Perceptions of Organizational Culture among Retail Workers A qualitative study of the corporate culture at IKEA

Abstract

This study investigates how lower level employees in retail companies perceive attempts by management to create and maintain a robust corporate culture. In addition, the study explores how those perceptions influence workers’ inclination to remain with, leave or advance within the company. In particular, this study uses a qualitative approach, based on a case study of the Swedish furniture retailer IKEA. The empirical data has been collected through 28 interviews conducted with current and former IKEA employees. Primarily, a critical perspective of corporate culture has been utilized, which discusses ethical concerns and questions if creating a strong corporate culture actually increases efficiency. The study reveals distinct differences between departments with regards to how the corporate culture is perceived, implying that the company prioritizes departments differently. This study contributes to the research field through its focus on the perceptions of lower level employees regarding organizational culture, rather than the views of managers. In addition, it shows how lower level employees can be equally enthusiastic and active as managers are in maintaining a strong corporate culture.