Gore Tex
1) What impresses you about this company? To what extent does the management style match what business schools tell you about “how to manage”?
What is impressive about the company is the level of innovation and the management style. Gore & Associates is technology oriented and is based on continuous innovation. An innovative company needs engaged workers and the knowledge employees need autonomy to be engaged. Gore & Associates took it to the extreme point since everyone in the company has freedom to choose what they want to spend their time on. There are no direct bosses or people to manage the employees. They call it the “unmanagement style”. Leaders are defined by followership and usually emerge by demonstrating special knowledge, skill or experience that advances a business objective.
Although it is an unorthodox management, it is possible to identify concepts of Theory Y and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Bill Gore’s views were influenced by the book The Human Side of Enterprise which defines Theory X and Theory Y as two ends of a management continuum based on very different views of human nature. Gore believed in Theory Y, influenced by Maslow’s motivation theories, and adopted a participative and empowering model to his firm.
One of the company’s principles is to encourage and help the associates to grow in knowledge and skills. It matches perfectly with the highest level of Maslow’s pyramid. The employees need self-actualization in order to be engaged and motivated. Their sense of belonging to the company could not be higher since everyone who works there is also owner of the company. The sponsors are mentors who help new associates to adapt into this unusual corporate culture. 2) How successful was Bill Gore in defining the business, developing a strategic vision, and crafting a strategy to achieve performance objectives?
Bill Gore was extremely successful in defining the company’s business because he saw a great opportunity for fluorocarbon polymers.
What is impressive about the company is the level of innovation and the management style. Gore & Associates is technology oriented and is based on continuous innovation. An innovative company needs engaged workers and the knowledge employees need autonomy to be engaged. Gore & Associates took it to the extreme point since everyone in the company has freedom to choose what they want to spend their time on. There are no direct bosses or people to manage the employees. They call it the “unmanagement style”. Leaders are defined by followership and usually emerge by demonstrating special knowledge, skill or experience that advances a business objective.
Although it is an unorthodox management, it is possible to identify concepts of Theory Y and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Bill Gore’s views were influenced by the book The Human Side of Enterprise which defines Theory X and Theory Y as two ends of a management continuum based on very different views of human nature. Gore believed in Theory Y, influenced by Maslow’s motivation theories, and adopted a participative and empowering model to his firm.
One of the company’s principles is to encourage and help the associates to grow in knowledge and skills. It matches perfectly with the highest level of Maslow’s pyramid. The employees need self-actualization in order to be engaged and motivated. Their sense of belonging to the company could not be higher since everyone who works there is also owner of the company. The sponsors are mentors who help new associates to adapt into this unusual corporate culture. 2) How successful was Bill Gore in defining the business, developing a strategic vision, and crafting a strategy to achieve performance objectives?
Bill Gore was extremely successful in defining the company’s business because he saw a great opportunity for fluorocarbon polymers.