Alibaba’s recent success brings to attention how companies become incredibly successful and make it to the top of their respective industries. The key seems to be culture. Companies who have made a name for themselves have one thing that appears to be a common feature: They keep their employees happy, and their employees being happy make the company run as smoothly and productively as possible.
When a person graduates and jumps into the workforce or another decides that it is time to start a new career, one of the most important aspects of finding a new job is figuring out if the company and you will be a good fit. It’s a widely accepted concept that culture helps with retention to the point where some will argue that it is the most important reason as to why someone stays with a company. “In fact, a strong workplace culture makes it easier for an organization to stay focused, define its goals, and deliver on those goals,” Glenn Llopis of Forbes.com said.
Many people agree that when they are with a company, it is a good fit only if they align with many of the values, strategies and ethics the company has. If someone doesn’t agree with the way something is done or said or the purpose it is done for, chances are they are going to have a hard time motivating themselves to want to do what they’re supposed to be doing.
Llopis adds, “Progressive organizations sustain their market leadership position: they never stray away from their culture promise and are quick to make adjustments along the way." These quick adjustments are necessary because great company culture correlating with success is happiness.
So what examples could we look at to support the idea of culture being the root of company success? Well Alibaba, for one. Their company culture includes everything from a transparency platform that allows all employees to comment on activity, to an in-house mortgage program where employees can apply for "interest-free loans for property down payments." They stress the idea of having a family centered company where all the employees feel unified.
Then we have Apple, which is known not for play areas and stadium wide celebrations but for an incredibly strong company culture of secrecy. They are known for being able to work without needing to know about anything that goes on in other parts of the company. It’s different, but that company culture works for them.
Of course, the cream of the crop is Google, where headquarters are a “dizzying excursion through a labyrinth of play areas; cafes, coffee bars and open kitchens; sunny outdoor terraces with chaises; gourmet cafeterias that serve free breakfast, lunch and dinner; Broadway-theme conference rooms with velvet drapes; and conversation areas designed to look like vintage subway cars.” Happiness doesn’t seem to be difficult there and for a company whose stock prices haven’t been under $300 since mid-2012, productivity and ingenuity seem to be cultivating well.
Reach the columnist at kayla.chan@asu.edu or follow her on Twitter @kaylarc214.
Editor’s note: The opinions presented in this column are the author’s and do not imply any endorsement from The State Press or its editors.
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