STRATEGIC CHANGES AT COSTCO:

GUESSTIMATING WHICH HR CHOICES REFLECT Costco's STRATEGIES

Instructions: First, read the information in the Costco packet [articles "Welcome to the club" and "Low-cost Leader" both by Michelle V. Rafter, Workforce Management (April 2005) and information from website (www.costco.com) including overview of the type of employee Costco wants to hire, list of executive officers, and 4 job descriptions] Then, answer questions#2A and#3A by circling your best guesses using the knowledge that you have gained in our course, handouts related to Chapter 1, and information provided in packet re: Costco Wholesale Corporation. NO additional information from website will help you answer the following. Your circled responses to #2A & #3A AND typed answers to #1, #2B, #3B, & #3C are due Monday, April 30, 2007. (Appropriate & well-explained answers earn up to 50 points. Base all answers on the information in packet.)

1. Refer to the articles and other information in Costco packet. On a separate paper, type Costco's mission and vision. (Base these on the articles & other information in packet. Do NOT waste your time searching for these on Costco’s website–they are not there. Use the correct format for both.)

2. A. On this paper, circle which strategies appear to be relevant for Costco. (refer to articles, your notes, our previous handouts, & pgs. 76-7)

Corporate: Growth Stability Retrenchment/Downsizing
Competitive Advantage: Differentiator Cost leader NOT Focus

B. On a separate page, type your rationale for each strategy circled above. (Hint: Support your rationale with specific details found in the information provided in Costco packet.)

3. A. For each paired HR practice noted on HR Practices Numbers (ratings) page, circle the numbers that indicate the orientations that best reflect the practices (re: employees--NOT managers) noted in the articles & other information in the Costco packet. For those few HR practices that are not mentioned in the articles & other information in the packet, circle the numbers that reflect the HR practices [for employees] that support the strategies you noted above and the other HR practices that already exist at Costco.

B. Type explanations regarding how 5-7 HR Practices (for which you circled numbers) support the strategies you circled in 2A. (These HR Practices must come from at least 4 different groupings of HR Practices.) Support your explanations with specific examples from the articles in packet.

C. Base the following on one of the job descriptions found in packet (All must be typed & content valid.)

i. Structured Interview: Present 2-3 structured interview questions & answers;

ii. Performance Appraisal: Create short BARS and MBO. Each format may include the same 2-3 relevant job dimensions. The BARS is to include specific scales identifying excellent & poor performance levels and the MBO format is to include SMART goals for job holder and the departmental goal(s) that the individual job-holder goals are meant to help achieve;

iii. Content Validity: Briefly explain how you would verify that each of the above is content valid.

 

OPENING WEBPAGE: Career Opportunities For You! Did you know?…..

Costco Wholesale is a multi-billion dollar global retailer with warehouse club operations in eight countries. We are the recognized leader in our field, dedicated to quality in every area of our business and respected for our outstanding business ethics. Despite our large size and explosive international expansion, we continue to provide a family atmosphere in which our employees thrive and succeed. We are proud to have been named by Washington CEO Magazine as one of the TOP THREE companies to work for in the entire state of Washington!

What are you looking for in a career?

Costco offers all these and more!!

Merchandising is the lifeblood of Costco, and our business is centered around our warehouse operations. Most employees begin their careers in the warehouse setting, becoming experts in Costco merchandising and operations. But the company also offers diverse career opportunities at our home and regional offices in many other areas as well, such as Accounting, Buying, Graphic Arts, Journalism, Information Systems, Human Resources, and Law, to name a few. Additionally, Costco is dedicated to recognizing and rewarding employees for their hard work and loyalty. In fact, the majority of our management teams are promoted from within!

Costco and You - A Perfect Fit!
If you are an ambitious, high-energy person who enjoys a fast-paced team environment laced with challenges and opportunities, you've come to the right place. Our successful employees are service-oriented people with integrity and commitment toward a common goal – excellence in every area of their personal and business lives. Read on to discover how to pursue employment opportunities with us. Costco offers great jobs, great pay, great benefits and a great place to work!

REGIONAL AND HOME OFFICES

Costco is committed to promoting from within the company. The majority of our current home and regional office team members are "home grown." This means that they started in our warehouses, depots and business centers, learned the business and moved up within the company. This philosophy also ensures promotional opportunities for motivated individuals.

Today, we have Accountants, Lawyers, Buyers, and Human Resources Personnel who began their careers as a Stocker or Cashier in one of our locations. We believe that Costco's future officers are currently working in our warehouses, depots, business centers, as well as in our Home and Regional Offices.

If this career path sounds challenging and exciting, we welcome you to apply at one of our locations.

We want YOU to be part of our team!

Costco is an equal employment opportunity employer as well as a drug and alcohol free workplace.

Main link to the sample job descriptions: http://www.costco.com/Service/FeaturePageLeftNav.aspx?ProductNo=11038112

For Part C, select one of the following job descriptions or choose a different job description found on this website. Provide a copy of any job description that is NOT listed below so that I may put your answers into the correct context.

http://www.costco.com/Images/Content/Misc/PDF/Cashier.pdf

http://www.costco.com/Images/Content/Misc/PDF/CashierAssistant.pdf

http://www.costco.com/Images/Content/Misc/PDF/MembershipAssistant.pdf

http://www.costco.com/Images/Content/Misc/PDF/MembershipAssistant.pdf