LC565: Analysis of Work Environment at Coca-Cola and Walmart

This report provides a critical analysis of the concept of work and its evolution, followed by an evaluation of the work environments at Coca-Cola and Walmart. It examines the values, ethics, and culture of each organization and how these elements impact their operations and ways of working. The report also delves into the social policy frameworks, structural issues, and legislative frameworks affecting the organizations. Furthermore, it analyzes the statutory and non-statutory positions of both companies and their influence on the workplace. The report concludes with a synthesis of the key findings and a comparative perspective on the two organizations' approaches to managing their work environments, including discussions on how they have adapted to changes in the business environment, the impact of their cultures on employee relations, and their responses to social and legislative pressures.

Running head: UNDERSTANDING WORK ENVIRONMENT
UNDERSTANDING WORK ENVIRONMENT
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1UNDERSTANDING WORK ENVIRONMENT
Introduction
It is critical for the business organizations to align its core functions and operations with
the values, ethics and positive culture. The working situations in the business organization
impact the behavior and its long term sustainability. Top market leaders such as Walmart and
Coca Cola has gained its position due to its successful ways of operations and executing the
business operations in an effective and efficient manner. Coca Cola is a market leader of the soft
drinks and beverage industry. The company was established in the year 1886 by John Pemberton
(Coca-cola.com. 2020). With its effective business operations and efficient market strategies, the
company has become most recognized and renowned. It is a widely distributed brand in the
entire globe. As compared to Walmart, it is a retail supermarket with presence in more than 28
countries. The company focuses on innovation and creating customer centric experience. The
company highly effective strategy and innovative approach to its work environment has enabled
it to gain leadership position in the market. It effectively and efficiently utilizes its resources and
integrates them with the best practices within the business organization (Walmart.com. 2020).
The purpose of this report is to critically analyze the concept of work and the ways in which it
has changed over time. It evaluates the chosen organizations: Coca Cola and Walmart and
determines the ways in which the values, ethics and culture impact the operations and working of
the organizations. Further it analyzes the social policy and frameworks of the companies, the
structural issues and legislative frameworks which impact the organizations. Moreover, it
analyzes the statutory and non statutory position of the business organizations and its impact on
the ways of working. Lastly, it sums up the main points and concludes the report.

2UNDERSTANDING WORK ENVIRONMENT
Discussion and analysis
Concept of work and its evolution over time
According to Bobby Banerjee (2014), Work is considered as a ‘purely functional
endeavor’, it is essential for the basic needs of survival. Work involves the integrated process in
which the business organization schedules difference activities and functions to meet the goals
and objectives of the business organization by utilizing the assets and evaluate the performance
of the business organization. It is believed by Bobby Banerjee (2014), that workplace in
organizations have changed over time with the advancement in technology and changes in the
needs and preferences of the consumers. Work is considered as the set of services which
involves interaction of the processes and functions of the organization and generates information.
As mentioned by Berry and Junkus (2013), previously business organization had hierarchical
structures which are cumbersome and inflexible to meet the changing needs and demands of
consumes. In the past years, industries focused mainly on the production. Production and
operations were given primary importance and the needs. However, as argued by Bennett, James
and Klinkers (2017), the hierarchical structures of the business organization are being replaced
by the cross unit organizational structures with comparatively less layers and decentralized
decision making. In today’s business environment, business organizations are becoming more
laterally structure. Organizations are mainly focusing on task and knowledge sharing. There has
been a shift in team based organizational structure (Bennett, James and Klinkers 2017) .
Previously, companies focused on individual work performance and individual contributions
towards work. In the past years, decision making in the business organization were delayed due
to layers of hierarchy in the organization. Decision making in the business organization were
centralized. This delayed the functions and operations of the business organization. However,

3UNDERSTANDING WORK ENVIRONMENT
with the changes in the internal and external business environment, the organizations are
pressurized to make quick decisions due to rapid advancement of technology and other
developments as well as the changes in the buying habits of the consumers in the market.
According to Berry and Junkus (2013), the companies mainly focus on the needs and
demands of the consumers. Therefore, the companies are more focused on improving the work
process and procedures of the organizations. The management perspectives are also changing
with evolution of time. The workers and the employees of the business organization have more
decision authority. Further, the leaders and managers of the business organization have become
more social supporters rather than commanders of work. Therefore, continuous changes in the
work environment impact the operations of the business organization. In the past decades, the
work environment is emerging as knowledge economy along with the implementation of new
technologies and new organizational models (Epstein and Yuthas 2017).
Evaluation of the organizations – Values, ethics and culture and its impact on the
organizations
Coco cola is a company which has enabled itself to diversify into various cultures which has
led to broadening of its business operations into globalization. Coca cola is built around the core
business assets that are its brand and its people. In its vision to grow and expand the business
organization commits itself to become a leader in corporate responsibility(Coca-cola.com. 2020).
It is the value of the business organization to maintain standards of fair treatment to all its
employees and workers. The company believes that work is a place where one goes every day. It
also believes that work should be a place of creativity, professional and personal growth, and
positive relationships. It highly focuses on team work and building brands that are loved by

4UNDERSTANDING WORK ENVIRONMENT
global consumers. It excels at combining the talents, skills, knowledge, and passion of all the
individual members and teams of the company which positively impacts the working and
operations of the business organization. Their core belief is their responsibility along with
producing tasty beverages(Coca-cola.com. 2020). It is their core value to enhance the individual
opportunities of the company and they focus on education. They support their people towards
education and encourage their community to progress. The culture of the company is highly
collaborative in nature (Coca-colahellenic.com. 2020). The company believes in learning and
sharing knowledge. This increases the knowledge, enhances understanding among the members
in the business organization, and implements them in the operations. They work efficiency which
ensures long term pillar in all the aspects of operations including franchise leadership as well as
commercial leadership (Coca-colahellenic.com. 2020). This has enabled the company to gain
leadership position in the beverage industry.
On the other hand, the culture and values of Walmart has mainly four components that is
respect towards other members of the organization, striving towards excellence, undertaking
actions with integrity and satisfactory service to customers (Corporate.walmart.com. 2020).
These components of the business organization add value to the retail services offered by the
company. These components are the beliefs of the consumers; they guide the behavior of the
employee and workers. However, it has been argued by DiStaso and Bortree (2014), that
Walmart can improve in their ways of implementing their beliefs as a part of their organizational
culture. It has been criticized that the company has failed to address the concerns of the
employees. They are criticized concerning their differences in their core beliefs of ‘respect for
people’ and the actual treatment of the employees as mentioned by DiStaso and Bortree (2014).
This impacts their reputation as a global market leader.

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Social policy frameworks of the organizations and its impact on the organizations
As per the social frameworks of Walmart, their social issue implies minimizing
footprint on the environment and mitigating risks. They focus on transformative approach. It
implies working collectively in an effort towards long term “environmental, social, and
economic sustainability” (Corporate.walmart.com. 2020). As per their frameworks, they source
in a responsible manner and ensure social sustainability. The business organization has science
based targets towards emission reduction. Further, the company has launched other initiatives
such as waste reduction and minimum use of plastics(Corporate.walmart.com. 2020). The
company has human rights statements to ensure that all the human beings in the business
organization are respected across the business. As per the opinion of Armstrong and Green
(2013), they continue to take initiatives to strengthen retail associate propositions and work with
other members and associations towards social and environmental sustainability. This guides the
members of the business organization towards maintaining sustainability and wellbeing in the
organization. However, it has been criticized by Bennett, James and Klinkers (2017), that there
has been employment discrimination at Walmart. It has been argued that the company undertakes
decisions regarding promotion and compensation which are vulnerable to gender bias. This
attributes the lack of efforts by the management to ensure a string corporate culture.
On the other hand, Coca Cola Company clearly states in their social policy framework that they
are committed towards integrity and respect for their community and society (Coca-
colahellenic.com. 2020). The activities and functions of the business organization are executed
with integrity and respect for the environment and the society. They drive their business forward
towards developing positive culture in all departments of the organization. These policies and
frameworks of the business organization ensure quality and food safety to the health of the

6UNDERSTANDING WORK ENVIRONMENT
consumers and ‘safety to environment’ (Coca-colahellenic.com. 2020). The policies of Coca
Cola includes: occupational health and safety policy, quality and food safety, climate change
policy and environmental policy. This guides the operations of the company and positive impacts
the company.
Structural issues and legislative framework and its impact on the organizations
The overall structure of the Walmart determines the business operations and its activities.
However, it has been argued by Shaw (2015), that the corporate structure of the Walmart
imposes limits on the business and the ways in which its address its problems. This in turn
affects the reputation of the company. However, it has been stated by Griggs et al. (2013), that
the structure of the business organization facilitates strategic implementations and capturing
shares in the retail industry. It enables the business organization to adapt to the changes and the
challenges prevailing in the external business environment. As per the opinion of Jones (2013),
the structure of the business organization interacts with the culture which enables the business
organization to maintain significant competitive advantage against other competitors in the retail
industry. The company has a hierarchical organization structure. It is function based. The
structure of the business organization has certain downsides; the organizational structure is
comparatively less flexible. The company is unable to adjust itself the changes and change the
business practices as stated by Griggs et al. (2013). The communication process is lengthy and
requires time for approval. The company abides by the legal frameworks. The legislative
frameworks of the business organization support the organizations and guide its activities to
ensure long term sustainability.

7UNDERSTANDING WORK ENVIRONMENT
On the other hand, Coca cola has structure legal frameworks. It provides equal opportunities
to all the members of the business organization. It maintains fair and ethical ways of conducting
its business. The company is committed in workplace rights police and other human rights
statement (Griggs et al. 2013). This is an integral part of coca cola culture and its operations. The
company is guides by their standard of corporate governance and ethics. However, it has been
criticized by Jones (2013) that the company drains the natural resources and harms the
environment. These criticisms against the company pull down the reputation of the company. As
suggested by Jones (2013), the code of conduct rewires high level of honesty and integrity in all
the aspects of business operations. The ethics and compliance of the business organization
demonstrates operational responsibility for monitoring, education, as well as consultation
concerning the code of business conduct. The company conducts audit and monitor their
operations to ensure compliance with the legal frameworks (Walmart.com. 2020). The structure
of Coca cola is highly flexible which enables the business organization to adapt to the changes
quickly. This has been viewed as a modernistic advantage. The structure of the company
corresponds to the instability of the business environment.
Statutory and non statutory positions of the organizations
According to Slaughter (2017), Statutory welfare implies that measures that are
compulsory by law, while on the other hand, the non statutory welfare measures implies the
measures that are voluntarily provided by the business organizations. Welfare is done for the
betterment, comfort, and improvement of the employees. These are provided apart from the
wages and monetary benefits provided by the company. It involves abiding by the morale and
motivation of the employees to retain the employees. As suggested by Winnubst (2017), the
employees must be provided with legal provisions and collective bargaining. Both the

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companies, Coca cola and Walmart provide statutory and non statutory benefits to the employees
and operate the business considering the legal terms and regulations. Both the companies have
policies regarding social security, Medicare and safety. However, Coca cola has recent received
a statutory warning (Moneycontrol. 2020). Coca cola claims to offer caffeine free beverages, and
it has been asked to declare the amount of caffeine content in the beverages offered to the
consumers (Moneycontrol. 2020). The company has been lately manufacturing caffeinated
beverages to the issue of statutory warnings. The products of coca cola are no longer
recommended to certain consumer groups. Apart from that, the company respects the rights of
human being. They take actions and initiatives to prevent adverse impact on human rights. It has
certain preventive and compliance processes(Coca-colahellenic.com. 2020). The company also
offers no statutory benefits to the employees, to ensure their full support and retain the
employees. Furthermore, they consider the impact of the business operations on the
communities. They engage with the stakeholders of the business organization to ensure that their
views and opinions are taken into consideration (Slaughter 2017). Therefore it can be said that
the company has higher non statutory position. However, it needs to concentrate further on its
non statutory position. On the other hand, Walmart has ‘Good dialogue’ with the government
and its policies (Corporate.walmart.com. 2020). According to the statutory auditor of Walmart,
they are confident about their position and they are open to the regularly inspections. They file
FDI compliance report annually (Corporate.walmart.com. 2020). They obtain and maintain
reports done by the statutory auditor.
Conclusion
Therefore, from the above analysis it can be concluded Work is an integrated process
which schedules the activities and operations of the business organization. The report has

9UNDERSTANDING WORK ENVIRONMENT
determined the evolution and changes in the concept of work with the advancement of
technology and innovation. In the past years, business organization mainly focused on the
hierarchical structures and rigid work culture. In today’s business environment, organizations
prefer a flexible work environment and flat organizational structure so as to respond to the
changes in the external business environment. The report has analyzed the values, ethics and
culture of the chosen companies coca cola, Walmart, and its considerable impact on the
operations of the companies. Coca cola’s operational efficient and strong culture has enabled the
business organization to gain leadership position. However, Walmart has been criticized of the
differences in the core beliefs of the company and its respect for people. Further the report has
determined the social policy framework of the companies and its impact on the operations. It
analyzed the structural issues and the legislative frameworks of the companies and is impact on
the organizations. It has determined the statutory and non statutory frameworks and polices of
the companies and the ways in which it impacts the companies.

10UNDERSTANDING WORK ENVIRONMENT
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