this Discussion focuses on Core Values and how they impact everyday corporate transactions. We will be focusing on how Core Values impact how teams members work together. You might have noticed that the required readings are Amazon and Google's Core Values. Google refers to its Core Values as 'beliefs".
Why did I select two 'tech companies' one of which is not even a fashion retailer? One reason I chose these two companies is that they are so successful. More importantly, their success is in large part due to their adherence to their 'Core Values". These two companies take theirCore Values seriously and the expression of thesevalues is considered'state of the art'. In fact Amazon, the world's largest retailer, trains 'bar raisers' to enforce these values as part of the hiring process. This training programis invitation only and is selectively offered to theirtop employees. The program takesover a year to complete and is consider it is considered an honor to be asked to participate in this program,
Wherever you work, eventually you will come into contact with some version of these two company's Core Values. Many retailers are rethinking their Mission Statements and Core Values to reflect some of the principles. In essence, 'Core Values' are the guiding light of modern corporate America.
The purpose of this Discussion is to evaluate how these Core Values would impact a team in the workplace. Select oneCore Value from Amazon and one Core Value from Google. that you think would be important for a team in the fashion business. Explain, in-depth, what the Core Value is and how it might impact working on a team in the fashion industry.
Would the Core Values you chose to discuss enhance or hinder the productivity of a fashion business team? How would they enhance or hinder productivity.
Lastly, review Amazon's Core Values. What is the most important Core Value on their list and why is it so important?
You must obtain outside research for this Discussion in addition to the research I have provided. 350 WORDS MINIMUM!
THEN, ANSWER THE TWO PEOPLE PROVIDED BELOW WITH A THOUGHTFUL RESPONSE:
AYATI SAIDAmazon Core Value
Invent and Simplify
The fashion industry is extremely wasteful, especially the fast fashion industry. Therefore, I think the core value of inventing and simplifying is one that companies in the fashion industry should start adapting. While producing clothes to match trends for each season are important, product development teams can work on developing a line of clothes that feature few trends for the whole season instead of trying to mass produce and change styles every few weeks like ZARA does. This production method leads to excess waste.
Vivienne Westwood is a well known British designer and one of her most famous sayings is “Buy less, choose well, make it last”. Instead of mass producing cheap clothes, her philosophy is to make shoppers “buy fewer items, choose them better and make them last” (Moore, 2017, paras. 2).
This is why I think the core value of inventing better clothes and simplifying trends would fit with a fashion industry team. Eventually, with a changing consumer that is more environmentally conscious, effort should be made to focus on “quality, not quantity, not landfill” (Moore, 2017, paras. 7).
Google Core Value
You can make money with without doing evil
I think this core value is applicable to teams in all industries. In terms of the fashion industry, I think this core value would be effective to apply for production teams. Many companies outsource production to reduce costs or to attain skilled labor in other countries. Reducing operating costs increases profits which is the fundamental goal for all businesses. Nevertheless, like the core value outlines, it is possible to accomplish this without “doing evil”.
Evil in this situation can be considered as conducting unethical business practices. This could involve outsourcing to countries that do not provide employees with safe working conditions or livable wages. Other conditions could also include having unachievable production targets, one example is when employees in India “had a target of producing 20 ladies’ blouses per hour” (Gaitho, 2018 paras. 3).
Another example is of Indonesia where no job security exists and workers are laid off in relation to production demand (Gaitho, 2018). In my opinion, it is possible for companies to make profits following sustainability guidelines and without resorting to unethical practices.
Amazon Core Value Most Important
I think customer obsession is an important core value. Amazon has dominated the online space because it goes far and beyond to deliver whatever its customers want and need. They've been able to accomplish this by focusing solely on their customers instead of their competitors which is what other companies do.
Instead of trying to be better than competitors, Amazon focuses on striving to be number 1 for their consumer which ironically is what makes them the best. An example is of Amazon Prime which “Bezos said at the talk that Amazon developed Prime, a paid subscription service for free two-day delivery, because he knew consumers love free shipping” (Premack, 2018 paras. 4).
KENNEDY SAID:Google Core Value:Focus on the user and all else will follow
One of the most important things to focus on in any business is making sure the customer is happy with their goods or services from the company.If a consumer is unhappy, it can lead to bad reviews and the company doing poorly. A lot of advertising for businesses comes from word of mouth, and if someone has a bad experience, it can reflect badly on the business. When working in teams, people can become more focused on the item they are working on rather than the overall satisfaction of the user. Teams need to focus on what is important to the customer rather than what a team member thinks will work best.
Amazon Core Value: Have backbone: disagree and commit
I chose this core value from Amazon because a lot can go unsaid when working in teams. It can be difficult to voice your opinion in front of others, especially if it is disagreeing with one of the leaders of the team. The important thing to remember is that there are teams for a reason. Teams are meant to work together and bounce ideas off of one another, even if members disagree. It may be uncomfortable to go against a group, but it is important to hear all ideas to create the best possible outcome for the team.
These core values should enhance the productivity of a fashion business team. There are some areas that fashion brands fall short in, and some of it comes from listening to the consumer. There have been brands that lose significant amounts of money because they fail to see what their target market is asking for. If fashion brands kept their consumer in mind at all times, it would better their business and increase consumer loyalty. If a customer feels heard, they are more likely to return. When working in teams, it is easy to lose sight of the customers wants rather than individual team wants.
When it comes to working in teams, there are bound to be people that disagree, and it is important that they voice their opinion. If one person feels this way, it's likely others will when the product is released. Teams need to have the ability to hear other team members out so they can better their projects. If one person is solely in charge, they might as well be working as individuals. On fashion business teams, they must ensure they are considering all ideas in the group, creative and business wise.
The most important core value on Amazon's list is deliver results. If a company is not providing what they set out to provide, there is essentially no purpose in them existing. Above all else, companies need to be focused on delivering what they had promised to the customer. If there are no results, there is no business.
“Google's 10 Core Values: Element-360.”Element, 17 Apr. 2018, element-360.com/googles10corevalues/.
Satterfield, Douglas R. “Core Values: Amazon.com.”Your Senior Leadership Guide, 15 June 2014, www.theleadermaker.com/core-values-amazon-com/.