Introducing: Unique Corporate Cultures by Scared of Clowns




By: Lindsay Miller
Welcome to the Scared of Clowns blog. Do not let the name fool you; clowns, although terrifying, will not form the basis of this blog. We are Brendan Fox, Do Sung, Michael Attridge, Lily Nie, and Lindsay Miller reporting from the perspective of Organizational Behavior concepts. Please continue reading to discover the fresh insight we will provide on Unique Corporate Cultures that have sprung up across the nation.

In business today, Corporate Culture is not only a Buzz word, it is becoming a competitive advantage. As processes are streamlined and technology advances, the way to pull away from competition is through a solid, talent-development program. In other words, who companies hire to work and represent them. So how do companies attract and retain such talent? Competitive salaries and benefits are always helpful, but currently the Millenial generation is asking for more. More Social Responsibility. More Social Scenes. More Work/Life Balance. More Diversity of Task. More Sustainability Efforts. Many of these factors also work to gain the trust and the business of customers seeking similar initiatives, but the bottom line is that both consumer and employee are looking at the not-so-simple, somewhat intangible concept of Culture.

Team Scared of Clowns will take you through a series of companies that are particularly unique in the way that they manifest their culture: from jungle-themed office space to paid volunteer time-off to functional interest squads and beyond. Follow along as we take you through the by-product of a changing world where companies are no longer just marketing their products, but their identities as well.

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Join Gore & Change Your Life

W.L. Gore & Associates Inc. has consistently been recognized by financial magazines such as BusinessWeek and Forbes, Inc. as one of the top companies to work for. The company is known for consumer products such as GORE-TEX frabric and ELIXIR guitar strings, and it manufactures products within the electronics, industrial, fabrics, and medical markets. What exactly has Gore done as a company that makes its culture so unique and highly regarded?

In a radical approach to corporate culture within an organization, since its founding by Bill Gore in the late 1950’s, the company does not have any “chain of command”. This wildly innovative idea, especially at a time when traditional management styles were most popular, focuses on a team-based organization with no organizational charts and no “channels of communication”. Associates are hired to work in a particular discipline but feel that they are placed onto projects that meet their skills and capabilities, which has had a very positive impact on employee retention and satisfaction.

What are the risks involved though, to not have a chain of command, job titles, or these charts? This environment apparently has created a great deal of innovation at the company, as employees are more willing to work together in a team environment rather than pursue their own self-interests. To quote CEO Terri Kelly, “We recognize the importance of fostering a work environment where people feel motivated, engaged and passionate about the work they do… Our culture promotes an incredible level of ownership and entrepreneurship. It encourages associates to channel their talents and interests to produce a continuous stream of innovative, high-value products for our customers.”

In recent news, Gore unveiled a new brand campaign, “Join Gore & Change Your Life”, which highlights the very unique culture to potential job candidates with the intent to build a talent pool. Barbara Pizzala, a recruiting associate at Gore, was quoted as saying, “By focusing on product success stories, the campaign goes a long way toward educating potential job applicants about what we do. And just as important, it puts our collaborative culture front and center.” It is clear that through Gore’s ability to give their associates the freedom and resources to create products in such a unique environment that the firm has been voted one of Fortune Magazines “Top 100 Companies to Work For” for 12 years in a row. 
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