As you’ve learned, organizational culture refers to the values employees share and an organization’s values, mission, history, and more. In other words, organizational culture can be considered a company’s personality. A company’s organizational culture can help drive its internal and external success. When a company’s culture is aligned with its corporate strategy and goals, the level at which it can perform is impressive. When researching a company for a possible new job, understanding its culture can help you decide if it is a good fit for you and your priorities. Also, understanding a company’s culture as a project manager can help you make informed choices about when you want your actions and decisions to fit within the culture or when you might intentionally push back against the culture to effect change or create improvements. Let’s explore an example of a positive organizational culture and how a project manager fits into that culture.
The Family Java culture
The Family Java coffeehouse has over 2,000 stores worldwide. The Family Java’s culture is closely linked to its strategy and capabilities, which it feels sets it apart from other coffee shops. The company has invested in a relationship-driven, employees-first approach. Their culture establishes that the employees are what makes the company unique. This helps foster a warm, comfortable, and calm environment for employees and customers. Because The Family Java’s organizational culture has cultivated employees who genuinely care about the company and their jobs, they create the same environment for their customers to enjoy.
The Family Java’s mission and values speak to this approach directly:
Mission
- To provide a welcoming environment where our employees become our family and our guests become our friends
Values
- To create a place where everyone is welcome
- We always give our best and hold ourselves accountable for the results
- To treat others with respect and kindness
The Family Java has worked hard to create the structure to put their mission and values into practice daily. They practice these values while achieving new sales and growth levels. For example, The Family Java believes in expressing its employees’ first value by spending more on employee healthcare than coffee beans! Each employee is crucial to the success of the company and their ability to fulfill their mission and adhere to their values. In turn, the company makes its employees feel valued by offering substantial training, education scholarships, assistance with daycare, and growth within the company.
The Family Java can capitalize on the critical link between culture and strategic goals to achieve optimal performance. When evaluating its organizational culture, the company focuses on its positive attributes, adapts to what works, and has proven beneficial. By perfecting what the company does well, The Family Java has created a culture that drives out negativity, empowers employees to be their best selves, and aligns with its strategic goals.
