Espoused organisational values in relation to lived values experiences in the South African financial sector

Abstract

The present study explored the alignment between espoused (formally stated) organisational values and organisational members’ actual experiences of the lived behavioural values. The research was conducted within four companies (n = 249) in the South African financial sector. Formal documentation on the companies’ espoused values statements, semi-structured interviews and team sessions with organisational members representing all hierarchical levels in each company were used to collect data. Teamwork, customer and shareholder partnership, integrity, performance excellence and innovation, and respect appear to be important core espoused values for the four companies. The lived values experiences emphasised consensual-oriented behavioural values relating to teamwork, integrity, and collaboration as important aspects of the experienced organisational identity in each of the four companies. Clear alignment between the espoused entrepreneurial-oriented values (for example, performance excellence and innovation) and the lived values in each of the four companies was not revealed. Organisational leaders and practitioners should strive to introduce interventions that could help to achieve closer alignment between the espoused and lived organisational values to create authentic signature experiences of the organisational identity. The findings contribute new insights that may be considered in retaining key talent in the financial sector.