Similarly, some organizational cultures place a premium on trying new approaches: "If it isn't broken, break it and see if you can put it back together better than it was before." These cultures are willing to risk mistakes in the service of possible innovations. They're more intellectually venturesome but often don't have as clear a plan to achieve their business goals.

Other cultures embody savvy, time-tested pragmatism: not making a mistake is more important than trying something new that might result in a small gain. Getting things done well, and demonstrating competency in fundamental skill areas ~ these are the keys to career success. These cultures are characterized by stability and consistency.