When considering the success of a business or corporation, it is important to also consider the company internally. Organizational culture and human resource management are both critical keys to success. Organizational culture can be defined as shared values, beliefs, and assumptions considered to be the proper way to think and act within an organization. Human resource management is the lifecycle of an employee’s relationship with a firm.

A recent article about an online shoe company highlights how Zappos successfully runs its business starting with its organizational culture and human resource management. An unlimited time for call centre calls, upgrading customers to V.I.P. status, and a free 365 day return policy all contribute to the organizational culture of Zappos. In addition, frequent staff parties, an extensive employee training program, employees being offered two thousand dollars in cash to quit, and forty-five more hours of classes to progress into management positions ensure that all employees want to be there and are dedicated to both the customer and the company.

In my opinion, although these initiatives may be costly and may not be profitable in the short run, from a marketing perspective, they are all worth it in the long run. Dedicated and happy employees translate to loyal customers and a low employee turnover rate. Therefore, in the long run, Zappos’ initiatives are well worth the expenses.

Works Cited

Jacobs, Alexandra. “Happy Feet – The New Yorker.” The New Yorker. 14 Sept. 2009. Web. 8 Nov. 2014.

“Zappos | The Dragonfly Effect.” The Dragonfly Effect. Web. 8 Nov. 2014.