What makes our office different

Today, after a long time I met up with a friend who has recently shifted from Germany to India. Over cups of coffee at Starbucks our conversation veered towards the differences of workplace culture between India and abroad. And for that matter, even between workplaces within India. It can be generally understood that the difference is more of a mindset than physical. Underneath there are just a couple of variables whose permutations and combinations can result in widely different work environments.

For instance, the work principles of the head office can play a major role. Specially, if there is strong and deep interaction between the Indian office and the Head office abroad with frequent visits and transfers.  Stronger HR policy implementation and controls such as emphasis on certain values or ethics also help to this effect. In that case, as is often in IT and ITES companies the head office culture rubs on the local office. Certain aspects of organizational culture like information sharing, trust for the employees and integrity very easily percolate into the local offices in this way.

Another parameter that strikes as may be important in shaping the local office environment is the general portfolio of employees. Consulting firms with hiring predominantly from top B-Schools have a very different culture than other organizations. And the difference is not just because of different work requirements. The educational and professional background of the majority of employees or at least that of the top layer of the office plays a major role. Apart from educational or professional background, the age of the employees also make a huge difference. How formal or informal a place is, how cut-throat or laid back an environment is can well be decided by the background of the employees.

The other obvious aspect that defines the local office environment are the rules written or unwritten and the monitoring of the following of these rules. A workplace that has strict timings is more likely to have an environment where people come and go on time and is less likely to have employees reporting late for work or leaving without completing their tasks.

However, no singular factor is responsible for any prevailing work culture. It is a combination of all the above three and also a myriad of other factors which lead to a single cultural identity in an office. And every office thus shaped by its policies and more importantly its people gains a unique persona.