The Organizational Culture Of Starbucks

Starbucks started its growth in the early 1990s, with a game plan for Atmosphere, Quality Coffee, Customer Service, and Partner (employee) Satisfaction. Customers find the stores Welcoming and friendly for a great place to meet friends for a great cup of coffee or a local place for a great cup of coffee and a good book. Starbucks worked with coffee growers to offer a consistent brew and enforcing standards that have become the industry’s norms. Starbucks have put a lot into their training program to ensure properly trained employees to provide that consistent cup of coffee as well as improve employee retention. Starbucks believed in happy employees would promote a better experience for the customer. Since the 90s Starbucks have followed their 3 step plan. 1. Atmosphere: Every time you walk into a Starbucks, you know you will be greeted with a smile and a friendly attitude. 2. Continuity of Brand and Product: Every Starbucks has a similar feel, and your drink order will taste the same whether you are in New York or Spain. 3. Employee Satisfaction and Training: The training of the staff, in both how to be personable with customers and knowledge of the product offering

The fact that all the managers are accountable, help and work with each other despite their level help Starbucks maintains and achieves good result.

Our mission: to inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time. Starbucks has lived up to that motto each and every year and with such great numbers and great feedback the company keeps on growing in the right direction. Starbucks is well known around the world for delivering fast, efficient coffee in all forms. From their frappachino’s, to their brew coffee and ice tea they are definitely the set example that other company’s in their area follow. They live by six principles that they practice each and every day they represent there coffee which has always been there passion to deliver

Starbucks managers and especially top managers face another issue, they have to be a learning organization. This means an organization that has developed the capacity to continuously learn, adapt and change. But I think based on the text that Howard Schultz has proven his possession to this quality as an individual, but he has to transform it from an individual asset to a company's goal and way of doing things.

1. Suggest the key elements of Starbucks’ organizational culture that contributes to its success in a global economy. Indicate management’s role with creating and sustaining the organizational culture.

starbucks Corp., an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington, has expanded rapidly since its opening in 1971. These outrageous success was due to its well-developed strategy vision which lay out the company's strategic course in developing and strengthening its business. Starbucks is a global corporation that sells authentic coffee in 30 countries, reporting revenues of nearly $5.1 billion in 2006. The main goal of Starbucks is to embrace diversity by applying the highest standards of excellence. Starbucks strives to perfect the relationship with the working class by making the service as fast as possible because they believe that every customer has their own personal rate. One

Partner satisfaction: Starbucks firmly believes that satisfying their employees in-turn satisfies the customers. They adopted a positive working environment to facilitate this.

This is why, Starbucks places a great deal of effort into seeking the thoughts and opinions of its employees, and they value what the Baristas have to say, because they are the ones in direct contact with the company's customers. By regarding employees as communicators of its brand, Starbucks is manifestly taking a different path toward brand management than those normally followed by other marketers. Employees at Starbucks share a common goals and have common belief in the product they sell.

Starbucks advertises two essential mission statements. First and foremost, it strives to “establish [ourselves] as the premier purveyor of the finest coffee in the world while maintaining our uncompromising principles while [we] grow(s).” (Starbucks) Reflective of its mission, Starbucks bases its strategic campaign and communications on six indispensable philosophies; structuring a pleasant work environment in which employees are treated with “respect and dignity,” incorporating diversity in all business aspects, purchasing, roasting and delivering fresh coffee, retaining satisfied customers, giving back to the community and environment, and developing

Corporate culture is a key component to the success of Starbucks. When looking at the seven dimensions of corporate culture (fn textbook pg 338) Starbucks emphasizes Team and People Orientation along with Innovation and Risk-Taking and pose less emphasis on a competitive environment or an outcome oriented approach. (see appendix c) In order to ensure a strong corporate culture Starbucks utilizes innovative and simple ways to ensure the key values are deeply held and widely shared. (fn) By visiting up to 40 stores weekly by the CEO Richard Schultz, creation of Starbucks Broadcast News to convey company news, or administering an “attitude survey” every 18 months to all employees they ensure the company and its partners (employees) are connected. (fn textbook)

Making a connection with customers at a store level is the job of the barista. Baristas are the face of Starbucks. They create uplifting experience for the people who visit Starbucks stores and make perfect beverages – one drink and one person at a time (Starbucks, Retail Careers) which relates to the company’s vision. Employees and customers at Starbucks are very involved. Schultz developed a program that gets customer feedback which holds employees accountable and creates consistency through promotions and compensation. Customers are also encouraged to create their own drinks which in turn employees have to adapt and make custom order beverages. Keeping customers desires and expectations in mind is part of the coffee house experience. Starbucks also gets employees involved through stock options opportunities.

The Starbucks Corporation presents a strong appeal for potential customers and employees because it has a strong organizational culture based on its values, which include “ethical sourcing, environmental stewardship and community

The Starbucks mission statement (“Our Starbucks Mission Statement,” 2011) comprises two important elements (a) an overarching statement of purpose, and (b) a set of “guiding principles” that interpret the meaning of the mission statement relative to six important aspects of the company’s business model (See Appendix for a complete description of the Starbucks mission statement). The overarching mission statement – “To inspire and nurture the human spirit one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time” – explicitly conveys the firm’s intent to extend its global presence

The company has also developed a structure and control system. With the realization that human capital holds a vital role in the development and sustainability of any institution, that of Starbucks included, it has taken to task to protect the same. To develop this, the company has an elaborate system that ensures the production levels of the company are met with pride. This like other leaders in the same has entailed ensuring they have an empowering corporate culture, topped by ensuring their employees enjoy competitive benefits.

Starbucks was bought out by current CEO Howard Schultz in 1987. Since then, Andrew Harrer (2012) reports the company has grown to operate over “17,244 stores worldwide” (para. 1). Fortune (n.d.) reports in its yearly 100 Best Companies to Work for that Starbucks employs “some 95,000 employees”. From only a handful of stores in 1987 to a billion dollar franchise today, the success of Starbucks is due in great deal to their corporate culture, specifically how employees, or as Starbucks calls them, partners are treated. Joseph Michelli (2007) echoes this sentiment, “A great cup of coffee is only part of the Starbucks success equation” (p. 767).