Employee Motivation: Encouraging Change

Running head: EMPLOYEE MOTIVATION: ENCOURAGING CHANGE

Employee Motivation: Encouraging Change

Leadership and Organizational Behavior – GM591

Keller Graduate School of Management

Dr. Marco Faggione

March 31, 2012

Kerry Starks

13214 Arbor Trace Drive, #304

Charlotte, NC 28273

kerrystarks@yahoo.com

704-281-7950

Introduction

Belk, Inc. is a department store enterprise rooted in timeless values and a rich heritage, committed to delivering the latest fashions, quality merchandise, friendly service, fair prices, and today’s top brands to the modern Southern woman. Belk’s headquarters are located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Today, Belk occupies 29 million feet of retail space in the southern part of the United States, all with the single goal of satisfying the modern Southern lifestyle.

William Henry Belk opened a small bargain store in 1888, and convinced his brother, Dr. John M. Belk, who left his medical practice, to join him in what has become the nation’s largest privately owned mainline department store company with more than 300 fashion department store in 16 contiguous Southern states and sales totaling $3.5 billion in its past fiscal year. The company has grown exponentially by acquiring other department store groups throughout the years which is part of its long-term growth strategy. Belk also established a fine jewelry division offering a wide assortment of fine jewelry, watches, and quality gift items in more than 150 Belk stores.

Belk has more than 20,000 associates striving to meet the needs of their customers by providing superior customer service which is a standard of Belk stores. Belk also has a long-standing reputation for community service and philanthropy giving millions each year to different charities. The company and its associates support worthy causes in communities throughout the South (Belk, 2012).

Even with all of the accolades that Belk...