Question

What has made Starbucks culture what it is? How is that culture maintained?

Would you classify Starbucks environment as more calm waters or white water rapids? Explain

Answer 1

Starbucks has a very strong culture. It has a culture wherein, the defined values of the company are deeply held and shared widely. It has maintained such a culture in the organisation that it reflects the founder’s mission and vision. Mission of Starbucks says, “To inspire and nurture the human spirit-one person, one cup and one neighbourhood at a time.” There are six guiding principles of Starbucks, “Our coffee, our partners, our customers, our stores, our neighbourhood, our stakeholders.” There are people like Howard Schultz and many other senior executives who worked really hard to come up with key values and guiding principles of Starbucks. As a result, there is a strict quality control of Starbucks’ products in all the stores located worldwide and this is a common culture to each and every Starbucks stores.

Starbucks has also the culture of keeping its employees motivated as well as content. It also cares a lot about their relationship with their partners (top management), Howard Schultz is consumed with his vision of Starbucks that means showing the good that the corporation can do for its employees, clients, shareholders and customers. The company has set a great example of people oriented culture as it provide their employees with healthcare benefits, stock options etc.

I would surely classify Starbucks’ environment to fall until the white water rapids. It was only recently that Starbucks promised to improve working conditions with pay, schedules and environment. Starbucks was facing a brutal lashing for not improving working conditions sooner and managers were under constant pressure to reduce payroll and cheat the time sheets. In court Starbucks settled by making a payment of an undisclosed amount. However, Starbucks has come on to giving their employees the very best, in terms of better conditions/pay, schedules and environment.