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Starbucks Communication Plan Competitiveness Strategies
Starbucks management style
How starbucks communicates to its employees
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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).
The Starbucks corporate culture is not easily summed up because it is multidimensional. However, Starbucks leadership reiterates several key words regularly; “everything matters”, “playful”, “human connection”, “respect”, “dignity”, and “care”. In fact, many of these words can be found in their mission statement. Starbucks partner mission statement reads:
We’re called partners, because it’s not just a job, it’s our passion. Together, we embrace diversity to create a place where each of us can be ourselves. We always treat each other with respect and dignity. And we hold each other to that standard. (Starbucks.com, n.d., para. 2).
Starbucks strives to be the place between work and home for its customers, and strives to create a place to work where productivity shines above any differences between colleagues. The hiring process begins with the interview. Online forums often reveal the same types of questions asked at interviews. These questions generally refer to how an individual handles conflict with colleagues, requests for information on how they might have disappointed a customer, why...
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...leadership and a fair performance appraisal system.
Works Cited
Aguins, H. (2009). Performance Management (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
CNN Money (2012). 100 Best Companies to Work For. Fortune Magazine. Retrieved from http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/best-companies/2012/snapshots/73.html
Harrer, A (2012, January 26). Starbucks Corporation. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/companies/starbucks_corporation/index.html
Michelli, J.A. (2007). The Starbucks Experience: 5 Principles for Turning Ordinary into Extraordinary. New York, NY: McGraw Hill. Kindle Edition.
Schultz, H. (2011). Onward. New York, NY: Rodale. Kindle Edition.
Weber, G. (2005, February 1). Preserving the Starbucks Counter Culture. Workforce.com. Retrieved from http://www.workforce.com/article/20050201/NEWS02/302019989
The basis of Starbucks’ operations and policies is to connect with the staff so that they can better the organizational
Starbucks is the world’s largest coffee roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. We have enjoyed great dividend returns over the past 5 years, and our growth has been on the rise. We are currently saturating the US market, while the emerging markets of developing countries offer many possibilities for growth and increased revenues. In our US market we should look at offering more items on the menu that complement our long-standing tradition of pleasing our customers. Exotic Juices, and snacks served with the same service could add a nice margin to the bottom line. In addition, the ability to offer a drive through service for the consumer that loves fine coffee but does not have the time to stop and visit should be on our “trial” market plan for the next few years.
Starbucks not only shapes a defined importance on its product, the coffee, but also the relationships on its partners, its customers and its shareholders to create diversity, “to create a place where each of us can be ourselves” (Starbucks Coffee), to treat all related partners with dignity and respect at the greatest corporate level. In this sense, Starbucks involves its customers, its neighbors and is shareholders to participate in the community to “be a force for positive action—bringing together [its] partners, customers, and the community to contribute every day (Starbucks Coffee).
In addition to being best-known supplier of the finest coffee and promising only the highest quality products, Starbucks emphasizes firm values, provides guidelines to enhance employee self-esteem. This is to ensure continued customer satisfaction. Moreover, diversity has become a priority to providing an inviting environment to all consumers. Starbucks continues to abide by a strict, slow growth policy in which they set out to dominate a market before moving on to expand, thus history has shown this strategy to be successful for Starbucks, making them one the fastest growing companies nationwide.
...m of discrimination and promote equal opportunity in all sectors of Starbucks business transactions. We will set down with leadership and emphasize the importance of honesty, integrity and the reason it flow's so diligently through this corporation. Our company doesn't subscribe to dishonest practices, such as corruption or fraudulent business dealings. We must hold our selves to the same standards that we hold our employees. Understand that diversity in all aspects of our company's daily ventures creates a worldly image and increases ability to fulfill our goal of opening 40'000 Starbucks with half being outside the US.
Starbucks began its retention plan by analyzing their employees’ needs. The analysis drew variables of importance, such as positive culture, employee development, and benefits. As a result of the analysis, Starbucks CEO, Howard Schultz, came up with a plan to start a long-term retention program in his company. Mr. Schultz made sure that “he made it a point to put himself at the top of a respect pyramid in which he would be sure to be kind to everyone in the company with whom he interacted, with them passing on the respectful treatment, right down to the pyramid’s base”(“How Starbucks retains its employees”). The company also set up an online portal for employee development. Starbucks also launched a program to help its employees to achieve a college education. This educational program sends employees to Arizona State’s online program, providing juniors with free tuition and sophomores with financial aid. As a result of this initiative, Forbes (2015) has named Starbucks as one of “America’s Best
The structure of Starbucks business communication is exceptional. Rather you are in their store buying a Caramel Frappuccino®, visiting their website or watching one of their advertisements on television; as the consumer, the message is loud and clear. Pick up any newspaper and you are likely to find an article about the coffee giant. Starbucks pledges a commitment to their over 172,000 partners (employees) and the community. “We realize our people are the cornerstone of our success, and we know that their ideas, commitment and connection to our customers are truly the essential elements in the Starbucks Experience” (Starbucks, 2008).
Starbucks is an international coffee house and it was created in 1971 when they opened the first store in Seattle, Newcastle. Currently, they own 21,000 stores in 65 different countries of the world, and their passion for the great coffee, excellent service and community interaction exceeds cultures and languages (Starbucks, 2014). This company is the number 1 brand coffeehouse chain in the world due to the best roaster, marketer and seller of speciality coffee. Its main slogan: “Our mission: to inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup and one neighbourhood at a time” (Jurevicius, 2013).
With clear core values towards providing quality coffee, the best service, and atmosphere, Starbucks has enjoyed great success since it was founded 30 years ago. The company has being doing very well for last 11 years with 5% or more store sales increase, even with the rest economy still reeling from the post-9/11 recession. However recent research, conducted to Starbucks, have showed some concerns regarding company’s problem meeting customers’ expectations.
Everything centers on the organizational culture within Starbucks. While being a customer service-based company and understanding that the customer satisfaction and loyalty are what will make the company profitable, Starbucks takes a different approach to customer service than other companies. By hiring employees that fit in the organizational culture (ICFAI, 2005) and treating their employees well (Lefevere, n.d.), Starbucks brings in and retains customers through their happy employees. The qualities that Starbucks hires for are "adaptability, dependability and the ability to work in a team" (ICFAI, 2005). The culture is supportive and laid back (Montana, 2005). Howard Shultz, Starbucks president and CEO, has the theory "that if you treat your employees well, they will treat your customers well" (Starbucks, 1997).
"Rewarding everyday moments". The Starbucks Mantra clearly implies that they are not selling just coffee. They claim to be selling the coffee experience. Their coffee bars that sell specialty coffee also gives customers an ambience where they can be themselves. Starbucks advertises themselves as the third place between home and office, where you can escape, reflect, read, chat or listen. They have become the largest player in the coffee industry and is still looking for avenues to expand themselves.
Starbucks takes their partners very seriously as well as their well-being. This is apparent in the rewards Starbucks offers to their partners. Starbucks has what they refer to as, “Your Special Blend” which is offered to part-time and full-time partners. Starbucks offers comprehensive health coverage, a highly competitive 401(k) program with company matching, a stock equity reward program, education benefits including tuition assistance, free coffee, and paid vacation (Your Special Blend: Rewarding Our
Most obviously, community is about people. Starbucks not only connects consumers with their company, but addresses the lifecycle of community from start to finish, starting with the farmers that grow their coffee, to the customers that drink it in their stores. In my opinion, one reason for their immense success has been their ability to communicate their mission to their customers, and allow their customers to feel like they are part of the mission. For example, for every bottle of Ethos water purchased, Starbucks will donate $0.05. According to Starbucks’ website, “$12.3 million has been granted to help support water, sanitation and hygiene education programs in water-stressed countries – benefiting more than 500,000 people around the world.” In addition to developing programs to supporting communities around the world, Starbucks also engages in philanthropic community efforts locally. A variety of projects currently exist, and Starbucks encourages their customers and employees to volunteer in these programs, which includes veterans and military support, creating jobs, diversity & inclusion, and opportunity for
The strategic vision that Howard Schultz had for Starbucks was "Establish Starbucks as the premier purveyor of the finest coffee in the world while maintaining our uncompromising principles while we grow". This s...
One of the main problems that Starbucks is facing at the present time is the ability to maintain national competitive advantage (Monash South Africa, 2014). Due to their local demand conditions, Starbucks tries to satisfy all customers by trying “to inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time” (Starbucks Corporation, 2014). Local demand conditons consist of a company trying satisfy needs of their closest customers and expanding their competitive advantage by upgrading their strategic management policies (Monash South Africa, 2014).