The influence of the founder on the Webb School of Knoxville : an application of Schein's theory of culture creation

This study explored the role of the founder, William Robert Webb III, in creating the organizational culture of the Webb School of Knoxville (Tennessee), using the work of E. H. Schein on the formation and transmission of culture as a theoretical framework. Data were gathered from 10 loosely structured interviews with the founder and similar interviews with 34 other members of the organization. Additional data were obtained from documents such as personal letters, newspaper accounts, newsletters, and internal reports. A narrative history of the school emphasizing critical incidents in the life of the organization was prepared. Data were also coded and arranged thematically, using ethnographic analysis techniques.

Robert Webb came from a family of distinguished school men, most notable among them his grandfather, "Sawney" Webb, the founder of the first Webb School in Bell Buckle, Tennessee. He attended the Webb School at Bell Buckle and The University of Tennessee, then taught at Bell Buckle and at the Webb School of California, founded by his uncle, Thompson Webb. In 1955 he returned to Knoxville and opened the Webb School of Knoxville in rented quarters with four male students enrolled. A parallel girls' school was added in 1957. The same year the first of many capital funds drives was launched. It resulted in construction of a permanent campus, which was occupied in time for the first graduation in June 1959. The boys' school and girls' school merged in 1968. During the 1970s, the school developed an outstanding program that included college preparatory academics, fine arts, and athletics. Robert Webb retired in 1984 and devoted his retirement to community service.

The conclusions were that Robert Webb's role in creating the culture of the organization was central. He was an undisputed insider in two groups: the "school people" who ran the independent schools of this country and the "commercial elite" of the city of Knoxville. The beliefs, norms, and values of these two groups blended to form the culture of the Webb School of Knoxville. Robert Webb used four of five primary techniques of transmission identified by Schein and all five secondary techniques.