Skip to content

ACCA Strategic Professional · Strategic Business Leader · Leadership and organisational culture

Marlowe Pharma has detailed procedures, clearly defined job descriptions, and functional departments that coordinate only at senior level. It performs well in a stable market, but a competitor has just launched a disruptive product and Marlowe has been slow to respond. Using Handy's model, what is the most likely cultural weakness?

Marlowe shows a role culture, built on procedures, defined jobs and functional pillars. Such cultures suit stable markets but adapt slowly to rapid change, which explains the sluggish response to the disruptive competitor. The other cultural types do not match the features described.

  1. AA role culture that adapts slowly to rapid environmental changeCorrect
  2. BA task culture whose teams disband before completing projects
  3. CA person culture in which individuals pursue personal goals over the organisation's
  4. DA power culture in which the central leader makes inconsistent decisions

Explanation

Formal rules, job descriptions and functional pillars indicate a role culture. This works in stable conditions, but it is typically slow to perceive and react to change. The other cultures do not match the described features.

Did you get it right without looking?

One question tells you little. A timed set on Leadership and organisational culture shows your real accuracy, how long you take and where you lose marks.

Practise Leadership and organisational cultureFree diagnostic mock

More Leadership and organisational culture questions