Which aspect of corporate culture often defines how staff treat each other?

The aspect of corporate culture that most directly defines how staff treat each other is the management style. This is because management style encompasses the approaches and techniques that managers use to interact with employees, make decisions, and foster communication within the organization. A participative management style, for example, encourages collaboration and inclusivity, leading to respectful and supportive interactions among staff. In contrast, an authoritarian style might create a more hierarchical environment, where communication can be less open and collegial.

While the mission statement reflects the organization's overarching goals and values, it does not dictate day-to-day interactions among employees. Similarly, official corporate culture refers to the formalized values and objectives that a company promotes but may not translate into actual behavior among employees. Real corporate culture, on the other hand, is the manifestation of the everyday interactions and behaviors exhibited by staff, which can be heavily influenced by the management style in place. Thus, understanding and analyzing the management style provides critical insight into the dynamics of employee relationships within the organization.