While attending Cal Poly Pomona, I worked at Target, a distinct retail company that sets itself apart from others. I completed a three-month internship and remained employed there for around one year. Although I am no longer with Target, my time there provided me with valuable insights into the company and its culture. To fully understand the Target culture, it is important to acknowledge their commitment to both employees and guests. The foundation of Target lies in nurturing an inclusive culture that permeates every facet of their operations.
By fostering an inclusive culture, we empower all our team members to utilize their distinct talents and excel in achieving innovation and success (Culture). As per BusinessDictionary.com, an observable artifact refers to a more noticeable aspect representing culture. This can encompass various aspects, ranging from a publicly stated set of values embraced by a company to a designated parking space. For instance, Target is often recognized by its employees donning red and khaki attire, which helps customers easily identify the staff within the store.
The Target bullseye logo is a well-recognized symbol of the company. Seeing this image automatically reminds people of Target and its advertisements. Additionally, Bullseye, the official ambassador of Target, is adored by customers. Bullseye can be seen in various places, such as TV commercials, red carpet events with celebrities, and even with Target’s race team in the winner’s circle. Target’s culture is focused on being known and remembered for their exceptional customer service.
They want their dog, logo, or colors to be recognizable and memorable, so that people can associate them with a great experience. According to BusinessDictionary.com, espoused values are the culture and morals that are important to an organization. These values help shape the organization’s standards and norms for conducting business now and in the future. An espoused value is a stated value or norm that the company prefers. The Target mission statement exemplifies this concept: “Our mission is to make Target your preferred shopping destination in all channels by delivering outstanding value, continuous innovation, and exceptional guest experiences by consistently fulfilling our Expect More. Pay Less. ® brand promise (Culture).” Target strives to provide a superior experience for its customers, setting high standards for what guests can expect. Target wants to exceed expectations and be a place where guests and team members always find more than they anticipate. The company’s mission and values create the foundation, while day-to-day innovation, teamwork, and community partnerships demonstrate Target’s identity. BusinessDictionary.com defines enacted values as the values that are reflected in how individuals actually behave.
In stores or online, Target strives to provide an enjoyable and exciting shopping experience for their customers. Target prides themselves on their friendly service, with team members ready to assist guests with their needs or list. They also ensure fully stocked shelves and a fast checkout process. Target believes that in order to deliver this value, it is important for their employees to be happy. To achieve this, they offer free sandwich items in the lunch room and maintain an open door policy for their employees. However, unfortunately, Target falls short in this aspect. Personally, I have found Target to be one of the worst companies I have worked for.
They construct you to simply dismantle you and the workers are significantly undercompensated. While they may create a memorable culture for the guests, that is the only thing they have managed to establish with their employees.
References
More articles. (n. d.). BusinessDictionary.com. Retrieved from http://www.businessdictionary.com/ Culture. (n. d.). Culture: Working at Target. Retrieved from http://corporate.target.com/careers/culture Group y: A Peek into Target’s Corporate Culture. (n. d.). Group Y: A Peek into Target’s Corporate Culture. Retrieved from http://groupynetwork.blogspot.com/2008/04/peek-into-targets-corporate-culture.html
