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Culture Is How An Enterprise Honors It Mission
When Portuguese colonists first came across manioc in South America, they were a bit perplexed by the elaborate, multi-day process the indigenous people followed before consuming it. Some steps, like boiling the raw tuber to eliminate its bitterness and prevent digestive issues, appeared practical. Others, however, seemed more driven by superstition than anything else.
So when they transferred the crop to West Africa they streamlined the process. Yet, as Joseph Henrich explains in The Secret of our Success, the original ritual was more practical than it seemed. As it turns out, manioc, if not properly processed, has low levels of cyanide, which accumulate over time and cause chronic poisoning.
What the Portuguese didn’t realize was that they were seeing survivors — those who had inherited the knowledge to process manioc safely. Others who ignored these practices had died out. This same dynamic plays out in business. Leaders often see long-standing practices as outdated inefficiencies — when in reality, they may serve a critical, unseen function.”
Culture Is What You Don’t See
Businesses, like the Portuguese colonizers, often prioritize efficiency without recognizing the hidden value in institutional traditions. For example, when Bob Nardelli took over as CEO at Home…
