Is culture change a fad? Driving business results at Penna, ten years on

Abstract

Purpose

Ten years ago Penna, the global HR services group, needed a radical business and culture re-invention if it was to survive. This article aims to tell the story behind Penna's journey and describe how a sustainable culture change intervention became the cornerstone of a successful business.

Design/methodology/approach

This case study is the result of an initial ethnographical research followed by concrete and systemic interventions.

Findings

The case study identifies four elements that sustained the business impact of a culture change program over a significant period of time.

Originality/value

This longitudinal case study follows a culture change program in an organizational context over a period of ten years.

Citation

White, B., Browning, G. and Bajer, J. (2014), "Is culture change a fad? Driving business results at Penna, ten years on", Strategic HR Review, Vol. 13 No. 3, pp. 123-126. https://doi.org/10.1108/SHR-01-2014-0007