Aligning Societal and Military Culture

September 2011 Strategy Conference

Dr Alan Okros

Aligning Societal and Military Culture

September 2011 Strategy Conference

Dr Alan Okros

THE INSTITUTIONAL CONSTRUST

• The Organizational imperative:• Accomplish the mission through efficient and

effective use of personnel and resources

• The Professional imperative:• Ensure professional/ethical conduct and broad

social support

THE INSTITUTIONAL CONSTRUST

• The Organizational imperative:• Do what the government tells you to do

• The Professional imperative:• In a manner that seen as effective and legitimate in

the eyes of citizens

CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS

HUNTINGTON•A society apart•Single role: defend the nation•Solely focused on political direction•Conservative in values, beliefs and attitudes•Cautious and slow to change•Earns confidence of government through obedience

JANOWITZ•Part of society•Can perform multiple roles at home and internationally•Deeply embedded in larger society•Progressive in values, beliefs and attitudes•Open and adaptive to external change•Earns confidence of government and society as a profession

PROFESSIONS

• Provide a unique service to society

• Exclusive and identifiable group

• Apply a theory-based body of knowledge

• Special responsibility to society

• Governed by code of ethics

PROFESSIONAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Provide a unique service to society

• Jurisdiction

• Exclusive and identifiable group

• Identity

• Apply a theory-based body of knowledge

• Expertise

• Special responsibility to society

• Responsibility

• Governed by code of ethics

• Ethos

The Professional ConstructThe Professional Construct

• Jurisdiction

• Responsibility

• Expertise

• Identity

• Ethos

The Attributes The Construct

MILITARY ETHOS

• Broadly shared set of values, beliefs, assumptions and expectations

• Internalized by all members of the profession

• Regulated by the profession

• Accepted as legitimate by society

MILITARY ETHOS

• Set of values, beliefs, assumptions, expectations

• The shared military worldview

• Normative basis for regulating conduct

• Framework for independent ethical and moral reasoning

• Informs the implied social contract for individual

• Internalized by all members of the profession

• Regulated by the profession

• Accepted as legitimate by society

MILITARY ETHOS

• Set of values, beliefs, assumptions, expectations

• Internalized by all members of the profession

• Communicated through military socialization

• Developed through transformational leadership

• Reinforced through customs, traditions, oral history and myth making

• Reflected in operant military culture and unit climate

• Regulated by the profession

• Accepted as legitimate by society

MILITARY ETHOS

• Set of values, beliefs, assumptions, expectations

• Internalized by all members of the profession

• Regulated by the profession

• Articulated in behavioural standards

• Demonstrated through leadership by example

• Enforced through military justice and discipline

• Reinforced through reward systems

• Monitored through mechanisms of voice

• Accepted as legitimate by society

MILITARY ETHOS

• Set of values, beliefs, assumptions, expectations

• Internalized by all members of the profession

• Regulated by the profession

• Accepted as legitimate by society

• Central values are inferred from visible actions

• Communicated to government and society in an open and transparent manner

• Mediated by mass communication media

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ESPOUSED VERSUS OPERANT CULTURE

OPERANT CULTURE(WHAT IS)

ESPOUSED ETHOS(WHAT SHOULD BE)

ESPOUSED CUTLURE(WHAT SHOULD BE)

ESPOUSED VERSUS OPERANT CULTURE

OPERANT CULTURE(WHAT IS)

ESPOUSED VERSUS OPERANT CULTURE

OPERANT CULTURE(WHAT IS)

ESPOUSED ETHOS(WHAT SHOULD BE)

ROLE OF LEADERSHIP

ProfessionalConcepts

• Jurisdiction • Responsibility• Expertise• Identity• Ethos

LeadershipConcepts

• Mission focus• Competence• Cohesion• Teamwork• Conduct

Leadership operationalizes Professional concepts

INSTITUTIONAL LEADERSHIP

• Accomplish military objectives• Developing skills and enabling initiative

• Project values• Ensuring professional and ethical conduct

• Look after your troops• Generating commitment and honouring the social

contract• Comply with government legislation

• Ensuring transparency and accountability• Reflect society

• Incorporating social values in internal functions

PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP

• Provide a unique service to society• Manage evolution of the profession’s jurisdiction

• Exclusive and identifiable group• Develop professional identity• Manage meaning

• Apply a theory-based body of knowledge• Enable knowledge creation• Facilitate vigourous debate

• Special responsibility to society• Reflect broader society in internal functions

• Governed by code of ethics• Engage in professional self-regulation• Monitored perceived legitimacy • Inculcate professional values

ALIGNMENT

• THE PROFESSION• IDENTITY NORMS CUSTOMS

• THE ORGANIZATION• DIRECTION PRIORITIES CULTURE

• INDIVIDUALS• SKILLS VALUES MOTIVATION