How to build a culture

How important is a company’s culture and how do you ensure you are breeding a good one? Matt Smith investigates, in a piece that first appeared in Encore.

When production companies Cordell Jigsaw and Zapruder’s Other Films merged early last year, bringing the staff together within the walls of the Zapruder building proved to be something of a challenge. While the two companies weren’t strangers to each other due to six months of talks and negotiations, working together on a full-time basis was a different story.

The merger made sense to founder Nick Murray on a few levels. Together as Cordell Jigsaw Zapruder (CJZ) the companies were stronger, but they also had a similar workplace culture which would make the transition easier.

He says: “A good culture for both of us was the emphasis the company puts on its creative output. You can’t make television programs for the sake of turnover, the team has to feel a strong connection to the product. If they don’t, the public will figure it out pretty quickly.”