Findings
Description of the Organization
Purpose of the Firm
Les Schwab is focused on assisting people in the communities they set up shop. Also, the organization strives to provide individuals with safe and quality products. Ever since the corporation enacted its first store, it has been earning the trust of people. Les Schwab aims to give its customers the best selection and quality services and products such as tires, various auto related parts, and services. The purpose of a corporation does not refer to what the firm does instead it reveals why the functions or operations are essential to the company. From the interviews, it is clear that Les Schwab is interested in providing its customers, employees, and other stakeholders only the best of the best in terms of services, benefits, and products. The sole directive of creating a purpose for an organization is to ensure that the employees and customers are inspired or motivated by the firm’s intentions (Walker, 37).
Leadership in the Organization
Exceptional leadership is vital to an enterprise to make it successful. Les Schwab is a product of good leadership starting with the founder of the organization Leslie Schwab. The corporation was founded on the loyalty of the workers owing to the generous and lucrative profits and benefits that they were given. Les Schwab is prominently known for directing 55 percent of its profits to the employees in the form of retirement trusts, health benefits, and bonuses. It is not uncommon and astonishing for the store managers in the corporation to earn six figure salaries. The compensation and the information from interviews indicate that the founder, Leslie Schwab, was a caring and giving person (Jennings, par. 4). The leadership of the firm thus realizes the need to appreciate and recognize its employees. Human resources have the capability to secure and attain a competitive advantage and the goals of the company (G Sadri and B Lees, 9).
Values of the Firm
The values of an enterprise are essential in instituting the culture of the corporation. At Les Schwab, the primary value is customer relations. The company values and cares for its buyers by providing them with after-sales services and quality products and services. The way that the organization performs is determined by the power of the values inculcated into the workers. The values function like the operating system that shows the employees how to meet the requirements and priorities of the firm. They give a common outlook and direction to all the organizational members and establish the principles of daily commitment. The company’s values are the starting point of making any changes in a corporation (Ortega-Parra and Sastre-Castillo, 1075). Hence, the proposed transformations provided by the interviewees would have to consider the values of Les Schwab and the basis for the interventions. For example, one employee said that he would change the entire computer system. For the aspect to work, the leaders will need to consider how a new computer system will affect the employees, the values of the firm, and the business operations.
The Culture in the Organization
All the above elements display the culture of Les Schwab Company. The aspect means that the culture of a corporation is founded on the values, purpose, leadership, and mission. The values, purpose, and mission inspire the members to work for particular outcomes. The leadership directs the individuals at Les Schwab to pursue the appropriate activities. The elements serve as the secret ingredients to the success of a corporation. Les Schwab ensures that the people who get a chance to work in the company are onboard with the way the company does its operations. The culture of the organization is reinforced using regular feedbacks and checkups that stress the usefulness of what the laborers do and how they will accomplish it (Zabid, Murali, and Juliana, 9). The employees at Les Schwab comprehend and behave in accordance with the culture of the firm knowing too well the bonuses and benefits are tied to their performances.
Two employees in the interview highlight that there is a difference between the current store and the one that they worked previously. They say that the job surrounding in the current store is unwelcoming and hostile. Such a work environment makes it difficult for the workers to ask questions without receiving ridicule or reprimands. As a result, the employee may feel dissatisfied and opt to leave the company. The variation between the stores shows that Les Schwab is yet to create an inclusive and general culture for all the retail shops. It is crucial to maintain a consistent culture in the organization that will reflect a conclusive image of the firm (Zabid, Murali, and Juliana, 11). Otherwise, people may feel frightened to go to the unfriendly store and choose other alternatives. An inclusive culture entails leaders listening to employees, adequate room for making mistakes, common values, safe working environment, an inspiring mission, and leader (s).
Works Cited
G Sadri and B Lees. Developing corporate culture as a competitive advantage. Journal of Management Development, Volume: 20 Issue: 10, 2001.
Md. Zabid Abdul Rashid, Murali Sambasivan, and Juliana Johari. The influence of corporate culture and organisational commitment on performance. Journal of Management Development, Volume: 22 Issue: 8, 2003.
Antonio Ortega-Parra and Miguel Ángel Sastre-Castillo. Impact of perceived corporate culture on organizational commitment Management Decision, 2013, Vol.51(5), p.1071-1083 [Peer Reviewed Journal] Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
Jennings, Angel. Les Schwab, Who Turned a Rundown Shop Into a Tire Chain, Dies at 89
JUNE 10, 2007. Web. <http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/10/business/10schwab.html>
Walker, D. Les Schwab tire centers leads the way in dental insurance. The Journal of the American College of Dentists, 2001, Vol.68(4), pp.37-8.
