Trader Joes

Discussion Questions

1. How does Trader Joe’s design jobs for increased job satisfaction and higher performance?

Trader Joe's give its appreciation for its employees to increase job satisfaction and higher performance. Trader Joe’s puts its money where its mouth is. The starting benefits at Trader Joe's include medical, dental, and vision insurance, company paid retirement, paid vacation and a 10% employee discount. The core of this allegiance is a wage and benefits package that is typically far more competitive than that of most companies in the supermarket industry. Wages may attract high-quality employees, but wages are not necessarily the reason they remain loyal, as any human resources expert can attest. Employees stay because they have created a culture of success: an environment in which everyone does the same job at one time or another and a place where people’s opinions are respected and talents are nurtured.

2. In what ways does Trader Joe’s demonstrate the importance of each responsibility in the management process: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling?

Trader Joe’s demonstrates planning by intending to carry unique products at a low cost within a fun, relaxing environment. Their organizing skills were apparent due to their approach to find unusual foods from around the world, contract directly with manufacturers, label their products with catchy phrases and by maintaining a small stock of each product. Their leadership was exemplified by hiring employees with job skills such as being “ambitious and adventurous” and providing a laid-back atmosphere both for their workers and customers. Their employees had higher pay rates than those that worked for their competitors and had great benefits. Because managers were hired from within, they had an ultimate knowledge-base of how the system works. Also, the employees were encouraged to taste and learn about the products to be able to share with their customers, creating a...