Wegmans culture A strong one

OSD Case III - WegmansPresented by:InfernalsWegmans culture A strong one One of the reasons of finding a place along with the big giants, is its strong culture itselfEmployee as well as people oriented cultureEmployees took pride in joining Wegman inspite of it being a grocery storeTurnover rate was a mere 6% (industry average 24%)Culture kept constant across generations of ownersEmployees were hired based on their interest in food which kept the culture strongEmployees were willing to help each other making the place comfortable for the new entrantsCulture became bigger than the owner himself

The strength of Wegmans culture affecting its employees Employees feel as one whole unit rather than separate individual selves Alignment of organizational goals with individual goalsNew entrants will have little difficulty in their process of metamorphosis The lack of bureaucracy and top managements active part in inculcating the culture make the employees feel that they are much closer to the owner and can reach him easily.Employees begin to identify with the organization much soonerSince getting employed is not on the basis on intellect or experience people, in order to earn quick money, might get drifted from their originally aspired careers

Advantages of culture impositionEmployees would think alike and work towards similar goalsAll employees being treated similarly, would generate loyalty on their part towards their organizationLack of biases and differentiationWould help to maintain transparency and discipline Customers would have a similar experience across stores Would help to maintain the same image of the organization across all its areas

Disadvantages of culture impositionLack of innovation or generation of new ideas on part of the employeesLack of flexibility and employees may feel restrictedEmployee may fake their interests just to get recruited which may not work towards organizational goalsAll individuals differ in some way or the other, thus imposition can lead to conflictsEmployees may have or at least pretend to have different interpretations of the same imposition just to have their ways and get out of the rigidity.