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Integrating Culture and Diversity in Decision Making

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Zappos Zappos was founded by Nick Swinmurn in 1999. Zappos was born out of a desire to be able to have the right shoes, the right color and right size readily available when customers wanted them. The idea behind Zappos was to have a web site where customers could go to find their perfect shoes, one that was both affordable and stylish. Over the years Zappos has evolved into a company that provides the best online service, not just in shoes but in any category (Zappos Family Story: In the beginning let there be shoes, 2014). Zappos Culture Culture cannot be generalized across organizations, but must be viewed in context of the particular organization. This is due to shared and multiple meanings emerging in relation to the particular group of people and to the mission, vision statements, and their values (Cunliffe, 2008). Zappos culture is one in which customer service and satisfaction and employee empowerment is at the heart of what they do. The culture at Zappos is an extension of their core values, which include a mandate to deliver WOW through service, build a positve team and family spirit and a open and honest relationship through communication. Also included in their values is being passionate, deteremined, adventurous, creative and open-minded.
Zappos culture takes into consideration not just their customers but also their employees.
They realize the importance of building the character of their employees in order to meet the challenges they will face in delivering the WOW experience which they value. By investing in their employees they are allowing the company to be able to grow as the employees themselves experience growth in their personal and professional lives. Relationships that are strong and open among managers, direct support and customers are of special importance in Zappos value system, and they feel this helps to separate

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