OGL 481 Pro-Seminar I:

PCA-Choosing an Organization Worksheet

Worksheet Objectives:
1. Identify an organization and situation you want to study over the remainder of the course.
2. Describe the organization and situation.

Mark Bonney
15JAN2021
OGL 481

CONFIDENTIAL

Complete the following making sure to support your ideas and cite from the textbook and other
course materials per APA guidelines. After the peer review, you have a chance to update this and
format for your Electronic Portfolio due in Module 6.

1) Describe your organization.

Starbucks is a international coffee company. The first store opened in Seattle in 1971, and
Howard Schultz (former Chairman and CEO) purchased Starbucks in 1987 (Starbucks,
2021). Since that time Starbucks has grown worldwide and become an iconic household
brand. In his book Reinventing Organizations, author Frederic Laloux describes “green
organizations,” or those organizations that put a high emphasis on culture and employee
empowerment and motivation to succeed and have a high priority to be socially responsible.
(Laloux, 2014, p. 31). Starbucks fits this organizational descriptor.

2) Describe your role in the organization (it can be internal or external).

I work for a Starbucks store located on the outskirts of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex in
Texas. We are a very busy café and drive thru combination store. I am a Shift Supervisor. I
take care of the day-to-day activities ensuring that my partners have a great and productive
time during their shift while serving our customers and community.

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 Describe the situation. (see the Canvas instructions for details, especially about how
your situation will be analyzed from five different perspectives over the next five
modules)

CONFIDENTIAL

In mid-march of 2020, the novel coronavirus had hit the United States and national
leadership advised that there be a two week lockdown of public areas and businesses in
order to “flatten the curve,” and give hospitals and healthcare workers time to prepare for
the incoming COVID-19 patients. During this time of uncertainty my Store Manager was
on a leave of absence due to health reasons unrelated to the pandemic. Starbucks also
offered the opportunity to take paid leave during this time for those partners who were
uncertain or uncomfortable working as the nation grappled with how best to control the
outbreak of the virus.

I continued to work at my store during this period. I made this decision to continue
working because I felt a sense of obligated to those in the community that still had to work
and also an obligation to my partners that still wanted and needed the safety and normalcy
that work provides. It was not an easy decision for me to make and I did not make it
lightly. I was personally conflicted because in the face of the unknown wouldn’t it be safer
to stay at home? The following is a transcript of the conversation that I had with my
District Manager because I was feeling uncertain about keeping my store open and
continuing to work.

DM: “Starbucks provides sustenance to to it’s partners and customers.”

Me: “I know, but I’m worried that by staying open we are setting the wrong example to our
customers. If people shouldn’t be out and about I’m not sure we should reward them with
lattes and frappucinos.”

DM: “ Very true. I guess my recommendation is to do what you think is best. Take the
leave if you need to do that but also think about the many first responders, healthcare
workers, and frontlines folks that can’t stay home. Lattes and frappucinos might be their
only comfort duing their day, and Starbucks is a third place – we want to be there for
people.”

Me: “Well, I think I want to be there people. So, if its all the same to you then I think I’m
going to continue opening the store and working.”

DM: “Absolutely, but if that changes just know that its okay to take leave. Let me know if
you need anything.”

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 References

Company Information. (n.d.). Retrieved January 17, 2021, from

https://www.starbucks.com/about-us/company-information

Laloux, F. (2014). Reinventing organizations: A guide to creating organizations inspired

by the next stage of human consciousness (pp. 31-34). Brussels, Belgium: Nelson Parker.

Bolman, L. G. & Deal, T. E. (2017). /Reframing organizations: Artistry, choice, and

leadership (6th ed.)/. Hoboken, NJ: Jossey-Bass