Preferred Type of Organizational Culture in Light of Surveys of Employees Operating in an Agile Work Environment
Abstract
Background
Modern times, which are often characterized as volatile and unpredictable, are prompting companies to use agile working methods. Agility is described as an answer to the challenges faced by today’s organizations, as it offers the opportunity to respond almost instantly to customer demand and minimize waste. One of the elements supporting employees performing professional tasks under agile working conditions is a favorable organizational culture. Creating the right working conditions for employees, in line with their preferences, can contribute to their well-being and productivity, and thus to the success of the entire enterprise.
Research objectives
The purpose of this article is to identify and present the preferences of employees performing their professional tasks under agile working conditions in the area of organizational culture dimensions (in accordance with the typology of K. Cameron and R. Quinn). This article presents the results of an empirical study conducted among employees of IT companies that are part of the ICT cluster of Central Poland.
Methodology
This article is empirical in nature. The survey was conducted in January–March 2022 in 8 ICT enterprises that are part of the ICT cluster of Central Poland. All enterprises participating in the survey were large enterprises. The survey included 249 members of agile teams performing their professional tasks under agile working conditions. The survey was conducted using a proprietary research questionnaire.
Results
The results of this study showed that according to members of agile task forces, the preferred type of organizational culture is the market type, according to K. Cameron and R. Quinn’s typology. These employees prefer it when stability and control prevail in the organization, and they are required to comply with numerous formal rules and regulations. They prefer work characterized by immutability, orderliness, stability, and increased control. The success of an organization is measured in terms of market share and penetration, competitive pricing and being a leader, and as a result, the organization is mainly oriented to its position in the environment and differentiation.
Originality
This article is an original and valuable resource for both those with real influence on the functioning of employees in agile work environments and members of agile teams, making an important contribution to the field of research on the functioning of employees in agile work environments in the context of their preferred organizational culture solutions.
© 2025 Olga Samuel-Idzikowska, published by Jagiellonian University
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.