Why is organizational culture important to understand in context to training and development? Select one: a. It illustrates the core organizational mission statement. b. It helps to determine the norms that exist in an organization and the expected behaviours. c. It is external to the performance management process. d. It is important only in bureaucratic organizations.

The correct answer is **b. It helps to determine the norms that exist in an organization and the expected behaviours.**<br /><br />Here's why:<br /><br />* **Organizational culture** encompasses the shared values, beliefs, assumptions, and behaviors that govern how people interact and work within an organization. Understanding this culture is crucial for effective training and development because it informs what knowledge, skills, and attitudes are valued, how learning is approached, and how new skills and knowledge will be applied on the job.<br /><br />Let's look at why the other options are incorrect:<br /><br />* **a. It illustrates the core organizational mission statement.** While culture can reflect elements of the mission statement, it's much broader than that. The mission statement defines the *purpose* of the organization, while culture describes *how* things get done.<br />* **c. It is external to the performance management process.** Culture is deeply intertwined with performance management. The behaviors and outcomes valued within the culture will influence performance expectations and how performance is evaluated.<br />* **d. It is important only in bureaucratic organizations.** Organizational culture exists in *all* types of organizations, regardless of their structure. Understanding the culture is essential for effective training and development in any organizational setting.<br />