ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE AS A STRATEGIC LEVER: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF ITS IMPACT ON ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE
Published:
2025-07-28Downloads
Abstract
Organizational culture has undergone a role shift, transitioning from being perceived as a normative dimension to becoming a strategic factor that determines the success of strategy implementation and organizational performance. This study aims to conduct a systematic review of the relationship between organizational culture, strategic levers, and organizational performance by referencing literature from the past five years. The method employed is a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) following the PRISMA 2020 protocol, analyzing 40 articles from reputable Scopus-indexed journals (Q1-Q4). The synthesis results indicate that organizational culture forms a value-based foundation that influences the structure and function of strategic levers, which indirectly strengthens organizational performance achievement. This study produces a conceptual framework mapping the culture-strategy-performance linkage and identifies research gaps in methodological dimensions, micro-level contexts, and culture-strategy synergy. Theoretically, this study enriches the Resource-Based View and Strategic Fit Model approaches. Practically, the findings provide guidance for managers in designing mutually supportive cultural and strategic systems. Future research is recommended to explore longitudinal approaches, mixed methods, and cross-cultural studies.
Keywords:
Organizational culture leverage strategy organizational performance management strategyReferences
Abu-Jarad, I. Y., Yusof, N., & Nikbin, D. (2010). A review paper on organizational culture and organizational performance. International Journal of Business and Social Science. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/284052612_A_review_paper_on_organizational_culture_and_organizational_performance
Ahmed, M., & Shafiq, S. (2014). The impact of organizational culture on organizational performance: A case study of telecom sector. International Journal of Commerce and Management. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Henarath-Opatha/post/What-is-the-relationship-between-organisational-culture-and-performance-Kindly-share-the-relevant-articles-related-to-it/attachment/59d655bd79197b80779acce5/AS%3A527162216517632%401502696674774/download/4-The-Impact-of-Organizational-Culture.pdf
Akpa, V. O., Asikhia, O. U., & Nneji, N. E. (2021). Organizational culture and organizational performance: A review of literature. Caleb University. https://www.publications.calebuniversity.edu.ng/caleb_uploads/2024/04/Organizational-Culture-and-Organizational-Performance-A-Review-of-Literature.pdf
Al-Ali, A. A., & Abu-Rumman, A. (2023). The impact of strategic alignment on organizational performance: The mediating role of innovation. Cogent Business & Management, 10(1), 2247873. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23311975.2023.2247873
Alameddine, A. (2025). Relation between innovation culture and perceived organizational performance in the Lebanese industrial sector. Advances in Business Strategy and Competitive Advantage, 10(29). https://journals.ekb.eg/article_401723.html
Al-Tit, A. A., & Omri, A. (2023). The impact of IT resources and strategic alignment on organizational performance: Evidence from Saudi Arabia. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 8(1), 100006. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666954422000060
Anwar, G., & Hasnu, S. (2023). Strategic planning and organizational performance: An empirical study on the manufacturing sector in Iraq. Sustainability, 15(15), 6690. https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/15/6690
Az-Zaakiyyah, H. K., Ausat, A. M. A., & Suherlan. (2023). Corporate culture and employee performance: The role of vision, mission, norms, and employee focus. Journal of Business and Management. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/381640512_Corporate_Culture_and_Employee_Performance_The_Role_of_Vision_Mission_Norms_and_Employee_Focus
Baas, J., Schotten, M., Plume, A., Côté, G., & Karimi, R. (2020). Scopus as a curated, high-quality bibliometric data source for academic research in quantitative science studies. Quantitative Science Studies, 1(1), 377–386. https://doi.org/10.1162/qss_a_00019
Bahuguna, P. C., Bangwal, D., & Kumar, R. (2023). Talent management and its impact on organizational commitment: An empirical investigation of Indian hospitality industry. SAGE Open, 13(2), 1–15. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/23197145221101436
Barajas, A. (2024). The role of organizational culture in enhancing workplace performance and employee engagement. Journal of Organizational Culture, Communications and Conflict. https://www.abacademies.org/articles/the-role-of-organizational-culture-in-enhancing-workplace-performance-and-employee-engagement-17228.html
Becker, B. E., & Gerhart, B. (2021). Human resource management as a strategic pengungkit for enhancing organizational performance: A theoretical framework. The Academy of Management Perspectives, 35(1), 67–83. https://journals.aom.org/doi/10.5465/amp.2019.0141
Bogale, A. T., & Debela, K. L. (2023). Organizational culture: A systematic review. Cogent Business & Management. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/379953222_Organizational_culture_a_systematic_review
Bortolotti, T., Boscari, S., & Xiao, C. Y. (2024). Pengungkitaging organizational culture to create competitive value from environmental practices. Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925527324001099
Chatman, J. A., & Cha, S. E. (2022). Leading by pengungkitaging culture. California Management Review, 45(4), 20–34. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.2307/41166186
Crittenden, V. L., & Crittenden, W. F. (2008). Building a capable organization: The eight pengungkits of strategy implementation. Business Horizons, 51(4), 301–309. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0007681308000335
Danko, L., & Crhová, Z. (2024). Rethinking the role of knowledge sharing on organizational performance in knowledge-intensive business services. Journal of the Knowledge Economy. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13132-024-02354-5
Detro, J. (2021). Examining the impact of supply chain technology implementations on supply chain effectiveness and firm value. Doctoral Dissertation, Franklin University. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/388855865
Ghaleb, B. D. S. (2024). The importance of organizational culture for business success. Jurnal Riset Multidisiplin dan Inovasi Teknologi. https://risetpress.com/index.php/jimat/article/download/1098/721/4949
Ghumiem, Salah H., Alawi, Nahg A. M., Al-Refaei, Abd A.-A., Masaud, Khairi A. R. (2022). Corporate culture and its effects on organizational performance. European Journal of Business and Management Research. https://www.ejbmr.org/index.php/ejbmr/article/view/1890
Gibbons, R., & Henderson, R. (2020). Organizational culture and performance. American Economic Review, 110(5), 120–129. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/276452818_Organizational_Culture_and_Performance
Gottlieb, J. Z., & Levin, I. (2009). Realigning organization culture for optimal performance: Six principles & eight practices. Retrieved from http://cmapspublic.ihmc.us/rid=1GSL8Z7MJ-6KPF99-QK9/realigning%20org%20culture.pdf
Graham, J. R., Harvey, C. R., Popadak, J., & Rajgopal, S. (2022). Corporate culture: Evidence from the field. Journal of Financial Economics, 146(3), 552–593. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304405X22001684
Halim, H. A., Ahmad, N. H., & Ramayah, T. (2014). The growth of innovative performance among SMEs: Pengungkitaging on organisational culture and innovative human capital. Retrieved from https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=d3c9c7bb3e6832a604bdf8035c80ff01c034b2dd
Hammouch, H. (2024). Performance measurement systems: Strategic pengungkit for value creation. iRASD Journal of Management, 6(2), 90–101. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/382195831_Performance_Measurement_Systems_Strategic_Pengungkit_for_Value_Creation
Han, S. J. (2002). A study on the relationship between nursing organizational culture and organizational performance. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration. https://koreascience.kr/article/JAKO200228835721421.pdf
Hermawan, A. A., & Bachtiar, E. (2021). Pengungkits of control and managerial performance: The importance of belief systems. Asia Pacific Journal of Business Administration. https://doi.org/10.3316/informit.147492932916229
Imran, M., Ismail, F., Arshad, I., & Zeb, F. (2022). The mediating role of innovation in the relationship between organizational culture and organizational performance in Pakistan's banking sector. Journal of Public Affairs, 22(3). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/353210403_The_mediating_role_of_innovation_in_the_relationship_between_organizational_culture_and_organizational_performance_in_Pakistans_banking_sector
Jaleha, A. A., & Machuki, V. N. (2018). Strategic leadership and organizational performance: A critical review of literature. European Scientific Journal, 14(35), 124–149. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/328026478.pdf
Kim, S. T., & Sun, L. (2024). Corporate culture, special items, and firm performance. International Journal of Financial Studies. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/383418395_Corporate_Culture_Special_Items_and_Firm_Performance
Kori, E. K., & Kiptoo, F. (2020). The effect of strategic change in organizational performance: A case study of Kenya Wildlife Service. International Journal of Economics, Commerce and Management, 8(7), 596–611. https://ijecm.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/5744.pdf
Kucharska, W., & Bedford, D. A. D. (2019). Knowledge sharing and organizational culture dimensions: Does job satisfaction matter? Electronic Journal of Knowledge Management, 17(1). https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3406496
Lativa, L., & Arsjah, R. J. (2024). The moderating role of the pengungkit of control (LoC) in the impact of culture, strategy, and environmental uncertainty on firm performance. Society: Journal of Social and Human Sciences, 12(2). https://societyfisipubb.id/index.php/society/article/view/727
LBS Research. (2024). Culture-led performance transformation in high-growth organizations. London Business School Working Paper. https://www.london.edu/think/culture-led-performance
LBS Research. (2024). Organizational culture, adaptation, and performance. London Business School Research. https://lbsresearch.london.edu/id/eprint/3654/1/culture%20and%20adaptation%20-%20with%20authors%20-%2020241101%20-%20FINAL.pdf
Leithy, W. E. (2017). Organizational culture and organizational performance. International Journal of Business and Social Science. https://www.academia.edu/download/103177511/organizational-culture-and-organizational-performance-2162-6359-1000442.pdf
Maduka, C. C., & Mangs, M. P. (2023). The impact of organizational culture on employees retention: A study of UBA. Journal of Business Management, Innovation and Creativity. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/381585690_THE_IMPACT_OF_ORGANIZATIONAL_CULTURE_ON_EMPLOYEES_RETENTION_BY
Maina, K. (2024). Knowledge sharing culture in multinational corporations. European Journal of Information and Knowledge Management. https://carijournals.org/journals/index.php/EJIKM/article/view/2061
Nicula, V. C., Fîrțescu, B. N., & Bostan, I. (2017). Organizational performance management at a strategic level: Advanced systems and tools. Journal for Ethics in Social Studies, 1(1), 27–34. https://lumenpublishing.com/journals/index.php/jess/article/download/782/pdf/2356
Nikpour, A. (2017). The impact of organizational culture on organizational performance: The mediating role of employee's organizational commitment. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/Delivery.cfm?abstractid=3333078
Olawale, Y. A., Balogun, E. O., & Ojo, E. O. (2023). Organizational culture and organizational performance. Journal of Business Management, Innovation and Creativity. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/381478886_ORGANIZATIONAL_CULTURE_AND_ORGANIZATIONAL_PERFORMANCE
Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J. M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M. M., Li, T., Loder, E. W., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., ... & Moher, D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ, 372, n71. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71
Petty, M. M., Beadles, N. A., & Chapman, D. F. (1995). Relationships between organizational culture and organizational performance. Psychological Reports, 76(2), 483–492. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.2466/pr0.1995.76.2.483
Pham, V. K., Vu, T. N. Q., Phan, T. T., & Nguyen, N. A. (2024). The impact of organizational culture on employee performance: A case study at foreign-invested logistics service enterprises approaching sustainability development. Sustainability, 16(15), 6366. https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/15/6366
Qatawneh, H. (2018). Hybrid communication as strategic pengungkit for improving performance: A study of supply chain integration. International Journal of Supply Chain Management, 7(5), 35–42. https://ojs.excelingtech.co.uk/index.php/IJSCM/article/view/2190
Ramadhan, M. Y., Hidayat, A. M., & Nugroho, H. (2024). The influence of organizational culture on performance and employee satisfaction at Telkom University. American Journal of Multidisciplinary Research & Development. https://www.ajmrd.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/E683950.pdf
Saif Ghaleb, B. D. (2024). Effect of organizational culture, organizational communication, quality of work life, work environment, and employee performance. Budapest International Research and Critics Institute Journal. https://bircu-journal.com/index.php/birci/article/download/5680/pdf
Shahzad, F., Luqman, R. A., & Khan, A. R. (2012). Impact of organizational culture on organizational performance: An overview. International Journal of Business and Social Science. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2012-22425-035
Snyder, H. (2019). Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines. Journal of Business Research, 104, 333–339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.07.039
Sørensen, J. B. (2002). The strength of corporate culture and the reliability of firm performance. Administrative Science Quarterly, 47(1), 70–91. https://doi.org/10.2307/3094891
Tranfield, D., Denyer, D., & Smart, P. (2003). Towards a methodology for developing evidence‐informed management knowledge by means of systematic review. British Journal of Management, 14(3), 207–222. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8551.00375
Wanjala, M. (2024). The impact of organizational culture on knowledge management practices. European Journal of Information and Knowledge Management. https://carijournals.org/journals/index.php/EJIKM/article/view/2064
Wu, L. F., Huang, I. C., Huang, W. C., & Du, P. L. (2019). Aligning organizational culture and operations strategy to improve innovation outcomes: An integrated perspective in organizational management. Journal of Organizational Change Management, 32(1), 95–113. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331663358_Aligning_organizational_culture_and_operations_strategy_to_improve_innovation_outcomes_An_integrated_perspective_in_organizational_management
Yarbrough, L., Morgan, N. A., & Vorhies, D. W. (2021). The impact of product market strategy–organizational culture fit on business performance. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 49(2), 292–314. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11747-010-0238-x
Yıldız, E. (2014). A study on the relationship between organizational culture and organizational performance and a model suggestion. International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/230936537.pdf
Young, D. W. (2000). The six pengungkits for managing organizational culture. Harvard Business School Working Paper. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/David-Young-8/publication/4884772_The_six_pengungkits_for_managing_organizational_culture/links/5a5ccce3a6fdcc68fa96e1cf/The-six-pengungkits-for-managing-organizational-culture.pdf
Yousif, O. A. (2020). The effect of strategic change in organizational performance: An empirical study on Oil Projects Company (SCOP). International Journal of Research in Social Sciences and Humanities, 10(3), 370–396. https://www.ijrssh.com/admin/upload/26%20Yousif%20Olaiwe.pdf
Zheng, W., Yang, B., & McLean, G. N. (2021). Linking organizational culture, structure, strategy, and organizational effectiveness: Mediating role of knowledge management. Journal of Business Research, 134, 469–480. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0148296309001714
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Maulana Ibrahim, Ig Jarot Febri Setyo Wibowo, Sopiah

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.




