Culture can be considered the immune system of a business because it defines the habits, customs, and ethics that guide the organization’s behavior and decision-making processes. This cultural framework acts as a protective mechanism, detecting, isolating, and neutralizing external and internal threats that could disrupt the institution’s functionality.

The immune system of a business is composed of various objects and processes that ensure the organization remains stable and adaptable in the face of challenges. The research on institutional cultures, developed at The Unicist Research Institute and led by Peter Belohlavek, began in 2001 and concluded in 2024. It involved monitoring the evolution of the cultures of ten international corporations and ten startups, as well as participating in the implementation of four institutional immune systems.

The immune system of businesses manages the detection, isolation, and neutralization of external elements that threaten the institution. This system functions as an adaptive mechanism to repel, annul, or neutralize business viruses. A business virus is a non-complete entity that disrupts the functionality of a business by substituting the institution’s goals with personal goals of its members. These viruses exploit the energy of the organization to sustain themselves, much like biological viruses that require a host to complete their life cycle.

Institutions are defined by their culture. The purpose of an institutional culture is to establish a comfort zone for its members. The active function is defined by the implicit immune system, which is based on its procedures, and the energy conservation function is its role as a belonging group. The gravitational force is the archetype of the culture, and the catalyst is the lifestyle of the society to which it belongs.

The unicist approach to institutional culture involves understanding its purpose, active function, energy conservation function, gravitational force, and catalyst.

Purpose: Establishing a Comfort Zone

The primary purpose of an institutional culture is to establish a comfort zone for its members. This comfort zone provides a stable environment where individuals can perform their roles effectively and feel a sense of belonging. It is shaped by the shared values, norms, and practices that define the institution.

Active Function: Implicit Immune System

The active function of an institutional culture is defined by its implicit immune system, which is based on its procedures. These procedures act as protective mechanisms that ensure the institution can adapt to changes and challenges. They filter out harmful influences and integrate beneficial ones, maintaining the functionality of the institution. The immune system helps to preserve the integrity of the institution by ensuring that its members adhere to established norms and practices.

Energy Conservation Function: Functionality as a Belonging Group

The energy conservation function of an institutional culture is its functionality as a belonging group. This function ensures that members feel included and supported within the institution. It provides a context of affective containment, economic support, and social inclusion, which are essential for the well-being and cohesion of the group. The sense of belonging fosters loyalty and commitment among members, contributing to the institution’s stability and longevity.

Gravitational Force: Archetype of the Culture

The gravitational force that sustains an institutional culture is its archetype. The archetype provides a foundational framework that shapes the institution’s identity and values. It is the underlying structure that holds the institution together, guiding its evolution and ensuring its coherence. The archetype reflects the collective aspirations and ethical standards of the institution, influencing its norms, beliefs, and behaviors.

Catalyst: Lifestyle of the Society

The catalyst for an institutional culture is the lifestyle of the society it belongs to. The lifestyle reflects the dynamic aspects of the society, including its habits, practices, and ways of living. It influences how the institution adapts to new circumstances and opportunities, playing a crucial role in its ongoing development. The lifestyle acts as a bridge between the institution and the external environment, facilitating the integration of new elements into the culture.

Cultural Objects of Institutions’ Culture

The unicist approach to understanding the cultural objects of institutions involves analyzing how these objects influence various aspects of the institution, including the comfort zone, immune system, belonging groups, archetype, and lifestyle. These cultural objects are essential for establishing the values and functionality of an institution. 

Comfort Zone: Technologies

The comfort zone of institutions is defined by the technologies they manage to achieve their objectives. Technologies provide the tools and methods necessary for the institution to function effectively and efficiently. They create a stable environment where members can perform their roles with confidence, knowing that they have the resources needed to meet their goals. Technologies also facilitate innovation and adaptation, allowing the institution to evolve and stay relevant in a changing environment.

Immune System: Rules and Procedures

The immune system of an institution is sustained by the established rules and procedures. These rules and procedures act as protective mechanisms that ensure the institution can adapt to changes and challenges. They filter out harmful influences and integrate beneficial ones, maintaining the functionality of the institution. The immune system helps to preserve the integrity of the institution by ensuring that its members adhere to established norms and practices, thereby preventing dysfunction and chaos.

Belonging Groups: Humor

Belonging groups within an institution are driven by the use of humor to develop the necessary catharsis for conflicts. Humor serves as a social lubricant, helping to ease tensions and foster a sense of camaraderie among members. It allows individuals to express their concerns and frustrations in a non-threatening way, facilitating conflict resolution and promoting a positive group dynamic. Humor helps to maintain a cohesive and supportive environment, essential for the well-being and productivity of the institution.

Archetype: Reward and Punishment System

The archetype of an institution’s culture is sustained by its reward and punishment system. This system provides a foundational framework that shapes the institution’s identity and values. It reflects the collective aspirations and ethical standards of the institution, guiding behavior and decision-making. The reward and punishment system reinforces desired behaviors and discourages undesirable ones, ensuring that members align with the institution’s goals and values. It acts as a gravitational force, holding the institution together and directing its development.

Lifestyle: Teamwork

The lifestyle of an institution is materialized through teamwork among its members. Teamwork reflects the dynamic aspects of the institution, including its habits, practices, and ways of living. It promotes collaboration, communication, and mutual support, essential for achieving the institution’s objectives. Teamwork facilitates the integration of new elements into the culture, driving innovation and adaptation. It acts as a catalyst for change, enhancing the institution’s ability to respond to new circumstances and opportunities.

Conclusion

The unicist approach to the cultural objects of institutions involves a comprehensive analysis of the comfort zone, immune system, belonging groups, archetype, and lifestyle. By understanding the functionality and interplay of these elements, one can effectively manage and influence the evolution of an institution. Technologies define the comfort zone, rules and procedures sustain the immune system, humor drives belonging groups, the reward and punishment system sustains the archetype, and teamwork materializes the lifestyle. These cultural objects are essential for establishing the values and functionality of an institution, ensuring its stability, adaptability, and ongoing development.