Urban Outfitters Case Study

Urban Outfitters Continuing Case Study: Managing a business

1. Explain how Urban Outfitters’ management ensures that no two stores are the same.
Each store 's management team impacts the design of that store. The Urban Outfitters’ management ensures that no two stores are the same with inspiration of all sorts. They sell originality. The store is a mixture of experience. It 's very demonstrative. Employees also put their own ideas in the store layout and I think that is the most important thing for making each store different. Urban Outfitter is a unique shopping experience because all the stores are different.

2. Explain why corporate culture is so important to a company’s success. Corporate culture is the communal set of
attitudes, beliefs and norms that are passed among organizational members. Corporate culture is how employees think, act, and feel. Employees want to feel valued. Most of them are committed to their work and to their companies. Companies are encouraging employees to be more responsible and act and think like owners. Every organization has its own unique culture or value set.
Companies should be very clear in what their corporate culture look like.
It is important that the employees enjoy their work. Also if the company hires people that are dedicated to them, they will be very productive and bring success to the company.

3. Explain why corporate culture might it be particularly challenging for Urban Outfitters. Urban Outfitters have a unique image of their brands. They embrace creativity in all aspects so their corporate culture makes employees free to express their creativity. Urban Outfitters employees merchandise their own product, use their own ideas, and also are held accountable for how those ideas affect sales. They really represent the company 's culture, and are proud of their work. This takes a big challenge. 4. Explain the role that Urban Outfitters’ employees play in the company’s success.
The most efficient approach for a company to maintain it’s brand image is through internal branding. A company’s image always begins with their employees. The employees need to fully believe in their company and reflect the brand’s image and personality which will also reflect the consumer’s identity and lifestyle expectations. Employees are important to Urban Outfitter company because they are making positive relation with the
consumers.
The employees of Urban Outfitters play a key role in the experience as they represent the values of the company through their appearance, personality, and lifestyle. They are intellectual, creative, artistic, interested in fashion. They are friendly and helpful to the customer, but do not push merchandise as do most sales associates in other stores. 5. Explain why it is critical that managers understand the business.
It is critical that managers understand the business because they will not make mistakes. Managers are leaders. They are planning, organizing, and making sure that the business is growing. Good managers should have a good solid understanding of the company’s business, the domain and industry, market dynamics, and user and customer behavior. If they don’t understand company’s business how will they lead it?

References
Chin,E. (2009,January 19). Human Resource Management – Corporate Culture. Organizational Culture and Leadership. Retrieved March 13, 2010, from http://www.themanager.org/Knowledgebase/HR/Corporate_Culture.htm
Davis,M.& Senk,G. (2009). Do you offer you customers what they really want? Real Time Reports. Retrieved March 13, 2010, from http://www.fastcompany.com/events/realtime/miami/blog/davissenk.html
Whittemore,C.B.(2009, June 01). Retail Innovation and Urban Outfitters. Blog. Retrieved March 13, 2010, from http://flooringtheconsumer.blogspot.com/2009/06/retail-innovation-and-urban-outfitters.html