3m Organizational Theory

Case Study Part 1

Rana D. Gray

MGT­240­3075

June 12, 2017

Professor Beth Groh

        3M is a multinational company that has products in a variety of industries which is marketed all over the world. 3M is mostly known for inventing scotch tape, innovation of post-it notes and other office and school supplies as well as for its innovation techniques and ideas that has the company in a class of its own and has also started to spark innovation ideas in other companies. I chose 3M because of their long and withstanding history in innovation, their ideas and methodology on innovation, and because of how this company spawned into different industries and sectors in order to make a difference across the globe. 3M’s mission statement is clearly defined: “Through collaborative creativity, we design meaningful brand experience and enrich 3M innovation. Our diverse design competencies help drive competitive advantage, grow our business, delight our customers and make a positive influence on our world” (“3M Design | 3M Design – United States”, 2017), which it has done successfully over the past 115 years.

        3M, once known as Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, was founded on innovation and failure. In the beginning, it had struggled immensely in order to become what it is today – a company with over 90,000 employees, 20 billion in annual profits (3M, 2017) leading in innovation. With the founding and invention of waterproof sandpaper, 3M found itself on the road to victory with such an unusual product and with many more products to come. The 3M design and organizational culture is based on collaboration. The company hires the right people and give them the freedom to work and research on anything, even if it has nothing to do with the assigned project. This concept alone cultivates the talent within their people and promotes creativity which leads to innovation. The growth of this company has benefited from the innovation success and failures of some of its 90,000 employees, in which 3M does give the credit to along with the scientists and researchers and their dedicated commitment. 3M has made the front page of several magazines, such as Forbes, and is considered the best company when it comes to innovation and belief in its employee’s creativity.

When it comes to being diverse, 3M operates in more than 70 countries with almost 55,000 (“Inclusion | 3M United States”, 2017) employees internationally creating very diverse workgroups and teams which help when expanding into different areas of the world and branching off into different markets and segments to meet specific needs and improve everyday life. Diversity is a very essential part in the innovation process. Hiring people with different separate backgrounds, nationalities, cultures, genders, ages, religions, insights, physical and mental abilities, personalities and styles creates a unique perspective and dynamic when it comes to innovation and creating new technology that will improve sustainability as well as the environment and other people’s lives. 3M values, seeks and believes in how people are created differently, especially when it comes to their experiences, mind and skill sets, and, thus, creates an environment that is safe, valued, respected and free to be themselves in hopes to generate creativity and innovative ideas.