Culture Workshops: Introduction

These workshops give commanding officers a snapshot of their unit's culture. This snapshot is developed by trained facilitators who carefully listen to unit members. The workshops identify potential hazards that might interfere with mission accomplishment. They also identify command strengths. Using the workshop findings, unit leaders can better focus on those areas requiring risk assessment and risk controls. The ultimate goal is operational excellence and the development of positive behaviors that contribute to warfighthing success.

Items of Interest
CSA-MCAS Overview   FY '09 Culture Workshop Summary Message   CSA/MCAS Issue Papers Marine Corps Gazette: Leadership, Culture, and Operational Excellence  






Package Info

To request more information on how to schedule a Culture Workshop at your command, send an email or call the schedule POC. Below is a sample of the package you will receive should you decide to schedule a Culture Workshop:

Process Details POC Responsibilities Team Member Responsibilities

Facilitators:

Active duty and reserve officers who have completed 195 Aviation Culture Workshops over FY08 and FY09. To view the latest Culture Workshop Calendar, please click the link below.

Culture Workshop Schedule  

Background Articles

The following articles provide some background information on the culture workshop:

Thoughts on the Culture Workshop, by Capt. David Quessenberry, USNR   Culture Shock, by Lt. Pat DeConcini, The Combat Edge (Jan. 1995)   Zero Tolerance, by William Matthews, Air Force Times (May 20, 1996)   Culture Workshops, by Capt. Dave Quessenberry and LtCol. Spike Boyer

Note:  These articles are in .doc format.  If you have trouble loading in your browser, you can download the document to your hard drive by right-clicking on the link and selecting "Save Target As" from the menu.

FY09 Participating Commander's Feedback To The Question: To what extent would you recommend this program for other squadrons?

A few of the comments that commanding officers have made during their debriefs:

    A Commanding Officer would be a fool to not utilize this resource. It is free and it works…what a great deal.

    I have recommended this program to all my fellow CO’s in my Airwing, my CAG and DCAG, my friends that are CO’s on the seawall, and the Commodore and Deputy Commodore of my Administrative Wing.

    You’re failing as a CO if you don’t take advantage of this program.

    Highly recommend as it has confirmed my gut feelings about the squadron and provided some tangible items to address.

    100% support for this workshop in every command!!

    Without question a "must" especially for new CO's, XO's, and OIC's. This tool is a great benefit to get a quick multi demographic feedback on where the Command is and where it needs to go or stay.

    Do it, you'll be glad you did. Opens your eyes to things the leadership may not have even noticed. Gets the right things into your scan.

    I would highly recommend that all units take advantage of this resource.

    Absolutely, an unbiased outside look is always useful to keep your unit on track.

    Absolutely recommend, a necessity.

    An absolute must.

    It is a great lead off into a CO’s call. I used it as talking points to get them started and they expounded from these talking points which made the CO's call more effective.

    Highly recommend this program to other squadrons, especially coupled with an MCAS/CSA. It gives you the most complete picture of where your command is at.

    I believe we can not have too many (unbiased) feedback mechanisms in this business. This is a low-threat, low-impact, high-quality process that can only benefit a CO. I strongly recommend continuing this process within squadrons.

    If you truly desire to garner the pulse of your organization, I highly recommend other squadrons participate in this forum.

    Highest recommendation. More value added than another survey. Minimal impact to me and the squadron when we were very busy.

Last Modified: Friday, March 12, 2010