The Civilian Mariners of Military Sealift Command: Preliminary Assessment of Organizational Culture and Values

This thesis serves as a preliminary assessment of culture and values, and the resultant effect on performance and morale at Military Sealift Command MSC, from the perspective of its largest subculture the Civilian Mariners CIVMARS. The study gathered qualitative data from 83 CIVMARS aboard seven of MSCs ships. The objective was to raise the issues of concern to CIVMARS, and based on this information, to develop and pilot test a survey for future use to quantitatively study a larger sample of CIVMARS. The data were gathered during focus group meetings with CIVMARS who were asked to evaluate MSCs six core value areas customer focus, teamwork, honesty and integrity, innovation, empowerment and people. The results show that 1 CIVMARS do not feel valued by MSC 2 relations between afloat and ashore personnel reflect low levels of trust and poor communication and 3 numerous process problems inhibit MSCs effectiveness. Since these results are preliminary, it is recommended that MSC implement the culture survey developed by this research. Using a more substantial, representative sample of mariners will provide information that can guide action in the following areas which emerged from this research 1 increase focus on human resource practices 2 improve communications 3 examine the detailing process of CIVMARS and 4 reassess the validity of the core value areas.