If "culture" means anything, it refers to something self-sustaining. Initial conditions, which come from the founders, have a large influence. So do the values

If "culture" means anything, it refers to something self-sustaining. Initial conditions, which come from the founders, have a large influence. So do the values and behavior of leaders. Any development which is too deviant within an organization is eventually rejected the way an immune system rejects a foreign body. Culture is the agent in that process. That the rejection is executed by middle managers doesn't mean that they invented the culture any more than I personally manage my antibodies.