In the book by Stephen Denning called The Leader’s Guide to Storytelling, Mr. Denning writes about his experiences of trying to bring change to the World Bank to ensure that knowledge management or sharing of information is a key component of the organization. Storytellers and bankers, although both tell exciting stories, their perspective tend to be a little different. You can easily imagine Mr. Denning making presentations to the World Bankers for them to embrace storytelling in their speaking styles was not a easy sell, as evidenced one of the chapters in the book is titled Tame the Grapevine. Within that chapter is a discussion about corporate culture or how does a large organization makes decisions? Corporate culture is a form of know how. That is, as Edgar Schein sums it up, it’s a pattern of basic assumptions that the group has learned as it solved its problems ,,, that is to be taught to the new members as the correct way to perceive, think, and feel in relation to those problems. Any group that has been together for a significant time tends to develop a shared view of the way the surrounding world works or does not work.

The writer believes if you understand the term generation gap, you understand corporate culture. What does the above mean for dividend paying companies? The companies tend to large organizations where people have a distinctive culture. As you keep receiving the dividends, read the annual reports to see if you still agree with what the company is telling you through their corporate culture or decision making process. If you agree keep with them, stick with them; if you disagree it maybe time to switch to another dividend paying company.

There are more questions than answers, till the next time  to raising questions.