[abbasmehdi]

I beg to differ. As an example, Hacker News has a culture, as laid out by Paul Graham [1]. It is not only shaped by his and moderators' personal demonstration, but also by decree [1]. Those who violate it are chided (publicly and/or systematically). Granted this is an anonymous internet forum [2] not a company, but the general principal is the same - clearly defining expectations and punishing [3] unacceptable behavior. This could perhaps go to explain the HN culture versus another online forum or the comments section of a public site.

[1] http://ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

[2] Considering which it should be even harder quality control.

[3] I use the term loosely.

[xerophtye]

Well considering the "culture" needs to be laid down in a document, I am surprised that AirBnB, while putting so much emphasis on culture, has not exactly told the team what it is that the heads want preserved?

[abbasmehdi]

>>has not exactly told the team what it is that the heads want preserved

How do you gather?

[scott_s]

The difference, to me, is that what Paul Graham wrote is proscriptive. He encourages or discourages specific behaviors. The typical corporate communication on culture talks about values, but does not focus on the values themselves, or how to encourage or discourage behavior.