees.
For these reasons, a successful corporate culture is important
This is particularly evident in the following areas:
➡️ Attractiveness as an employer: Applicants attach great importance to a positive corporate culture, which is often mentioned before additional monetary benefits and flexible working hours.
➡️ Employee Retention and Satisfaction: An open and respectful corporate culture promotes employee satisfaction and loyalty.
➡️ Public perception: Bad corporate cultures can quickly make negative headlines and damage your brand.
A lived, positive corporate culture develops over the years and is shaped by your leadership and the daily experiences of employees.
An overview of important characteristics of a good corporate culture
A good corporate culture is reflected in various aspects of daily working life and interactions. It is like the character of a company and significantly influences how employees and customers perceive experiences and relationships. Here are the key features of a positive corporate culture:
These characteristics are crucial for developing a positive and sustainable corporate culture that has a positive impact both internally and externally.
These factors can have an impact
In the 21st century, companies are confronted with a variety of external factors that can influence their strategy and way of working. In addition to global market conditions, social and socio-political challenges play a central role. Aspects such as globalization, who Pressure to perform in the meritocracy, demographic changes And the diversity are decisive for how companies must adapt their processes and structures. Such changes often require an adjustment of the corporate culture, as they influence the values and behaviors within the organization.
Optimize corporate culture: This is how you will succeed!
In order to optimize your corporate culture, it is crucial that your employees know the identity of the company and identify with the strategic goals. Promote individual development and continuous training to make targeted use of potential and successfully master new challenges.
Transparent communication, cooperative management and a high level of innovative capacity are also key to ensuring that standards and conduct are in harmony. By having all stakeholders Appropriately address and establish a culture of acceptance of errors, create an environment in which all parties involved can get involved and motivated.
Project time recording for a positive work culture
Time recording is mandatory! The Federal Labor Court already confirmed this in September 2022 with its Time clock verdict decided. But: time recording Does not equal Project time recording.
Nevertheless, anyone who records their project times precisely not only increases the efficiency of their company, but can also positively influence the work culture within the team.
Benefits of modern project time recording
When all team members record their project times transparently, a sense of trust is created between the company and its employees. Management gets insight into how much time is being spent on specific projects, while employees are assured that their hours are being recorded fairly — including overtime.
Thanks to modern software for project time recording, companies can Optimize processes and make work processes more efficient. Time-consuming manual tasks are eliminated, allowing employees to concentrate more on their core tasks. Die digitization promotes a results-oriented way of working that focuses on the quality and success of completed tasks.
The use of such software solutions increases your team's productivity and focuses on business goals. Do you trust your employees? With the right software for project time recording, you can give your team personal responsibility without additional administrative effort. This motivates your employees to use their time effectively and optimize the way they work in order to achieve a balance between work and free time.
Effects on flexibility & work-life balance
Workplace flexibility is crucial to professionals to win and keep. A modern software solution for project time recording enables companies to offer this flexibility. With the ability to flexibly record project times, employees can better adapt their work to their individual living conditions — whether through part-time work, flexitime or home office.
Auch decentralized teams can easily record their project times remotely. This gives companies the opportunity to search for the best talent worldwide and at the same time a better Work-life balance to ensure.
Another important issue is overtime. Without clear time recording, overtime can easily get out of hand. Software such as ZEP helps to better control and reduce overtime, which contributes to a healthier work-life balance for your employees.
Employee satisfaction & motivation
A positive work culture and a good work-life balance are closely linked to employee satisfaction and motivation. Accurate project time recording ensures that work done is adequately recognized and rewarded. Employees feel treated fairly when their work is seen and appreciated.
Would your employees like to record their working hours flexibly and autonomously? With a Software solution for project time recording Like ZEP, you give your team this autonomy and control over their own work. This increases satisfaction and motivation.
Our proven ZEP software also provides a visual presentation of the time spent and work results. Graphics often make it easier to capture results than pure numbers. When employees see what they have achieved, they are more motivated to make future projects more productive and successful.
Project time recording with ZEP: The right software makes the difference
ZEP is our reliable and proven software solution for project time recording. Our software meets many of the above criteria as a matter of course. What sets us apart? On the one hand, you can rely on us — our many years of experience in project time recording make us a reliable partner for your project business. ZEP has already established itself in more than 1,800 companies tried and tested and has been over 20 years established on the market.
Another advantage: ZEP can be used modularly as a modular system. Many additional modules offer maximum flexibility in handling. You only pay for the modules that you actually need. Do you already have an existing and well-functioning IT infrastructure? No problem! Our software solution for project time recording already harmonizes with numerous interfaces — such as Personio or HubSpot. In addition, the security of your data is our top priority. Our cloud-based software is hosted on German servers and meets all requirements of GDPR.
We help our customers, regardless of industry, to efficiently record project times, positively influence work culture and enable employees to achieve a better work-life balance. If you want to digitize your project business, you can use our software solution 30 days free and test it without obligation.
Do you have any questions? Feel free to take a look at our YouTube channel Stop by or make an appointment at one of our webinars. I'm sure some of your concerns can already be clarified here. And if you get stuck, you can contact our support team during business hours.
Comparing different models of corporate culture
The corporate culture decisively shapes behavior and cooperation within a company. Various models help to better understand the often complex and multi-layered aspects of corporate culture and to design them in a targeted manner. Below, we present three of the most well-known models that offer different perspectives on the structure and dynamics of corporate cultures. These models can help companies analyze, improve and live their culture successfully.
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Developed by Tom Peters and Robert Waterman in the 1970s, the 7-S model focuses on seven soft and hard factors that influence a company's success. While hard factors such as plans and concepts are clearly visible, soft factors such as values and working methods remain less tangible but more influential. Peters and Waterman emphasize that companies are only successful if they create a balance between these factors.
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Edward T. Hall likens corporate culture to an iceberg where only a small part is visible, while the larger, invisible part lies beneath the surface. The tip of the iceberg represents the visible elements of an organizational culture, while the hidden structures below decisively shape the culture. Changes in corporate culture must target these invisible factors in order to achieve lasting effects.
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Geert Hofstede describes culture as “brain software” that is shaped by shared values, symbols, heroes and rituals. He uses the image of an onion to represent the layers of culture that are developed through joint socialization within an environment. This model helps to understand the differences between different cultural groups and to promote stability within a company.
How can you measure a positive corporate culture?
A positive corporate culture can be measured using various methods and key figures. Employee surveys, turnover rates and employee satisfaction analysis provide valuable insights into the cultural mood in the company. Feedback rounds and regular discussions can also help to evaluate lived values and the working environment. These measurements make it possible to make targeted improvements and to continuously strengthen the corporate culture.
conclusion
A healthy and strong company is based on a positive corporate culture that includes much more than just superficial amenities such as fruit baskets and soccer tables. It shapes the work environment, team collaboration and the external perception of the brand. With the right measures and tools, such as precise project time recording and a clearly defined communication culture, you can promote this culture in a targeted manner. This not only leads to higher employee satisfaction and motivation, but also to increased efficiency and productivity.
In the long term, a positive corporate culture offers a decisive competitive advantage by attracting the best talent, strengthening employee loyalty and successfully positioning the company on the market.
