Respect.

The importance of culture before strategy is rooted in the idea that a strong and positive organizational culture is a key factor in the success of a business. Culture sets the tone for how employees behave and interact with each other, as well as how they approach their work and interact with customers. A healthy and positive culture can foster collaboration, creativity, and a strong sense of purpose, which are all critical components for long-term success. On the other hand, a toxic or negative culture can harm employee morale, productivity, and customer relationships, ultimately undermining the effectiveness of any strategy.

Additionally, culture is often seen as a longer-lasting aspect of an organization compared to strategy. While strategies can change with market conditions or other external factors, a strong culture is more difficult to alter. For this reason, it's crucial to establish a positive culture before implementing a new strategy, as it helps to ensure that the new strategy is supported and embraced by employees, and that the changes are sustainable in the long term.

In summary, culture is considered important before strategy because it lays the foundation for how an organization operates and how its employees behave, and helps to create an environment that supports the success of any strategy that is implemented.