As a psychologist it is interesting to observe some of the recent high-profile failures of large organisations in Australia and internationally to act in a socially health way. To be fair these symptoms are not exclusive to organisations of this size and profile. I have wondered if the clinical approach taken in psychology to assessment and diagnosis for individuals would apply to organisational culture. Whether a diagnosis of depression or anxiety would suggest an organisational culture which has elements of fear or loss and helplessness. Whether a diagnosis of schizophrenia would suggest an organisation which has lost touch with the external world, and is responding to perceived, rather than actual external factors. Where a grandiose culture suggests a culture with a narcissistic personality. Whilst I have simplified the criteria for these diagnoses, the majority of them also require that a significant functional impact to the individual also exist. For organisations this plays out as impact on key stakeholders such as customers, employees and the societies they operate in.
From a psychological perspective what is equally important is would evidence based treatments for individuals, also apply to and be effective for organisations. For psychologists, evidence based interventions represent the gold standard of treatment as these are proven ways of treating a particular group of mental health symptoms which offer the best possible chances of achieving the related treatment outcome. If organisation stakeholders, or regulators, could assess and diagnose corporate cultures, would it then be possible that after treatment, for organisations to be symptom free. This would then allow them to operate in their environment in a way which was healthier for all stakeholders.

Something to consider….