Have worked for an academy company I know the power of a strong culture! There is no denying the power of its distinctiveness and the resilience from its indoctrination. That being said like everything else history and culture is a two edged sword! The size and scale of the Titanic caused its demise so also with history and culture. The inertia of culture and history can help gain momentum for change or create the resistance from change.
Drawing on principles from ‘Just In Time’ production of driving down the water level to the point of being able to see the rocks that obstruct the streamlining of the flow? Using history and culture to drive the change itself? I think,YES! A compelling vision a relevant and unifying mission combined with the right strategy; organizational structure; staff; recognition/rewards; work and communication processes can result in right behaviors. Lastly communication through metaphors that bring concepts and ideas to life can not be underestimated!
The most compelling change starts from within and what better than history to drive it!