Generative Cultures

Generative Cultures with Ron Westrum is a series based on conversations with Professor Ron Westrum, one of the world’s leading experts on organizational culture. The “Westrum Continuum” of generative, bureaucratic and pathological organizational cultures is the most widely used foundational framework for understanding organizational culture.

Season one covers a variety of topics, from Ron’s upbringing to his initial research and three books, as well as diving deeper into his research. This series was made in collaboration with Shared Vision Toolkit.

Episode One: Family of Origin (Part 1)

This conversation explores Westrum’s family of origin, giving some background and context to how he fell into his profession. We discuss why Ron’s father is the first technical maestro he looked up to. This conversation further discusses his parents, members of the Manhattan Project, as well as why he didn’t end up working for the RAND Corporation, but instead chose to become a professor.

Episode Two: Family of Origin (Part 2)

This episode is the second half of the conversation exploring Ron’s family of origin and education. We discuss Ron's academic journey and some influential early mentors, as well as his engagement with the Rand Corporation. The theme of the importance of multi-disciplinary perspectives emerges and influences Ron's decision to pursue a career as a professor.

Episode Three: Intellectual Partnerships

This short bonus episode was a completely unplanned conversation surrounding Intellectual Partnerships. Off camera, Ron had been asked about leaders in technical cultures. He began describing how both him and his father experienced smart people attracting other smart people, describing this as a dance. We had already begun rolling and had therefore captured and have kept this fascinating conversation as a short bonus episode.