Which is a reason why higher Denison scores predict better organizational performance?

• A. Stronger alignment and coordination
• B. Higher financial bonuses
• C. More formal procedures
• D. Increased turnover

Answer: (B)

Higher Denison scores signal that the organization has strong alignment and coordination across people, teams, and processes, all working toward a shared mission. When culture supports clear goals, consistent actions, and smooth collaboration, decisions are faster, communication is clearer, and efforts are coordinated rather than duplicated or conflicting. That cohesion directly improves execution and outcomes, which is why higher scores tend to predict better organizational performance.

External bonuses don’t reflect cultural alignment or how well the organization actually functions, so they don’t explain the predictive link. More formal procedures can slow responsiveness and stifle flexibility, which can hurt performance. Increased turnover often indicates underlying issues rather than driving performance, so it’s not the mechanism by which culture predicts results.