Gore

Wilbert L. and Genevieve Gore founded W.L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, INC. on January 1 1958, in Newark Delaware. According to the Gore website (n.d.), “the company focuses its efforts in four main areas: electronics, fabrics, industrial and medical products. The company’s electronic products division develops and manufactures high-performance copper and optical signal transmission products. Gore’s fabrics provide protection from the elements and enable wearers to remain comfortable across a broad range of activities and conditions. The products made by Gore’s industrial division meet diverse contamination control and processing challenges throughout industry. Implants from the medical division provide creative healing solutions to complex medical problems.” (Gore) Currently they are a privately held company that has annual sales totally more than three point two billion dollars. According to their website they employ over 10,000 employees around the world. (Gore)

According to Owens’ and Schein’s “organizational culture are patterns of shared values and beliefs over time, which produce behavioral norms that are adopted in solving problems.” (as cited in GRIN Vertag, 2008) After reading W.L. Gore & Associates website and reading unique stories from their own associates, I have come to the conclusion that the culture at W.L. Gore is not only one of diversity but also of teamwork and mutual respect. Even though I have not dealt personally with W.L. Gore there are several signs shown by W.L. Gore that clearly demonstrate this type of culture. In an interview with Terri Kelly the president and CEO of W.L. Gore & Associates by Tim Dickson (2012):

We believe that spending time up front, clearly demonstrating the business benefits of diversity, engages the organization more effectively than simply telling associates what to do. When they buy into an initiative because they believe in it, they're more committed to achieving its outcomes. And in the process of making the case, the...