america's values: results from the barrett us national values assessment 2009 2010

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America’s Common ValuesResults from the US National Values Assessment

2009 – 2010 Comparison

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Who are we?

We are the people of the United States of America.


We are

AGE 20 and under 2.5% 21 to 30 18.9% 31 to 40 19.4% 41 to 50 18.8% 51 to 60 16.8% 61 to 70 15.6% 71 and over 7.9%

REGION US Census BVC

Northeast 19% 22.1%

Midwest 22.9% 21.0%

South 35.6% 33.3%

West 22.5% 22.4%

Alaska/Hawaii 1.2%

GENDER US Census BVC

Male 50% 50.1%

Female 50% 49.9%

Ethnicity

US Censu

s BVC

American Indian/Alaska native/Hawaii native 1.5% 0.8% Asian 4.0% 4.1% Black/African American 12.5% 11.5% Hispanic/Latino 12.5% 10.9% White 69.% 69.9% Other .5% 1.1% Prefer not to answer 1.9%

Over 1500 people comprising the following demographic groups (2010):

Statistical validation: US population of 309m people, requires sample size of 664 to create 99% confidence level and 5% confidence intervalStatistical validation: US population of 309m people, requires sample size of 664 to create 99% confidence level and 5% confidence interval


What questions were asked?

1) Personal ValuesPlease select ten of the following values/behaviors that most reflect who you are, not who you desire to become.

2) Current Organizational Culture ValuesPlease select ten of the following values/behaviors that most reflect how your organization currently operates. If you are not currently employed, please rate your previous organization.

3) Desired Organizational Culture ValuesPlease select ten of the following values/behaviors that, in your opinion, are essential for your organization to achieve its highest performance. If you are not currently employed, please choose the values that in your opinion are important for high performing organizations.

4) Current National Culture ValuesPlease select ten of the following values/behaviors that most reflect how society currently operates in the USA.

5) Desired National Culture ValuesPlease select ten of the following values/behaviors that you would most like to see in the USA.


Common Values

2009 - 2010

familycaring

honestyhumor/fun

responsibilityaccountabilityindependence

friendshipcompassion

respect

This illustration is a part of ”Spheres”. See the whole presentation here slideshop.com/3d-spheres

2009

Who we are and how we have changed this year – Personal Values

patience


This is the true nature of the people of the USA, most of which remains consistent since 2009.

familycaringhumor/funcompassionfriendshiprespect

familycaringhumor/funcompassionfriendshiprespect

responsibilityaccountabilityresponsibilityaccountability

independenceindependence

Personal Values of the US PeoplePersonal Values of the US People

Our lives are about strong relationships and making a difference

to those around us

Our lives are about strong relationships and making a difference

to those around us

We stand for freedom and autonomyWe stand for freedom and autonomy

You can trust us. We will do what we say we will do

You can trust us. We will do what we say we will do



“Patience” dropped from 11th to 15th in rank and lost 3 percentage points

compared to 2009.

Are we less willing to wait for change?

“Patience” dropped from 11th to 15th in rank and lost 3 percentage points

compared to 2009.

Are we less willing to wait for change?



“Accountability” is becoming more important in our personal lives, having increased by 6 percentage points.

“Accountability” is becoming more important in our personal lives, having increased by 6 percentage points.

Since 2009, accountability has moved up from #9 to #6

in the top personal values.

Since 2009, accountability has moved up from #9 to #6

in the top personal values.



commitment

Common Values

2009 - 2010

customer satisfactionaccountability

teamworkcost reductionachievement

being the bestcommunity involvement

continuous learning


2010

profit

Our working lives Organizational Values – Current Culture

bureaucracy

2009

continuousimprovement


This is how we experience our daily working lives. In 2010, we began to see more attention to the bottom line along with frustrations with red tape.

customer satisfactionteamworkcommunity involvement

customer satisfactionteamworkcommunity involvement

accountabilityachievementbeing the bestcontinuous learning

accountabilityachievementbeing the bestcontinuous learning

cost reductioncost reduction

Organizational Values of the US PeopleOrganizational Values of the US People

We work together to serve the needs of the people around us

We work together to serve the needs of the people around us

We understand the importance of financial performance

We understand the importance of financial performance

We are driven to excelWe are driven to excel


Entropy = 18%Entropy = 18% Unproductive focus has risen 3% since 2009, and calls for minor monitoring and adjustment

Unproductive focus has risen 3% since 2009, and calls for minor monitoring and adjustment


“Profit” did not appear as a primary value in 2009. In 2010, “profit” increases 5 percentage points

and rises from #18 to the #8 value in organizational Current Culture.

“Profit” did not appear as a primary value in 2009. In 2010, “profit” increases 5 percentage points

and rises from #18 to the #8 value in organizational Current Culture.



2009 - No unproductive values among the top values of the existing

culture.

2009 - No unproductive values among the top values of the existing

culture.

2010 - “Bureaucracy” appears among the top current values.

2010 - “Bureaucracy” appears among the top current values.

Entropy increases from 15% to 18% between 2009 and 2010, reflecting minor issues

requiring adjustment.

Entropy increases from 15% to 18% between 2009 and 2010, reflecting minor issues

requiring adjustment.



Values Matches 2009

6 values we experience now and want to carry forward:

accountability, customer satisfaction, teamwork,

achievement, commitment, continuous improvement

Values Matches 2009



achievement, commitment, continuous improvement

Values Matches 2010



continuous learning

Values Matches 2010



continuous learning

4 to 6 values matches show that employees have confidence in the direction their organizations are heading.

4 to 6 values matches show that employees have confidence in the direction their organizations are heading.



Common Values

2009 - 2010

accountability

customer satisfaction

continuous improvement

teamwork

commitment

adaptability

open communication

integrity


Where we want to be Organizational Values – Desired Culture

2010

continuouslearning

profession-alism

achievement

efficiency

2009

ethics


In 2009, we saw the need for “achievement,” “efficiency”

and “professionalism” in our working lives.

In 2009, we saw the need for “achievement,” “efficiency”

and “professionalism” in our working lives.

Today, those values have been replaced by “ethics” and “continuous learning”.

Today, those values have been replaced by “ethics” and “continuous learning”.



“Evolution is not a force but a process. Not a cause but a law.” ~John Morley

2010 Desired Culture Values

Finance

Client

Relations

Culture

Societal

Contribution

2009 Desired Culture Values

Finance

Fitness

Evolution

Societal

Contribution

In our working lives, we see a need to move away from a focus on systems and

processes (Fitness) and give more emphasis to continuous renewal and

development (Evolution). Is the same true from a national perspective?



Common Values

2009 - 2010

bureaucracycorruption

blameuncertainty about the future

wasted resourcesmaterialistic

crime/violenceunemployment

conflict/aggression


2010

militarystrength

2009

poverty

Our societal perceptionNational Values – Current Culture


This is the perception we hold of our national society.

bureaucracybureaucracy

uncertainty about the futurecrime/violenceconflict/aggression

uncertainty about the futurecrime/violenceconflict/aggression

wasted resourcesmaterialisticunemployment

wasted resourcesmaterialisticunemployment

National Values of the US PeopleNational Values of the US People

We are frustrated by slow-moving systems. We are frustrated by slow-moving systems.

Material wealth is still a factor in our lives, yet we squander our resources and lack

opportunities to work.

Material wealth is still a factor in our lives, yet we squander our resources and lack

opportunities to work.

Hostility affects our lives and we are unclear about the direction the nation is heading.

Hostility affects our lives and we are unclear about the direction the nation is heading.

Entropy = 58%Entropy = 58% Unproductive focus is at a critical level and has risen 6% since 2009.

Unproductive focus is at a critical level and has risen 6% since 2009.

corruptionblamecorruptionblame We do not trust our leaders to take responsibility

or to make decisions based on integrity.We do not trust our leaders to take responsibility

or to make decisions based on integrity.



Between 2009 and 2010, entropy increases from

52% to 58%.

Between 2009 and 2010, entropy increases from

52% to 58%.

“Bureaucracy,” “corruption” and “blame” top our national values

in 2010.

“Corruption” falls from the #1 to the #2 position in

the Current Culture.

“Bureaucracy,” “corruption” and “blame” top our national values

in 2010.

“Corruption” falls from the #1 to the #2 position in

the Current Culture.



“Uncertainty about the future,” “wasted resources” and “materialistic” are issues that supersede concerns around “crime/violence” in 2010.

“Uncertainty about the future,” “wasted resources” and “materialistic” are issues that supersede concerns around “crime/violence” in 2010.



“Unemployment” and “crime/violence” continue to trouble the nation.

“Unemployment” and “crime/violence” continue to trouble the nation.



• Of the income brackets, entropy is lowest among those making $70k to $100k in household income (54%).

• Entropy increases with age and education. Those who hold Doctorate degrees experience the highest entropy at 61%.

• Caucasian people experience the highest entropy (61%), while the Asian population experience the lowest entropy (41%).

• Men identify “short-term focus” as a concern in the for the US.

• Women see “military strength” as a top focus in the 2010 national culture, while men do not.



Political Affiliation

Overall Democrat Green Independent Libertarian Other

affiliationPrefer not to answer Republican

Entropy 58% 54% 62% 61% 66% 65% 53% 58%bureaucracy (L) blame (L) centralized government (L) y conflict/aggression (L) corruption (L) crime/violence (L) elitism (L) environmental pollution (L) hatred (L) materialistic (L) military strength short-term focus (L) uncertainty about the future (L) unemployment (L) wasted resources (L)

Political Differences



Common Values

2009 - 2010

Where we want to be National Values – Desired Culture

2010

effectivehealthcare

povertyreduction

financial stability

quality of life

2009

honesty

accountability

concern for future generations

employment opportunities

caring for the elderly

caring for the disadvantaged

affordable housing

peace

economicgrowth


How We Get There

“Accountability” 2010

#6 in Personal Values#2 in Org. Current Culture#1 in Org. Desired Culture

#1 in National Desired Culture

“Accountability” is an across-the-board values match in

organizational culture – 2009 and 2010

Are we asking for accountability from ourselves or only from others?


How We Get There

What lessons can we take from our personal and working perspectives to improve our lives on a national scale?


How We Get There

“Our challenges may be new. The

instruments with which we meet them

may be new. But those values upon which our success

depends...these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force

of progress throughout our history. What is

demanded then is a return to these truths”

.~ Barack Obama

“Our challenges may be new. The

instruments with which we meet them

may be new. But those values upon which our success

depends...these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force

of progress throughout our history. What is

demanded then is a return to these truths”

.~ Barack Obama

america's values: results from the barrett us national values assessment 2009 2010

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