Abstract

This case is about the organization development (OD) initiatives undertaken at Whirlpool Corporation (Whirlpool) to create a new core competency in the form of building an innovation culture within the organization. In the late 1990s, Whirlpool was faced with stagnation in revenues, profits, and market share. According to analysts, this was a direct result of the stagnation in its product line due to the lack of innovative products. Whirlpool used the services of Strategos, a consultancy firm, to develop I-consultants and various I-mentors from within the organization, to form a coaching network to coach/mentor the employees and help them develop an innovation mindset. The case discusses the various steps initiated by the top management at Whirlpool to bring about a change in the company’s corporate culture and embed innovation as a core competency. Analysts felt that these efforts had borne fruit, judging by the consistent growth in Whirlpool’s revenues since 2002.

Learning Objectives

The case is structured to achieve the following Learning Objectives:

• Understand the issues and challenges faced by a company in bringing about a change in organization culture. Appreciate the role of the senior management in culture change initiatives.

Keywords

Diversity Training, Workforce diversity, LIFO, Communication, Demographics, Culture, NAACP, Discrimination, Ethnic Minorities