Eric Smith
Christine Hill
Organizational behavior
January 24, 2013

Case Analysis: John Mackey, Whole Foods Market

1. What role, if any, does McGregor’s Theory Y play at Whole Foods? Explain. According to Kreitner and Kinicki (2013) McGregor contrasted two views on human nature by insisting that Theory Y assumes that people are more positive at work, and believed managers could accomplish more by viewing employees as such (p.9). The other outdated theory, is Theory X, which is a more negative and pessimistic assumption about workers. Given the statements from John Mackey, it is his vision to create a positive working environment and Theory Y plays somewhat of a role at Whole Foods. Although Whole Foods wants to …show more content…

Whole Foods does that, or says they do it anyway. Are they doing this just as a marketing ploy or do they genuinely believe in its employees?
4. Where would you locate Whole Foods on Carroll’s global corporate social responsibility pyramid in Figure 1-3? Explain. Whole Foods assists their global neighbors through the Whole Planet Foundations micro lending operations. They also support local food banks, sponsor neighborhood events and donate to local non-profit groups around each and every one of their stores. (Whole Foods Markets 2013). In some ways Whole Foods have followed this corporate social responsibility (CSR) pyramid. In some ways they have not. Whole Foods and other organizations need to be aware of some consequences of not following CSR. Whole Foods says they are following this, and their profits are growing, but at what cost? Again are they genuine in their beliefs? They are heroic in their purpose to provide the world with quality foods, but are not meeting some expectations of current providers of their goods. As Whole Foods grows, it believes it has to buy out the competition. Teresa Albano writes that “they have bought out many independent food co-ops and its competitors” (Peoples World 2010). They are in essence building a monopoly. For them it is good but for the consumer it is not. Whole Foods will be able to