Introduction
The Coca-Cola Company (Cola) has a long and established history across continents as a family soft drink of choice. Notwithstanding Cola's ubiquitous presence, little is known about company's organizational setup, culture and trade policies. In order to get to understand Cola's culture, a more detailed account of company's culture is required. This presentation aims, hence, to highlight Cola's broader organizational structure, departmentalization philosophy, corporate culture, sample job descriptions and trade policy as a multinational corporation.
Organizational Makeup
Cola is a global company whose organizational makeup is decidedly complex. Given present structure, Cola has a broad structure made up of Operations, Senior Leadership, Vice Presidents and Board of Directors ("Coca-Cola Leaders"). For Operations and Vice Presidents, numerous regions and roles fall under each respectively as is shown in chart. As well, Cola's Board of Directors is made up of very diverse group members (as is shown in chart). Internationally, Cola has subsidiary companies in North America, Latin America, Europe, Euroasia, Africa, Asia Pacific regions. Further, Cola's international subsidiaries are managed independently and report to regional bases which report to HQ in Atlanta, GA. One core area in Coca-Cola's organizational setup is Operations which rely on extensive global distribution lists.
Reflecting Cola's brand and complex organizational structure as well as her global engagements, Cola's Board of Directors embraces a wide range of executives from different companies including, for example, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Allen & Company Incorporated; Former Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, Aaron’s Inc.; Chief Executive Officer and Director, Marks & Spencer Group plc; Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Nuclear Threat Initiative ; and Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Judd Enterprises, Inc. This organizational setup and diverse range of board members is, in fact, a manifestation of one of Cola's seven core values, i.e. diversity (further details shortly).
Departmentalization Philosophy & Corporate Culture
Cola celebrates diversity. A global company par excellence, Cola embraces an inclusive culture which is defined by company's seven core values: leadership, passion, integrity, collaboration, diversity, quality, and accountability ("Our Company"). Indeed, given Cola's broad range of suppliers, collaborators and stakeholders Cola has integrated her own secret formula for diversity: "Respecting Individuals + Valuing Differences + Representing Our Customers and Markets Where We Do Business = Diversity" ("Our Company"). Further, people and – The Coca-Cola brand – comes as most valuable assets Cola has. Consequently, Cola embraces and continues a workplace and internal culture of human rights and workplace safety ("Workplace Overview"). Congruent to her sustainability framework and strategy, Cola does not only ensure her workplace culture is aligned to her sustainable strategic vision but also her suppliers should comply with her own supplier guidelines as well as applicable local labor laws, environmental laws and regulations.
Sample Job Descriptions
Being as diverse and complex in her organizational setup, Cola has an extensive list of job opportunities in all continents. For example, in North America Cola offers an extensive list of job opportunities in almost all business units and locations ("North America Job Search"). Here are few examples:
Given Cola's extensive investment in social networks and digital strategy, her need for experts to develop her online platforms is growing rapidly. As a result, her career section features a number of digital strategy-related jobs including:
Digital Strategist
Position Overview:
The Coca-Cola Company seeks a talented, enthusiastic Digital Strategist to help plan, organize and design/redesign experiences throughout Coca-Cola and other digital products and applications.
The ideal candidate should perform different duties including, most notably, acting across business units to develop digital solutions and identify user behavior goals. The candidate should posses specific qualities as well including, for example, working collaboratively, highly creative in delivering narratives, proficient in UI and mobile applications, innovative, independent and inspiring.
Since Cola's drinks rely on specific chemical combinations, chemists play a major role in driving flavor appeal. This is an example of a job description for a Scientist IV:
Scientist IV, Analytical Chemistry
Position Overview:
The Scientist will be a member of the Global Juice R&D Center in Apopka, Florida. The role responsibilities include the development of advanced analytical methods, evaluation of volatile and non-volatile components of juices, and development and execution of Global R&D research initiatives.
Key requirements for Scientist IV include, for example, academic qualifications (M.S. or Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry) and experience in qualitative and quantitative analyses of nutrients, flavor or functional ingredients, ability to develop and validate new analytical methods to support global R&D needs, collaborate with research partners and provide quality assurance assistance as needed. For leadership qualities, a Scientist IV should be innovative, collaborative, self developer and inspiring.
Trade Policy
As a global company whose international commitments engage her across different trade jurisdictions, Cola makes sure her trade policy is not only compliant to U.S. laws and regulations but also ensures all suppliers comply with a set of requirements including "Prohibition on Cartel Activity," "Supplier Code of Business Conduct," "Supplier Guiding Principles," and "Trade Sanctions Policy" ("Supplier Requirements"). Further, all U.S. suppliers are required to abide by a set of policies in areas including "Conflict Minerals," "Artwork, Labeling and Intellectual Property," "Authorization Process and Technical Criteria/Quality Assurance for Drinkware," "Patent License Terms for Suppliers," "Technical Criteria, Quality Control and Approval Requirements for Promotional and Advertising Specialty Merchandise," and "Parts Requirements for Sales and Marketing Equipment" ("Supplier Requirements"). Detailed policy guidelines are offered on Cola's coporate portal.
Works Cited
"Coca-Cola Leaders." Coca-Cola. The Coca-Cola Company, n.d. Web. 26 Jun. 2015.
"North America Job Search." Coca-Cola. The Coca-Cola Company, n.d. Web. 26 Jun. 2015.
"Supplier Requirements." Coca-Cola. The Coca-Cola Company, n.d. Web. 26 Jun. 2015.
"Workplace Culture." Coca-Cola. The Coca-Cola Company, n.d. Web. 26 Jun. 2015.
"Workplace Overview." Coca-Cola. The Coca-Cola Company, n.d. Web. 26 Jun. 2015.
