Organizational culture represents a perception that the organization’s members share. Statements about organizational culture are valid only if individuals with different backgrounds or at different levels in the organization describe the culture in similar terms. The dominant culture expresses the core values that a majority of members share and that give the organization its distinct personality.

Subcultures tend to develop in large organizations in response to common problems that a group of members face in the same department or location. Most large organizations have a dominant culture and numerous subcultures. Sometimes the subcultures can be so strong, however, that they subtly reject the “official” culture.