The IUP Journal of Organizational Behavior
Case Study
IKEA's Talent Management and Corporate Culture

Article Details
Pub. Date : October, 2021
Product Name : The IUP Journal of Organizational Behavior
Product Type : Article
Product Code : IJOB331021
Author Name : Mohammad Abdul Nayeem* and Hadiya Faheem**
Availability : YES
Subject/Domain : Arts & Humanities
Download Format : PDF Format
No. of Pages : 20

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Abstract

The case discusses IKEA's talent management initiatives and its corporate culture. The retailer recruited employees based on values and beliefs rather than just on skills, experience, and other credentials. It fostered an 'egalitarian culture' that offered full benefits even to part-time workers who worked for 20 hours or more per week. In 2017, global research and consulting firm Great Place to Work and Fortune named IKEA US among its 2017 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For. Analysts opined that its talent management initiatives and its strong corporate culture provided IKEA with a competitive advantage.Though IKEA was touted to be an ideal employer in the retail market, it was hit with a lawsuit in the US court over alleged age discrimination in February 2019. Some IKEA employees stated that the retailer had fostered a culture of age discrimination wherein young workers were recruited and promoted over workers who were 40 years and older, thereby violating the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.

When recruiting for IKEA, it is attractive to recognize that the applicant has read up about the company and managed to describe the connection, i.e., what are the values they have as a person which makes them the perfect fit for working with the organization.i
- Anna-Carin Mansson, Country HR Manager for India, in 2018

Maintaining a strong IKEA culture is one of the most crucial factors behind the continued success of the IKEA Concept.ii
- Ingvar Kamprad, founder of IKEA, in 2004


Introduction

In February 2019, Swedish furniture retailer IKEA Group (IKEA) launched an interesting recruitment campaign for the job interview process. The campaign showed potential candidates entering a room for giving the interview only to be confronted with a board


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