Sealed Air
...trend toward globalization and realized that some changes were necessary in order to take advantage of the ever evolving global economy. Sealed Air began expanding in Europe in 1972, international sales have become a major contributor to the total sales of the company. Sealed Air has identified its corporate culture as a major obstacle to tackle on its way to becoming a global firm.
Sealed Air's culture evolved over time in the United States, and was characterized by open communication, low level of bureaucracy, autonomy, ethical behavior, a divisional structure, and a dedication to customer satisfaction. The uninhibited flow of information was crucial to the success of the company. Workers enjoyed a great deal of autonomy. A strict code of conduct was clearly stated the company's commitment to having and honest respecting workplace. The"1" card outlined the company priorities in which customer satisfaction was listed first followed by increasing cash flow and world class manufacturing.
Not all of these cultural aspects transfer overseas. The French saw the "Code of Conduct" has too invading; the push toward World Class Manufacturing as behind the times. The Japanese are not aggressive in their sales or personal relationships. Step one was to refine the company culture policies, starting with an introspective look at the American culture and determine how well it fit with the rest of its foreign entities. Introducing new policies overseas must be done so as not to create too many waves and keep everyone's eyes on the big global picture.
Sealed Air Culture in the United States
Sealed Air Corporation, founded in 1960, has a long history in the packaging industry. It prides itself on being the premier world supplier of specialty packaging materials. It is important for Sealed Air to develop relationships with customers in order to create...
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