SHRM Unveils Landmark Global Workplace Culture Framework

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – SHRM, the trusted authority on work, workers, and workplaces, today announced the release of its 2026 Global Workplace Culture Report, a comprehensive study that sought to understand the core components of organizational culture from workers across 25 countries spanning six continents. This pioneering research provides an in-depth analysis emphasizing that organizational culture is dynamic and multifaceted.

Based on insights from 27,159 workers spanning six continents, including the United States, United Kingdom, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates, the research introduces the SHRM Workplace Culture Navigator, a model that categorizes organizational culture across three core dimensions: Strategic Orientation, Work Processes and Systems, and Interactions and Relationships. Each dimension contains six subdimensions with neutral but opposing orientations—such as long-term growth vs. short-term stability mindset, and flat, decentralized vs. hierarchical, centralized structures. Developed through a rigorous review and a validated 46-item assessment, the Workplace Navigator identifies eight distinct culture types and provides a practical framework for understanding culture types and their associated performance outcomes. The findings show that organizational culture is shaped by strategy and values, not geography or sector. All eight types are present across industries, organization sizes, and regions, underscoring the diversity of approaches organizations take to structuring work, decision-making, and relationships.

The culture types demonstrate varying strengths across cultural dimensions. Differing scores on outcome variables highlight the distinct differences among culture types. Some cultures focus on expanding the business, while others emphasize structured decision-making for dependable results.

These culture types include:

Growth Collaborator, Strategic Architect, Resolute Maverick, Ambitious Maverick, Steady Collaborator, Tactical Architect, Efficient Achiever and Disciplined Achiever.

• Growth Collaborator was the most prevalent culture type, representing 37.2% of organizations, followed by Strategic Architect at 16.8%.
• The least common types were Resolute Maverick (3.3%) and Ambitious Maverick (4.5%).

There is no universal “right” culture; instead, organizations must align cultural practices with strategic goals, operational needs, and workforce dynamics to thrive. Leaders are encouraged to adopt a data-driven approach to understand and leverage their unique cultural identity, fostering inclusivity, adaptability, and alignment between leadership and cultural objectives.

“Organizational culture is no longer a matter of tradition or geography—it’s a strategic asset shaped by conscious choices, said Dr. Alex Alonso, Ph.D., SHRM-SCP, Chief Knowledge Officer. The findings in our 2026 Global Workplace Culture Report challenge leaders to move beyond assumptions and use evidence to understand what truly drives their teams. With the SHRM Workplace Culture Navigator, organizations gain a practical lens to identify their cultural strengths and gaps, enabling them to build environments where both people and performance thrive. The future belongs to leaders who treat culture as a dynamic lever for growth, resilience, and innovation.”

Discover the 2026 Global Workplace Culture Report

Access the 2026 Global Workplace Culture Report now to unlock critical insight into global organizational culture. Delve into:

• A comprehensive model conceptualizing and measuring a global organizational culture model.
• Clear definitions of various organizational culture types based on the model’s dimensions and subdimensions.
• In-depth analysis of characteristics and variations across organizational culture types.
• Detailed highlights of characteristics, culture subdimensions, and outcomes for each culture type.

About SHRM

SHRM is a member-driven catalyst for creating better workplaces where people and businesses thrive together. As the trusted authority on all things work, SHRM is the foremost expert, researcher, advocate, and thought leader on issues and innovations impacting today’s evolving workplaces. With nearly 340,000 members in 180 countries, SHRM touches the lives of more than 362 million workers and their families globally. Discover more at SHRM.org.