Case Summary

At first glance Google, Hilcorp, and Quicken Loans appear to have little in common. But they do share a few things in common: They all have been cited as among the most admired companies in the United States by Fortune magazine, they routinely appear on lists of the best places to work, and they are consistently profitable. They invest heavily in attracting the best employees and then work diligently to train them and offer them rewarding career opportunities. They pay well, offer good benefits, and strive to make their employees feel valued. The bottom line? While there are many routes to business success, treating employees well is often the best way to go.

Think It Over

1.Given the success enjoyed by Starbucks, American Express, and FedEx, why don't all firms use similar approaches to managing their employees?

2.If you were starting a new business, what kind of relationship would you want to have with your employees? How would you go about trying to achieve this?