Viewing Starbucks Through the Four Frames

abstract: This thesis utilizes Bolman and Deal’s Four Frames to analyze the confusion and miscommunication within the coffee company, Starbucks. This is a direct translation into the practice of a barista. Emphasizing the importance of explaining policies and communication between baristas. Revising training manuals and educating baristas through a more extensive training program would result in a better work environment and create a more consistent Starbucks experience between each retail store. An explanation of how the Starbucks retail store works and the dynamics of the bar position and steam wand are given. Ultimately, the Symbolic and Human Resource frames highlight Starbucks, however, the Structural frame does fall short. The political frame highlights a specific conflict that happens at the retails level. The analysis is based on all four of these existing frames presented in the text by Bolman and Deal as well as Starbucks-oriented literature evidence. Recommendations for the future of the Starbucks company include adjusting the training to incorporate a module based on understanding the reason specific tasks are done, making a chart to remind baristas of why certain tasks like sanitizing the steam wand are crucial to the success of the company. Overall, analyzing through the frames presented by Bolman and Deal it could potentially allow successful solutions to be established to encourage the advancement of the Starbucks company. (abstract