Command and Control

The First Dimension
  • Our leadership is democratic, not autocratic

  • People can question management's judgment

  • Employees make independent decisions

Who ‘calls the shots’? Who makes the rules? Does everyone have a voice, or will decisions always be handed down from ‘on high’?

When a decision gets passed down from above, is it OK to criticize or question it? Must we always stay quiet and accept the mandate?

These questions are all about ‘command and control’ in corporate culture. We investigate how leadership makes decisions and how much input they welcome from lower levels.

In addition to questions about management, we also want to know how independently all employees are encouraged to act. What happens when someone has a great idea? Can they simply go ahead and act on it, or do they need to stop and ask permission?


Let’s examine the first dimension of corporate culture – ‘command and control’ – by looking at its height, width, and depth:

  • Height: Do people feel free (or not) to question management’s judgment going up the ranks?
  • Width: How widespread is leadership control and influence: across the organization or centered at the top?
  • Depth: Are individuals trusted to make decisions independently? This can create a deep, positive attitude that saturates the fabric of the corporate culture.

To investigate these areas and find out what it’s really like in the working world, we asked for comments on these 3 statements:

  • Our leadership is democratic, not autocratic
  • People are allowed and encouraged to question management’s judgment
  • Low level employees make independent decisions

As we analyze global data in this section, we will also look closely at Sam. Keep his style in mind as you go through each dimension. Remember, Sam keeps his office door shut unless he’s shouting out demands. He’s the one who says: “I hire people to do the work. I’ll do the thinking.”

Already taken the survey? Check out the results that can help your corporate culture.