Starbucks Management and Leadership
Starbucks Management and Leadership
Christy Anderson
MGT/330
Tonya T. Moore
August 22, 2010
Starbucks Management and Leadership Starbucks Coffee Company came from humble beginnings when it started out as a simple café in Seattle, Washington, in 1971. Originally founded by Howard Schultz and located in the historic Pike Place Market, that single store has since multiplied to more than 15,000 stores located in 50 countries. Starbucks Coffee Company has realized a success which is admired by companies industry wide, with their main source of success being the people they hire to manage within the organization. The management team is charged with a vital responsibility: to pass along the vision of founder Howard Schultz to every employee and customer which is “to inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time” (Our Heritage, para. 6). In addition to that top priority, the management of Starbucks Coffee Company is charged with several complex tasks such as being strong leaders and managers, and knowing the difference; creating and maintaining a healthy organizational culture through the development of their employees and each store experience; and achieving global success. In the current business climate, it is often considered that the term “leader” is synonymous with the term “manager,” but the two could not be more different. “Outstanding leaders combine good strategic substance and effective interpersonal processes to formulate and implement strategies that produce results and sustainable competitive advantage. They may launch enterprises, build organization cultures, win wars, or otherwise change the course of events. They are strategists who seize opportunities others overlook, but they are also passionately concerned with detail-all the small, fundamental realities that can make or mar the grandest of plans” (Bateman & Snell, 2009, p. 434). Leaders, some say, are born. However, in business today, leaders, with the
Christy Anderson
MGT/330
Tonya T. Moore
August 22, 2010
Starbucks Management and Leadership Starbucks Coffee Company came from humble beginnings when it started out as a simple café in Seattle, Washington, in 1971. Originally founded by Howard Schultz and located in the historic Pike Place Market, that single store has since multiplied to more than 15,000 stores located in 50 countries. Starbucks Coffee Company has realized a success which is admired by companies industry wide, with their main source of success being the people they hire to manage within the organization. The management team is charged with a vital responsibility: to pass along the vision of founder Howard Schultz to every employee and customer which is “to inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time” (Our Heritage, para. 6). In addition to that top priority, the management of Starbucks Coffee Company is charged with several complex tasks such as being strong leaders and managers, and knowing the difference; creating and maintaining a healthy organizational culture through the development of their employees and each store experience; and achieving global success. In the current business climate, it is often considered that the term “leader” is synonymous with the term “manager,” but the two could not be more different. “Outstanding leaders combine good strategic substance and effective interpersonal processes to formulate and implement strategies that produce results and sustainable competitive advantage. They may launch enterprises, build organization cultures, win wars, or otherwise change the course of events. They are strategists who seize opportunities others overlook, but they are also passionately concerned with detail-all the small, fundamental realities that can make or mar the grandest of plans” (Bateman & Snell, 2009, p. 434). Leaders, some say, are born. However, in business today, leaders, with the
References: Bateman, T. S., & Snell, S. A. (2009). Management: Leading & Collaborating in a Competitive World. : The McGraw-Hill Companies. Michelli, J. A. (2006, November). Starbucks Experience. Leadership Excellence, 23(11), 10. Starbucks Coffee Company. (2010). Our Heritage. Retrieved from http://www.starbucks.com/about-us/our-heritage Starbucks Coffee Company. (2010). Starbucks Newsroom. Retrieved from http://news.starbucks.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=342