OGL 481 Pro-Seminar I:

PCA-Symbolic Frame Worksheet

Complete the following making sure to support your ideas and cite from the textbook and other
course materials per APA guidelines. After the peer review, you have a chance to update this and
format for your Electronic Portfolio due in Module 6.

1) Briefly restate your situation from Module 1 and your role.

The recent situation Starbucks has encountered “Since 2021, Starbucks workers

throughout the U.S. have been pushing to form unions” (Peek, 2023). This situation

stems from inconsistent schedules, poor management, poor compensation, and enduring

the poor treatment of customers. My role during this situation was a shift supervisor who

led and coached my baristas. I was responsible for ensuring the safety of the baristas and

the customers, along with money management, scheduling breaks and lunches, and

supporting my peers. I was a supervisor during the height of Starbucks employees

fighting to unionize and I found myself to be neutral on this position. Now that I no

longer work for Starbucks and I am now a part of a union, I can understand how

important unions are for workers, especially Starbucks employees. In this case I will

uncover Starbucks’s symbolic frame and how it has made an impact on this situation.

2) Describe how the symbols of the organization influenced the situation.

“An organization's culture is revealed and communicated through its symbols' ' (Bolman

& Deal, 2021). There are many symbols that Starbucks has embodied such as its siren

logo which was “inspired by the classic tale Moby Dick evoking the seafaring tradition of

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 the early coffee traders” (Starbucks Coffee Company, 2024). Starbucks also states on

their homepage that they are “committed to making our partners proud and investing in

their health, well-being and success and to creating a culture of belonging where

everyone is welcome” (Starbucks Coffee Company, 2024). Starbucks has cultivated a

specific cultural atmosphere in its stores, often described as a "third place" between work

and home. A lot of partners felt that their concerns were not being addressed and some

employees did not feel their store was welcoming or accepting of them. Starbucks

projects an image of being socially responsible, progressive, and employee-friendly.

However, some partners felt that the reality of working conditions, wages, management,

inconsistent schedules, and benefits doesn't align with the organization’s symbolic

framework. This image that Starbucks portrays of its partners is a form of isomorphism,

since they want to improve the organization’s image rather than its products or in this

case the concerns of their employees (Bolman & Deal, 2021). Starbucks also states that

they call their employees partners because they “are the heart of the Starbucks

experience,” although many Starbucks employees feel that their voices of concerns are

not being heard, which lead to Stabucks employees fighting to unionize so they would be

protected (Starbucks Coffee Company, 2024).

Another symbolic feature that influenced employees fighting to unionize is that the

Starbucks logo serves as a reminder of the power dynamics between the corporate

headquarters and the individual stores and workers. As much as Starbucks portrays that it

is employee-friendly there is a strong power dynamic between corporate and it’s

employees which has been a leading factor to partners going on strike and pushing to

unionize. Power is inherently ambiguous and slippery, and in this case Starbucks

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 corporate and upper management hold the power over its employees (Bolman & Deal,

2021). Although Starbucks claims their employees are the heart of the experience, it has

created a lot of tension between corporate and the partners. Overall, the symbols and

corporate identity of Starbucks lead employees to their push for unionization.

3) Recommend how you would use organizational symbols for an alternative course of
action regarding your case.

Using organizational symbols for an alternative course of action regarding Starbucks

unionizing involves following “figurative forms that alter the context of meetings,

planning, performance appraisals, collective bargaining, the exercise of power, and

symbolic management (Bolman & Deal, 2021). One recommendation of an alternative

course of action would be to utilize Starbucks' organizational symbols, such as its logo

and brand identity, to launch an employee engagement campaign focused on fostering a

sense of community among workers. This campaign could highlight the shared values

and goals of employees, emphasizing the importance of collective action in addressing

workplace issues. Since Starbucks is always wanting to improve the organization’s

appearance, they could organize events that utilize Starbucks’ logo to raise awareness

about the unionization effort. In the past Starbucks has created shirts for employees to

wear that have been used to promote new drinks and or share their support such as the

black lives matter movement and the LGBTQ community. If Starbucks allowed

employees to wear apparel that highlights the unionization campaign along with the

Starbucks logo, it would symbolize their support of the employees.

Along with creating an employee campaign, Starbucks should also address its support

for their employees. Starbucks has continued to deny the elephant in the room and hire

lawyers to help deter the fight for unionization. If Starbucks announces their support they
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 could frame the unionization effort as an opportunity for collaboration and partnership

between employees and management, emphasizing how a unionized workforce can

contribute to the company’s values and success. Since Starbucks has been against

unionization for a while, it could be beneficial if they hired store representatives that are

employed by Starbucks to listen and advocate for the partners. This would involve a

representative that supports the employees, implements surveys, documents feedback,

and then reports this to upper management to create a plan of action. By strategically

leveraging Starbucks' organizational symbols in these ways, this would ultimately lead to

positive outcomes for both parties involved.

4) Reflect on what you would do or not do differently given what you have learned
about this frame.

Based on what I have learned about the symbolic frame of Starbucks as an organization,

there are several actions I might consider doing differently when approaching the issue of

employees fighting to unionize. Now that I understand how much symbols impact the

organization’s cultural framework and that “meaning is not given to us; we create it”, I would

have fought alongside my co-workers (Bolman & Deal, 2021). I would have shown my

support for my co-workers by attending peaceful demonstrations and attending local

meetings regarding unionization. Since there is a power dynamic between Starbucks

corporate and its employees, I would have advocated for better treatment, pay, and benefits

by voicing my concerns as well as sharing ways we could create a strong partnership. Since I

was a supervisor at Starbucks and had meetings with some upper-management employees I

could have addressed the dissonance and concerns partners have disclosed to me in order to

create a more authentic organizational culture. I also could have put more effort into listening

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 to my peers and their concerns, as well as educating myself more on the issue. I have realized

I spent my time being ignorant of the situation and just allowing myself to be neutral on the

stance, without making the effort to learn how this is affecting the employees I work with or

within my district. Overall, I would have better educate myself on the subject, seek out

individuals who are fighting for unionization and join them in a peaceful protest.

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 References

About Us: Starbucks Coffee Company. (n.d.). About Us: Starbucks Coffee Company.
https://www.starbucks.com/about-us/

Bolman, L. G., & Deal, T. E. (2021). Reframing organizations: Artistry, choice, and leadership (7th ed.).San
Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass (ASU Bookstore Automatic Purchase-Perusall Version Only)