W.L.

Gore & Associates,Inc

Organisational culture and Working Hours

By Group V
W.L.Gore & Associates, Inc

Founded in 1958 by a Bill and Vieve Gore

Its manufacturing operations are clustered in the U.S ,
Germany, Japan and Scotland
Known for its products like GORE-TEX and ELIXIR strings
Business objective To make money and have fun
52nd rank in fortune magazine
companies listing
 Corporate Culture and Working Hours
Team comprise of Follower and leader
Employees are called associates
Leaders are not defined by organisational status but by
followership
Associates can simultaneously be sponser ,mentor ,leader
There is no set working hours
4 Principles given by Bill Gore

Principles

Fairness Freedom

Commitments Consultation
 There were flexible working hours within the
organisation.
No pre defined hours to work
Attendance was recorded for associates of fire
safety only.
No compulsion to give reason for taking leaves.
Team members of particular team decides the
time each associate have to contribute to finish
his part of job.
The associates were allowed to count their
travelling hours as working hours if they use that
time for some official work.
Q1. What are key elements in the corporate culture that may
prevent employees from taking advantage of there being no
set work hours?
Let us have a look at the 4 basic principles: Fairness To
each other and everyone with whom they come into contact,
and the ability to make ones own commitment and keep
them. Four clearly articulated principles (fairness,
freedom, commitments, below the waterline) guide
personal behaviors and actions.
If everyone in the corporation is being treated fairly and
staying committed at the same time then employees may
feel bad if they take advantage of the company because
theyre not being mistreated.
All of these elements complement and reinforce each
other to make a powerful and positive organizational
culture that is highly appropriate in a knowledge-intensive,
innovation-based company.
 outcomes
Associate were able to have work life balance because
of the organisation culture.
People were free to take decisions on their part of job
which leads to better performance.
Leaders and sponsors were there to overcome the over
commitment situation if the associates are unable to
fulfill the same.
the company was repeated listed as best company
because of its work life balance approach.
The central idea of the organization is to continuously
develop its associates.
Q2. How would you describe the management style
and management responsibilities in this company ?

Management Styles

Participative (democratic)
Delegative (laissez-faire)
Management by walking around.

Management Responsibilities

Social responsibility.
Commitment towards task.
Employee Satisfaction.
Healthy corporate environment.
Q.4-What elements of this companys approach to work- life
balance could be adopted by other organizations?

Elements that can be adopted by other organizations are:

To define their corporate culture from nature and objective of
their business.
To establish core principles as part of their formal
organizational culture.
Outlining the key roles in business operations.
To encourage and support initiative and empowerment.
Adopting a holistic management approach.
Good leadership and mentorship can be used to encourage
employees to balance work and their personal life.
Organizations should focus on life issues for employees and
should work on these issues.