Bus520 Assignment One

Case Study 1: Examining Emotions, Attitudes, and Job Satisfaction

Dr. Bess White

BUS520

July 21, 2014

Trader Joe’s is a privately owned chain of specialty grocery stores whose main office is located in Monrovia, California. Trader Joe’s has made a name for itself by n supplying the public specialty foods at a reasonable price. When customers come to Trader Joe’s, they enter into a haven of happiness, when they are greeted by Trader Joe’s employees in their colorful Hawaiian shirts. Trader Joe’s prides itself in their superb customer service and need to go beyond customers’ expectation. One reason Trader Joe’s able to provide a pleasant environment for its customers is because they first make sure to provide a pleasant work environment for its employees. In this paper, I will examine Traders’ Joe’s approach in promoting job satisfaction and performance, and also determine how Trader Joe utilizes its leadership methods in the development of its workers. I will also provide suggestions in management techniques that Trader Joe can use to surpass their competition.

According to the textbook’s case study, “Trader Joe’s connects with its customers because of the culture of product knowledge and customer involvement that its management cultivates among store employees” (Organizational Behavior 12 edition, 2014). Trader Joe’s only hire their management from within its organization. Employees who exemplify leadership qualities have the opportunity to participate in a program. Trader Joe’s initiated a program for future leaders within its organization, Trader Joe’s University is a program that is designed to develop leaders. The leadership program is one of the methods Trader Joe uses to create and maintain job satisfaction, along with performance. In an article listed in Credo Reference, 21st Century Management: A Reference Handbook, the author, Charles Wankel writes, “ In order to stay ahead of the industry standards, many organizations encourage innovation and...