Organizational culture describes the values, behaviours, and norms that guide the way an organization operates. While organizational culture is rarely found in any official document or policy, it can generally be observed in what is applauded, rewarded, and treated as best practice and good behaviour. The culture of an organization determines, for example, whether staff is innovative or risk-averse, competitive or collaborative, driven by profits or by results. It also has a significant and mutually-inclusive relationship with organizational equity.
It is much easier for equity to take root in good organizational cultures that value innovation, embrace difference, and implement open door and whistleblower policies.