Starbucks Structure

Starbuck’s Structure MGT 330 Jerry Simpson August 20, 2012 We all live in a world or businesses and organizations. Our day to day lives are dependent on large public organizations, small businesses, well-known private companies or even voluntary groups. The ways these organizations are structured varies a lot and even in the same business categories companies/organizations differ a lot. initially started in 1971 as a very small structure, run by three partners in a small shop in Seattle.

By that time the company then was simply selling whole bean and ground coffee but after taking over the operation of Starbucks in 1987, Schultz decided to expand the company’s business, which has now shops all around the world. In a generic way, it is possible to say that an organizations structure describes the way tasks are divided supervised, and coordinated. The first one is the size and age. A small and young company usually has a very simple structure but complexity and formality increase with size or age.

Then we have the core process which must be aligned with structure so as to avoid important disruptions in daily operations. The structure of an organization also has to adapt itself to the environment. While a stable structure might be more easily addressed with an organization with a simple structure, an unstable and turbulent one will be, surely, more suited to an adaptable structure. Strategies and goals stand for others imperatives, structure and process must be both flexible as to adjust themselves to change.

As for Starbucks, the best structural configuration for a company of this magnitude would be a divisional structure. This is due to the large size of the company, as well as the multi-market and multi-product offerings of the Starbucks Corporation. Though it must be noted that among the many weaknesses of the divisional structure is the duplication of activities and the potential for counter productive, inter-market competition for customers. What this means is Starbucks could end up competing against themselves essentially for customers which is a waste of resources.

This is why it is imperative for Starbucks to implement the divisional structure as effectively as possible. In addition, if Starbucks plans to operate as efficiently as possible, they will be best served to utilize departmentalization by matrix (which is used by high tech firms or multinational companies). This creates circumstances in which maximum flexibility and adaptability in operations as possible. Starbucks employees would then have to be able to adjust to change and accept some role ambiguity as part of the daily routine. The tasks they work on tend to vary.

The only constant would be the employee’s functional supervisor. This form of departmentalization should remain the same for stores offering food products and lunch in order to provide commonality amongst stores. This creates brand recognition, not only on the part of the consumers, but also on the part of the employees of the company as well. In that sense we can say that for every structure we can find successful companies. The trick appears to be the balance the manager finds between contingency factors and the organizational structure through which resources are deployed and managed.

Moreover, as the result of internal or external changes, every organization, no matter what core or type, has to restructure at some stage in life. Restructure is more than a fashion, in some cases, is really a matter of survival. Employees of various companies deal with restructuring all of the time. Starbucks has many employment opportunities within its brand and I have chosen to discuss the position of Barista and come up with a job description as well as job specifications for the position.

Barista Job Description: The Barista position is an essential job within the Starbucks organization. As a Barista, employees will be expected to: Welcome guests when the walk in to the coffee shop Take the orders of the guest upon request Inform guests of product offerings Inform guests of promotions Make sure the coffee shop is clean and professionally maintained at all times Responsible for making specialty coffees for guests and understanding ingredients used

The Barista is the first point of contact for the guests of the Starbucks corporation, so it is essential for all Starbucks barista’s to have a positive attitude and to work with a smile. References Reilly, M. , Minnick, C. , & Baack, D. (2011). The five functions of effective management. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education. Starbucks Facts (2008), Company Fact Sheet, Starbucks Coffee, Retrieved from http://www. starbucks. com/aboutus/Company_Factsheet. pdf Starbucks Corporation. (2009), International, Retrieved November 6, 2009, from http://www. starbucks. com/default. asp?