Exec Summ Re: Executive Summary

Exec Summ

Re: Executive summary of Erickson, T.J. & Gratton, L. (2007). What it means to work here. Harvard Business Review. March 2007.

This memo presents an executive summary of Erickson & Gratton's (2007) Harvard Business Review article "What it means to work here." Key points are outlined, enabling you to grasp some of the core ways that successful organizations attract and retain productive, valuable employees.

In "What it means to work here," Erickson & Gratton (2007) claim that the most successful organizations communicate a "signature experience" to their prospective employees. Too many organizations copy their competitors or vie for new talent by offering better medical or child care benefits. Instead, organizations should show prospective employees exactly what it is like to work for the company on a daily basis. The organizational culture and its values should be proudly communicated to the prospective employee. Offering new prospects the company's signature experience means something different for each organization. Keys to developing the signature experience include the following:

Target employees same way you would target consumers

Address specific business needs

Identify and preserve the organization's history

Strive for consistency

Stick to your convictions

Erickson & Gratton (2007) analyze the recruitment practices of several successful firms including Whole Foods, the Container Store, and Goldman Sach's. Each of these companies has totally different organizational cultures and climates. Some stress teamwork and collaboration. Others allow tremendous independence and flexibility. Some are democratically organized whereas others have a rigid organizational hierarchy. The organization should make their recruitment practices reflect these core organizational ideals, beliefs and practices. No matter what the organizational culture and its underlying values, hiring practices should proudly mirror them. The only way to attract and retain the most valuable employees is to be forthright about what it means to work for the company.