Managing Diverse Employees at Starbucks: Focusing on Ethics and Inclusion

Abstract

Workforce diversity is a reality of the modern times for every organization and managing it effectively can lead to a sustainable competitive advantage. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the management of diversity at one of the most admired companies in America, and one of the 100 best companies to work for, Starbucks. We will discuss how managers lead diverse employees in a global environment and what makes this company so unique. Effective management of diversity is not only employing diverse employees, but learning to appreciate, respect and respond to the needs, values, and beliefs of diverse people and provide a positive work environment. Therefore, we will analyze the general environment and task forces that affect the diversity, as well as the challenges faced by Starbucks managers when managing diverse employees. Furthermore, the impact of diversity on the company performance will be subject of analysis through a value driven perspective. Finally, we will identify some of the best practices for effectively managing diversity and propose some recommendations.