Which statement describes a misaligned culture?

• A. Clear, shared values
• B. Values incongruent with strategy
• C. High turnover with strong performance alignment
• D. Low turnover

Answer: (B)

Misalignment between culture and strategy happens when what the organization values internally does not support what it's trying to achieve strategically. When values are incongruent with strategy, the everyday actions, norms, and decisions people make pull in different directions from the strategic plan, making it harder to execute and dampening overall performance.

The statement about values incongruent with strategy directly captures that mismatch, which is why it’s the best choice. Clear, shared values point to alignment rather than misalignment. Low turnover suggests stability, which can align with a healthy culture, while high turnover with strong performance alignment isn’t a clear indicator of cultural misfit by itself.