Planning for Cloud Integration: Pitfalls and Advantages - Deploying and Managing a Cloud Infrastructure - page 386

Trompenaars and Hampden-Turner's model proposes two dimensions. The first dimen-
sion discusses hierarchical against egalitarian organizational structure. The second discusses
innovation against efficiency, which balances individual talent and process (i.e., person versus
task). They used these dimensions to define four types of cultures:
Incubator These are the companies that spawn new ideas. Ideas are discussed openly,
workplaces are usually casual, and discipline is driven more by trust and less by rules.
Examples include Silicon Valley startups, including the ones with large funding and
impressive market valuations.
Guided These are companies that have egalitarian structure and whose mission and vision
defines processes and guides high-level decisions. Ideas are appreciated but at a lower level.
Missions and projects are central and crucial to organizational goals. NASA is an example
of a guided culture.
Eiffel Tower These are the companies that have a classical hierarchical culture that practices
explicit delegation of responsibilities and tasks. Communication is generally top-down rather
than bottom-up. People moving into this culture from other cultures require time to adjust.
Examples include many successful commercial firms.
Family This is a hierarchical archetype that displays family or family-like close relationships
controlling major decisions and strategy. Criticism is handled privately. Examples include
very successful Japanese and Chinese firms.
Figure 13.1 shows different organizational cultures. Note that hierarchical and egali-
tarian cultures can implement the same practices; they just do so differently. Also note
that in an incubator culture, a wiki can be used to share knowledge and discuss or debate
ideas. The role of the management is to let the wiki grow. However, in a family culture,
wiki content has to be filtered through a workflow process.

FIGURE 13.1 Different organizational cultures

Guided
missile

Eiffel
tower

Task

Egalitarian Hierarchical

Incubator Person Family

Mapping Out an Adaption Plan

The cloud is disruptive, and it is important to acknowledge that moving to a cloud-based
service model is a major shift in organizational culture and thinking. Adapting to the cloud