our research process

step 1: Defining your target culture to achieve your strategy

We work with you in a facilitated session to select the target qualities you need to connect your culture to your strategy. We use a process that explores the company’s strategic imperatives and, through this, select the priority areas for culture development. If the organisation has pre-existing values, we use this session to align them to the Mettle Culture Gauge (MCG) survey. The qualities you define as your priorities are set at a score of 70% and illustrated in a Target Culture Gauge as pictured below in figure 1.

Figure 1. Sample Target Gauge

Step 2: Assessing your current culture

At Mettle we use both the Mettle Culture Gauge (quantitative) and Message Mapping interviews and focus groups (qualitative) to discover:

• The drivers of the culture—the messages that people receive about how to behave and the sources of these messages
• The actual and perceived strengths and weaknesses—the barriers to achieving your strategy
• The underlying values and beliefs of the organisation that guide (often unconsciously) the decisions and behaviours of your people
• The ‘unwritten rules’ which form the basis of the culture

Figure 2. Sample Target Gauge versus Actual Gauge

Step 3: Understanding your results

As part of this diagnostic, you will receive a report that shows you how people experience your culture. This will allow you to see what aspects of your culture are limiting or enhancing your ability to execute your strategy.

The culmination of the diagnostic takes place in the report you receive. Through our interpretation and analysis of all your quantitative and qualitative information, we create a clear story of how people experience your culture and the strengths and barriers to achieving your strategy. We clearly show you the gap between what you say you need culturally and what you currently have, and then outline how to close that gap.

From here we work with your executive team in a debriefing session to understand the results. In this session we look at the gap between what you said you needed to achieve your strategy and your actual results. We draw on your experiences and understanding of the organisation to gain further insights. At the end of this session you will have a clear picture of your next steps.

>> Download the Mettle Research Brochure (2.94MB)

"The quality of the research provided great insight into helping us understand our culture. The way Mettle presented the findings was refreshing and created a clear story for us of what is working, the potential cultural barriers to achieving our strategy and recommendations for moving forward.”