Whole Foods’ innovative management model (see here, here and here) has allowed the company to successfully address several of the next-generation challenges:
Challenge: How do you empower people by managing less while retaining discipline and focus?
Whole Foods answers: Give employees a large dose of discretion; provide them with the information they need to make wise decisions; and then hold them accountable for results.
Challenge: How do you create a company where the spirit of community binds people together?
Whole Foods answers: Manage as if you really believe that the interests of stakeholders are interdependent; create a high degree of financial transparency; and limit compensation disparities.
Challenge: How do you build an enlarged sense of purpose that merits extraordinary contributions?
Whole Foods answers: Make the pursuit “Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet” as real and tangible to employees as the pursuit of profits.
By Gary Hamel, Via The Future of Management (2007)
Tags: Gary Hamel, Gary Hamel on innovation, How Management Innovation Happens, lesson learnt, management innovation, The future of management, Whole Foods, Whole Foods Market
