Introduction
Culture is the invisible force that shapes how organizations think, act, and innovate. Yet, many companies struggle to measure and align their culture with their innovation goals. This is where Culture Mapping in My360’s Capability Analyzer comes in.
Culture Mapping helps organizations visualize their cultural DNA, understand its impact on innovation, and compare cultural profiles across different teams, industries, and regions. By leveraging this tool, companies can align leadership styles, collaboration dynamics, and decision-making processes to foster sustainable innovation.
This article explores how Culture Mapping works, how to use it effectively, and how the Advanced Clipboard featureenables deeper cultural comparisons.
🚨 Note: Access to Culture Mapping requires a Green Belt certification. If you don’t have access, contact your My360 Success Manager.
Why Culture Matters for Innovation?
Organizational culture determines how employees collaborate, take risks, and embrace change—all of which are critical for innovation. Research shows that companies with a culture that supports innovation are:
✅ 5x more likely to be market leaders in their industries.
✅ 3x more adaptable to market disruptions.
✅ More effective in implementing new ideas and turning them into scalable solutions.
However, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to innovation culture. Some companies thrive in structured, process-driven environments, while others excel with flexibility and creative freedom.
Culture Mapping helps leaders understand their current cultural positioning and how it affects innovation performance.
How Culture Mapping Works in My360
Culture Mapping is available in My360’s Capability Analyzer under the Culture Map menu. It evaluates an organization’s culture based on two primary dimensions:
Flexibility vs. Stability – Does the company embrace change or prioritize structure?
Independence vs. Interdependence – Does the company emphasize individual decision-making or team collaboration?
The result is a Culture Map diagram that places the organization within a cultural framework of eight distinct culture types.
Understanding the Eight Culture Types
Every organization has a dominant cultural profile, which determines how they approach innovation and problem-solving.
Culture Type | Description | Example Company |
Purpose | Values sustainability and mission-driven work. | Whole Foods |
Caring | Emphasizes relationships, teamwork, and collaboration. | Disney |
Order | Focuses on structure, rules, and compliance. | SEC |
Safety | Minimizes risk, prioritizing security and stability. | Lloyd’s of London |
Authority | Centralized leadership with strong decision-making control. | Huawei |
Results | Performance-driven and focused on efficiency. | GSK |
Enjoyment | Encourages creativity, engagement, and employee happiness. | Zappos |
Learning | Knowledge-sharing and continuous innovation. | Tesla |
📌 Most companies have a hybrid culture combining multiple elements. For example,
Results + Authority culture focuses on performance and strong leadership, while
Learning + Enjoyment culture fosters creativity and exploration.
How to Use the Culture Map
Step 1: Access Culture Mapping
Log into My360 and go to Capability Analyzer.
Set the Primary and Compare filter
Select Culture Map from the Select area of analysis dropdown.
📌 If you don’t see this option, you may not have Green Belt access.
Step 2: Choose Raster or No Raster
There are two ways to visualize the Culture Map:
✅ Without Raster: Shows the culture types on the Flexibility-Stability and Independence-Interdependence axes.
✅ With Horizon Raster: Maps the culture to Three Horizons of Innovation (H1, H2, H3) to determine whether it supports short-, mid-, or long-term innovation.
📌 Use the Horizon Raster if you want to align your culture with innovation timeframes.
Step 3: Interpret Your Culture Map
If your organization leans toward flexibility → It’s well-suited for disruptive innovation but may lack structured processes.
If your organization leans toward stability → It’s strong in incremental improvements but may struggle with radical change.
If your organization is independent → Decision-making is fast, but there may be a lack of collaboration.
If your organization is interdependent → Teams work well together, but agility could be a challenge.
📌 The red dot (Center of Gravity) on the Culture Map shows your organization’s dominant culture type.
Using the Advanced Clipboard to Compare Culture Maps
One of the most powerful features in My360’s Culture Mapping is the ability to compare different cultural profiles using the Advanced Clipboard.
How to Compare Culture Maps
Tick the box "Copy data to clipboard" in the Primary filter (see screenshot).
Open Advanced Clipboard in Capability Analyzer.
Add multiple datasets (e.g., different countries, business units, or industries).
Compare cultural differences across organizations
What Can You Compare?
✅ Regional Cultural Differences – How does company culture vary between Europe and North America?
✅ Business Unit Comparisons – Does the R&D team have a different culture from Operations?
✅ Industry Benchmarks – How does your culture compare to leading innovators in your industry?
📌 Using the Advanced Clipboard helps organizations make data-driven decisions on cultural transformation.
How Culture Mapping Supports Innovation
Culture Mapping is not just about understanding your current culture—it’s about aligning it with your innovation strategy.
🚀 Radical Innovation (Horizon 3) thrives in Learning, Purpose, and Enjoyment cultures.
⚙️ Incremental Innovation (Horizon 1) succeeds in Order, Safety, and Results cultures.
🔄 Balanced Innovation Portfolios (Horizon 2) require a mix of flexibility and interdependence.
📌 If your company’s culture does not align with its innovation goals, leadership must take action to shift behaviors and priorities.
Best Practices for Using Culture Mapping
✅ Reassess culture over time – Measure cultural shifts after major organizational changes.
✅ Align leadership with culture goals – Ensure leadership style supports desired innovation outcomes.
✅ Use the Horizon Raster for strategic planning – Map culture to short-, mid-, and long-term innovation strategies.
✅ Encourage collaboration – If teams operate in silos, introduce cross-functional innovation programs.
Conclusion
Culture Mapping in My360 is a game-changer for organizations seeking to align their culture with innovation strategy. By understanding how cultural traits influence collaboration, decision-making, and adaptability, companies can make data-driven adjustments to foster innovation success.
🔎 Key Takeaways:
✅ Culture shapes innovation—flexibility, stability, independence, and interdependence all play a role.
✅ The Culture Map identifies dominant culture styles and their impact on innovation.
✅ The Advanced Clipboard allows for deep comparisons across countries, industries, and business units.
✅ Organizations should align culture with innovation goals to drive long-term success.