Shaping Organizational Culture Is a Top Priority for HR, Says McLean & Company

Culture shaping and sustainment is anticipated to be HR's #1 value-add activity by 2030, according to McLean & Company's Future of HR Survey (2023). This finding highlights the growing urgency for organizations to prioritize culture as a strategic asset. A new resource from the firm outlines how HR leaders can take control of culture change by translating values into daily behaviors, closing experience gaps across the organization, and driving measurable outcomes like productivity, engagement, and retention.

TORONTO, April 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Culture has emerged as a critical focal point for organizations hoping to deliver business value through their people strategies, serving as a powerful driver of employee experience, performance, and competitive advantage. As workplace dynamics continue to evolve, McLean & Company, a global HR research and advisory firm, has released an new research-backed blueprint: Shape and Sustain Organizational Culture. The firm's blueprint will help HR teams not only define their desired culture but sustain it in practice.

"Culture exists in every organization – whether it's intentionally shaped or not," says Amani Gharib, director, Human Resources Research & Advisory Services at McLean & Company. "But strong cultures don't emerge by chance. They are intentionally built through leadership role modeling, strategically aligned culture initiatives, HR alignment, and consistent reinforcement of desired values and behaviors."

The research arrives at a time when organizations face persistent challenges in bridging the gap between stated values and lived experience. For example, McLean & Company's Engagement Survey (2021-2024) reveals that while 65% of employees believe their organization's mission, vision, and values are reflected in daily activities, perceptions differ significantly by employee level. Non-managers are far less likely than senior leaders to report positive cultural experiences. Additionally, only 36% of HR professionals rate their department as very effective at shaping and sustaining culture, despite 80% recognizing it as critical to business and HR success (McLean & Company Management & Governance Diagnostic, 2023-2024).

The Shape and Sustain Organizational Culture resource addresses these disconnects with a practical, four-step process:

1. Prepare for culture change.
2. Work with leaders on culture initiatives.
3. Identify opportunities for HR alignment.
4. Manage and sustain culture change.
   

Embedding culture into the everyday employee experience bolsters long-term performance and is a notable driver of employee engagement and retention. Insights from McLean & Company's Engagement Survey (2021-2024) reveal that employees working in high-performing cultural environments are 1.3x more likely to look forward to coming to work and 1.1x more likely to say they'll remain with their employer in the next year. The blueprint emphasizes that leveraging cultural practices can strengthen emotional connection and motivation and that a thriving culture contributes to reduced turnover. The firm urges organizations to reinforce values consistently through policies, leadership role modeling, and communication across all work environments, including remote and deskless roles.

"There's no singular approach to culture change," explains Gharib. "With consistent leadership and a proactive change management plan, organizations can bridge the gap between values and behaviors – shaping a culture where everyone thrives."

An accompanying webinar for HR professionals, Shape and Sustain Organizational Culture, will be hosted on June 12, 2025. The session will explore key findings from the research and walk participants through actionable steps for leading successful culture transformation initiatives. For more information, please visit McLean & Company's webinar page. 

For media inquiries or to connect with McLean & Company analysts for exclusive, research-backed insights on performance management, HR priorities, and talent management trends, please contact Communications Manager Katie Tame at [email protected]. For more information on how organizations can prioritize, shape, and sustain their culture, please explore the workshops page.

About McLean & Company

McLean & Company pairs evidence-based research and immediately applicable tools with deep HR expertise to position organizations to meet today's needs and prepare for the future. The global HR research and advisory firm's member organizations enjoy comprehensive resources, full-service diagnostics, workshops, action plans, and advisory services for all levels of HR professionals, from executive leadership to HR leaders and team members, that help shape workplaces where everyone thrives.

McLean & Company is a division of Info-Tech Research Group.

Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software and hundreds of industry analysts through the firm's Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact [email protected].

SOURCE McLean & Company