Whole Foods Case Job Structure, Case Study Example

Introduction

The objective of every organization is to retain and attract those employees who share the core values of the company. The values at Whole Foods comprises of selling the highest quality of organic and natural products, delighting and satisfying customer, team members supporting, growth and happiness, creation of growth and profits through wealth, caring about the societies and the environment, developing a win-win relationship with the suppliers and promoting the stakeholders health through an education of healthy eating. In this paper, the core value of Whole foods will be applied in doing the job analysis and the describing the specific roles of job. This helps to determine the structure of job at Whole Foods.

Before evaluation the process of job and its structure at whole foods we need to look at the culture and description of the company. The organizational structure and hierarchy of whole foods breakdown their operation of stores into ‘groups’ or ‘teams’. This group is linked with the various departments and is known as ‘Team Members’. These teams just not only because of the departments that exists in the market of retail, rather each team member is responsible for ensuring the team operation that smoothly runs. Their task is to make the store profitable and also not only to the group itself but for the organization, community and the store.

Dominant Characteristics of the Industry

Whole Foods went global in the year 1991 and after being global it had acquired other small owner managed and stores of organic food. This comprises of the opening of new stores as well. In the year 2006, the company decided to open new stores instead of acquisitions. So, the company choose the areas of urban and upscale metropolitan localities. The reason fro choosing these locations is because they are shopping locations with high traffic, strip centers, freestanding and highly dense localities. At the end of year 1991, the company had 10 stores but in 2007, because of this expansion strategy they had 276 stores. In the year 2008, their stores increased to over 36 states.

Jobs and Structure of Jobs at Whole Foods

By looking at the various details of job provided in the case study, following job titles were assigned as specified in the order;

• Job A- Team Member (Deli)
• Job B- Cashier
• Job C- Team Leader (Department of Prepared Foods)
• Job D- Prepared Foods Team Member
• Job E- Team Member (Kitchen)
• Job F- Stock and Display Team Member II
• Job G- Associate Team Leader of Prepared Foods
• Job H- Regional Team Leader
• Job I- Team Member Stock and Display

The structure of job to come up with in Whole Foods put the jobs specified above into 2 types. One is the Store support and the other is Managerial job. In the structure of Manager, we would place Job A, Job C, Job G, Job H whereas in the Support of Store, we would place Job B, Job D, Job E, Job I and Job F.

Evaluation of the Job Structure and Job at Whole Foods

Job A-Team Member (Deli)

Roles and Responsibilities

For this job the employees require excellent customer service. They must comply and follow with all the sanitation and applicable health procedures. They must prepare the food items like slice deli cheeses and meats, sandwiches etc. The lift of station assignment is prepared and is predetermined. They need to rotate and stock the products, resupply the stock, prepare goods on a timely basis and keeping all the stocked utensils. They must check all the products date to ensure freshness and when necessary rotate. They must use the sheets of water properly as directly and sanitize all the equipment in a proper and safe manner. The must follow the organizational safety procedures and at all times comply with it.

Job B-Cashier

Roles and Responsibilities

The role is to focus and assist the customers during the process of checkout. He must perform all the functions of the cash register in accordance to the procedures established. He must maintain a good image of the company by being friendly courteous and efficient in the service of the customers. He must accurately and efficiently check out the customer groceries. He must pass the PLUD code test entry level and maintain a demeanor that is professional all the time. He must stock, clean and detail the front end area with the special preferences to his own register. He must produce and walk at the beginning of each shift to learn and identify new code. He must comply with the safety and health codes.

Job C-Team Leader (Prepared Foods)

Roles and Responsibilities

He must report to the associate and store team leader and also supervise and provides the overall management of the department of prepared foods. He must ensure a team member that is responsible and develops him accordingly. He is responsible for the expense control, the buying of merchandizing, profitability, special projects and regulatory compliance as assigned. He must be completely accountable for all the job operation’s aspect. He must maintain and manage an inventory in such a way to achieve the gross margin targeted. He also manages the process of ordering that sustains and builds a high team performance and reducing turnover.

Job D- Prepared Foods Team Member

Roles and Responsibilities

They must establish the measures and weights procedures. The answering of the pages and the phone must be done quickly with the phone etiquettes that are appropriate. The proper practice of knives, trash compacter, baler, slicer and all equipment linked with it must be done for cleanup and food preparation. The employees must ensure that their duties are performed in a timely manner and must follow through the requests of their supervisors.

Job E- Team Member (Kitchen)

Roles and Responsibilities

At this job, the duties needs to be perform related to unloading kitchen, dishwashing, pots, pans and utensils. He must maintain sanitation and food quality in the kitchen. He must ensure a good image of the company be being efficient, friendly and courteous. He must sanitize, wash, containers and utensils. Assist with the proper delivery storage and reorganizing the products. He must also wash and sweep the floors as required.

 Job F- Stock and Display Team Member II

Roles and Responsibilities

For this job, the required person has to perform all the functions that are related to the deliveries breaking down and moving the stock back to the floor. The roles and responsibilities comprises of assisting in developing and organizing the promotional displays, training grocery clerks at entry level and maintaining back rooms. He must ensure and maintain that all the standards of retail are met during their shift. He is responsible for the break schedule implementation of the team. He must perform all his responsibilities and duties of a grocery team member. He must ensure that the standards are met. Responsible for the delivery checking and closing and opening of checklists.

 Job G- Associate Team Leader of Prepared Foods

Roles and Responsibilities

He must report directly to the Leader of the Team. He must help in the supervision and the overall management of the prepared foods. He must be responsible for managing the expenses, merchandizing purchases, special projects and the profitability. He must be accountable completely for the operations of the department. He must manage the competitive pricing, meet quality standards, and achieve the sales required. He must also maintain a good and pleasant working environment. Other roles include the provision of daily, weekly, monthly and annual report of management.

Job H- Regional Team Leader

Roles and Responsibilities

He must be able to rotate across the stores and helping the store team leader with all the functions of the store. He must evaluate, interview, select and terminate the members of team. He must supervise and coordinate with all the personnel and products. Evaluate in resolving the complaints of the customers. He must operate the store in a profitable and an efficient manner. He must have a strong understanding of the labor budget and the financials of the store. He must manage the expenses to maximize the profits. He must keep inform the leadership of regional quarters of all the major events. He must develop and train the supporting team members.

Job I- Team Member Stock and Display

Roles and Responsibilities

He must perform all the activities related to the breaking down and moving back the stock from the floor. He must help in developing the displays of promotion, organizing and maintains the back room. He must clean and stock the shelves of groceries, frozen, dairy case and the bulk bins. He must sweep the flows and face throughout the store the shelves. HE must comply with the safety and the health codes. He must ensure excellent customer service.

 Techniques, Factors & Processes

The technique for evaluating the job in this case study is based on the ranking method job. The reason for selecting this technique is that because it is simple. When looking at the website of Whole Foods and the page of Career paths, the opportunities of the jobs in each store comes in the nature of hierarchy. While, the company portrays itself as a big organization, we can see the structure with the help of the website. The factors and processes of the Human resources and job structure at Whole Foods are designed in such a way that the employees have benefitted from the swift growth. The company provides a well-structured job progress and they have different techniques for evaluating the performance of job.

Evaluation of Job Descriptions

Job A- Team Member (Deli)

• This job requires the experience of deli,
• He must be an effective and clear communicator
• Enjoys mentoring and mentoring people
• Ability to perform the operations that are physical
• Ability to work in a team
• Understanding of the policies and standards of Whole Foods

Job B- Cashier

• Excellent customer service skills for good team and customer relations
• Must be 18 years or older to use baler
• Learning and growth desire
• Excellent math’s skills
• Ability to work in a team

Job C- Team Leader (Department of Prepared Foods)

• Two years’ experience required relevant to the field
• Knowledge of inventory management, buying, selling and merchandizing
• Robust organizational skills
• Understanding of the policies and standards of Whole Foods

Job D- Prepared Foods Team Member

• Around 6 months experience in retail
• Detailed knowledge of the products
• Comprehensive know how of the quality standards
• Good skills of organization
• Interpersonal skills and training others
• Ability to perform practical operations at job.

Job E- Team Member (Kitchen)

• Starting level position
• Physical requirements of job to be performed
• Safe and proper knife using skills
• Working well with others
• For using baler must be 18 years old

Job F- Stock and Display Team Member II

• One year experience in grocery retail
• Proficient skills of math
• Physical requirements of job to be performed
• Working well with team

Job G- Associate Team Leader of Prepared Foods

• 2 years of departmental experience
• Analytical ability and proficiency in calculating products, margins, managing inventory
• Effective and clear communicator
• Robust organizational skills
• Understanding of the policies and standards of Whole Foods
• Skills of using computer

 Job H- Regional Team Leader

• Pasion for retailing
• Strong and creative leadership
• Understanding of the policies and standards of Whole Foods
• Skills of using computer
• Ability to make good decisions
• Self-motivated and problem solver
• Strong communicator and maintainer of good relations with teams and customers
• Inspire the team and achieve excellence 

Job I- Team Member Stock and Display

• Natural food and grocery retail experience
• Good math skills
• Basic knowledge of products
• Working well with team
• Physical requirements of job to be performed
• Safe and proper equipment using skills

Conclusion

The most important characteristics of this industry is the growth rate and the size of market. Whole foods is one of the biggest and most successful food retailers of organic food globally. The success of this corporation was not overnight. They stick to their core values i.e. promising a healthy food for a healthier life. The company has stick true to its mission by providing and supporting an equitable environment of work and providing superior quality products to its customers. To sum up, the driving force behind the success of Whole Foods are their employees as well. And in order to remain successful and competitive the company needs to retain and attract talent.

References

Duffield, C., Baldwin, R., Roche, M., & Wise, S. (2014). Job enrichment: creating meaningful career development opportunities for nurses. Journal of nursing management, 22(6), 697-706.

Marchington, M., & Wilkinson, A. J. (2012). Human resource management at work. http://www. cipd. co.uk/Bookstore/_catalogue/HRPractice/9781843982678. htm.

Price, O. M., Boud, D., & Scheeres, H. (2012). Creating work: Employee-driven innovation through work practice reconstruction. Employee-driven innovation. A new approach, 77-91.