Why GM’s Mary Barra Hates the Word ‘Culture’

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/article/20141009165042-30084557-what-gm-s-crisis-taught-mary-barra-about-leadership

I found this article today on LinkedIn, from the Fortune Women's Summit, written by Jacky Carter.
This article is the inspiration for this post.

Culture is a Dangerous Word in the Workplace. 

People get caught up in trying to determine what kind of culture exists within organizations. While some companies leave little room for debate (Google, New Belgium Brewing Company, Amazon, to name a few..) most companies survive in the gray area of organizational culture: the place where there may be as many critics of the culture as their are proponents. This occurs for many reasons, but Barra lists one main reason - Silos. Organizations tolerate functional silos because it's cheaper in the front end. It often takes fewer employees to operate within silos. 

Here's one surefire way to avoid fostering an intrapreneurial culture: trap your employees in silos. 
Barra describes silos as, “a behavior to avoid discussion so there’s no debate.” One of her missions now is to break down the silos. “We’re an integrated business. We cannot tolerate silos.” 

Silos = one group blames another/no accountability or ownership
Silos = "throw it over the wall" mentalities
Silos = "It's not my job" 
Silos = uncollaborative cross-functional groups
Silos = less efficiency
Silos = a non-productive company culture
The list goes on...

You can't foster intrapreneurial mindsets when employees are not encouraged to explore beyond their  assigned borders.