Reference #419: Organizational Culture and Leadership
Culture can be analysed at several different levels of visibility. From most observable to the most deeply embedded, the levels are as follows: artifacts, espoused beliefs and values, and basic underlying assumptions.
Artifacts are what you see, hear, and feel when encountering an unfamiliar culture. A culture's architecture, language, and technology, its art and style, and its myths, stories, rituals, and ceremonies are all artifacts.
Espoused beliefs and values are how group members explain why they do what they do. These beliefs may not necessarily be reflected in observed behaviour.
Basic underlying assumptions define how the group views the world. They tell group members who they are, how to act (and react), and what things means.
Schein. Organizational Culture and Leadership, 2017. (17-23)