Question

Regarding Organizational Culture: Describe Target's organizational culture? Do they have a strong culture? Is the culture relevant to the strategy? Explain

Answer 1

Organizational Culture at Target Corporate-

Teams take ation to support United Way- Throughout spring and summer 2014, and culminating with Target’s annual team member giving campaign in June, teams across the country worked together to volunteer their time, pledge donations and rally their teams in support of United Way and its programs. Partnership with United Way goes back to 1962, the same year we opened our first Target store in Roseville, Minn.

Target’s continued partnership with United Way is one way that we as a company, and as individuals, demonstrate our commitment to the communities where we do business, and where our guests and team members live and work.

Target diversity business council leader talks marriage equality-

Target joined several other national companies in signing on to an amicus brief in support of marriage equality that’s currently pending in the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Alexis Kantor, Product Development director, Marketing, and longtime member and leader of Target’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Ally (LGBTA) Business Council—one of six diversity and inclusion business councils at Target headquarters in Minneapolis— shares her thoughts on what this step means for Target’s guests, team members and business.

Never a normal day: an inside look at Target’s Product Development team-

Target’s Product Design and Development (PD&D) team does some pretty cool things, from traveling the world for inspiration to creating innovative products that solve everyday problems.

Boasting more than 600 talented product developers—from fabric engineers to color analysts—the team develops big ideas, graphic concepts and technical designs for Target. Oh, and they have a few patents too. And by a few, we mean more than 200.

With professional backgrounds as diverse as their day-to-day duties, PD&D team members bring a fresh, fun perspective to every product or system they create. Below, a few PD&D folks offer insight into their nine-to-fives and more.

Target headquarters team members dress for their day-

Target headquarters doesn’t have a dress code per se—instead, we have a loose framework called “Dress for Your Day.” What does “Dress for Your Day” mean? It’s pretty simple. We ask that team members use good judgment when deciding what to wear to work, with just a few basic guidelines.

For example, a big day might call for something like a dress or a suit, or maybe even dressy jeans and a blazer. For a low-key day, jeans and a nice polo might be the answer. Target team members do a lot of volunteering, and on those days they show their Target pride by wearing a Target Volunteer t-shirt. And regardless of the day, red and khaki is always in style at headquarters, just like in our stores.

Target breast cancer campaign helps women in need-

Target launched the For You. For Them. campaign as part of Target’s commitment to increase team members’ breast cancer screening rates. Breast Cancer Awareness Month is over, but through April 1, 2014, a special partnership with United Health Foundation and Park Nicollet Foundation means that getting a screening also means giving back.

Target’s For You. For Them. campaign included many elements geared toward team members, including special shirts and merchandise, headquarters events, and this video. “Target didn’t have to add the component of charity,” Beth says. “But we are so glad you did. There are many women who don’t qualify for assistance programs for a variety of reasons—Target is actually helping the women who fall through the cracks.”

“Makers” at Target meet, create, innovate-

Target headquarters recently hosted an event that’s perfect for Target’s maker team members. It’s called tgtMAKE Day, and it’s sponsored by tgtMAKE, a research and discovery incubator at Target that provides team members with a forum to experiment, research and innovate at Target headquarters year-round. The twice-a-year, one-day MAKE Day events give team members the opportunity to put their regular work aside, get together in one huge room and collaborate on technology solutions for business problems, all while listening to loud crowd-sourced music and staying fueled by caffeine and snacks.

Target definitely has a unique, specific culture. I remember asking many questions around culture during my interview process and what was sold to me was not what I experienced. The “Fast, Fun and Friendly” slogan they promote is there, but only on the surface.

- Communication style - The culture is extremely passive aggressive, which may be partially due to the HQ location in Minnesota vs. the company itself . If you are a more direct person, you’ll be labeled as off-putting. I personally believe one can be direct yet respectful vs. passive aggressive and beat around the bush in expectation that the other person gets the hint.

- Networking to the extreme – The expectation is that employees network with others constantly. Networking is beneficial in any organization, however it is over-emphasized at Target vs. other companies. This leads to inauthentic networking for the sake of getting “face time” and less work getting done that will actually drive the business forward.

- Extroverts thrive here – If you are someone who needs down time to focus on completing work, you’ll be labeled not a team player. Personally I see value in both introverts and extroverts, but Target seemed like a Stepford Wife type of place where everyone is attempting to fit in too hard. The more introverted and/or analytically-minded folks I saw weren’t valued for what they brought to the table, rather criticized for not having a super bubbly personality.

- Bureaucratic – Many pointless meetings! Every decision has to be made my committee and then formally presented back to leadership. I’ve worked at several companies over the years and never has my schedule been full of non-value add meetings….and if you mention this in an attempt to improve the process, then you’re not a team player.

- Lack of diversity of opinion – I won’t go much into the lack of ethnic diversity as many companies struggle here. I can imagine being located in the middle of the country poses recruiting challenges, so having a very white/”different shades of blonde” employee base is a challenge at other companies as well.