It’s possible to differentiate between strong and weak culture. If most employees have the same opinions about the organization’s mission and values, the culture is strong; if opinions vary widely, the culture is weak. In a strong culture, the organization’s core values are both intensely held and widely shared. The more members who accept the core values and the greater their commitment, the stronger the culture and the greater its influence on member behavior.

A strong culture should more directly affect organizational outcomes because it demonstrates high agreement about what the organization represents. Such unanimity of purpose builds cohesiveness, loyalty, meaning, and organizational commitment.