Culture is a Key Foundation for Process Work

According to APQC’s 2026 Process and Performance Management Priorities and Challenges survey, process management and continuous improvement remain the highest priority topic areas for PPM professionals in 2026, followed closely by data and measurement. But across this year’s survey results, culture showed up repeatedly as an underlying force shaping many of the top priorities and challenges.

Whether organizations are striving to create a culture of continuous improvement, move from a function-based to a process-thinking mindset, standardize KPIs, or realize value from digital investments, cultural factors are central to success. As digital tools and AI capabilities expand across the enterprise, the need for a strong process foundation becomes even more critical. Culture is what enables that foundation to take hold. Throughout this article, we examine how culture influences the top PPM challenges and provide guidance for strengthening it in practical, sustainable ways.