The key approaches that W. L. Gore has taken to promote successful implementation and execution of its strategy
In order to encourage effective application and accomplishment of its plan, the company maintains 200 or fewer associates in each of its facilities. The strategy ensures that there are manageable numbers of teams in each facility to facilitate coordination across teams. Several teams are found in all continents with each team being organized based on its products. The approach has ensured that strong relationships are built across geographical boundaries.
Gore’s main principle is to drive cooperation among its associates and ensure that the commitments that are made are kept. Thus, it has a lattice arrangement that allows the employees to be part of the corporation. On the other hand, associates have the freedom to create their commitments to ensure the company’s success.
From the case study, the approach is meant to ensure that an employee honors his/her commitment. It also ensures that communication is clear and effective among its various teams and facilities. Besides, issues are thoroughly discussed in different the continents, teams, and plants before decisions are made in the company. The associates share technical knowledge formally during technical meetings that are held monthly.
Gore has four divisions that provide it with diverse investment opportunities and ensure that there is always a continuous flow of resources. The approach is upheld given that when one or two divisions are down, the others are functioning to meet the company’s goals. In addition, its competitive objective is to invent unique and differentiated products in order to maintain its market position. The company believes in quality thus puts emphasis on product’s integrity.
W. L. Gore’s organizational structure: strength or weakness?
The company has maintained a lattice organizational structure. It only has a president and a secretarial post, which are created founded on the fact that the law commands these posts. The organizational structure is the strength given that it provides quick response to a crisis. On the other hand, a knowledge-based team is formed with the aid of the leaders to analyze and come up with a solution to resolve the issue. The organizational structure ensures that quality decision is made based on consensus. It also makes the implementation processes easy and saves time. Finally, the organizational structure encourages initiative and creativity while ensuring that there are good relationships between the employees.
The main features of the corporate culture at W. L. Gore
The company’s HR initiatives are made in such a way that all associates act as stakeholders, and each member has a sense of responsibility for the division’s success. The company has no hierarchical structure of leadership. The leadership is a changing process, and future leaders emerge after gaining credibility when interacting with other associates. In most cases, associates are allowed to lead when they have the required expertise to be leaders in a team, division or facility.
An experienced associate of the company is often committed to being a new employee’s sponsor. The sponsor’s role was to mentor the new employee focusing on how to make him or her better and become well acquainted with the company. Everyone is treated at the same level and is called an associate. The leaders act as advisers and not as supervisors or managers.
Finally, as part of its culture, Gore Company provides various benefits to its employees. In most cases, the strategy is meant to motivate them to work harder and encourages competition within the company. Besides, the strategy gives them a sense of entitlement to the company’s success.
As a result, the culture supports the implementation of its strategy. For instance, the culture greatly influences the company’s retention and satisfaction. The culture enables the company to create an environment for creativity and flourishing while maximizing on the workers’ potential. It also creates a place that is desirable to work with all employees. Thus, the culture has made the company to be one of the most successful companies.