A new EU-funded study suggests that many European organisations are struggling to balance strong workplace culture with the need for speed and innovation. The Culture Compass 2026 report, developed by Rotterdam School of Management at Erasmus University and the Meet Your Purpose think tank, draws on responses from more than 540 managers and employees across Austria, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. It identifies what researchers describe as a “productivity paradox”, in which employees feel valued and engaged but are constrained by slow decision-making and limited autonomy.
The findings indicate that 42 percent of organisations are characterised by a collaborative, “clan”-style culture, focused on teamwork and cohesion. At the same time, 41 percent of respondents cite bureaucracy and slow…
