Tribal Knowledge: Business Wisdom Brewed from the Grounds of Starbucks Corporate Culture

by John Moore

Without question, Starbucks Coffee is one of the greatest business success stories of the past decade. Since going public in 1992, it has grown yearly revenues to more than $6.5 billion, achieved a stock price increase of more than 6,500%, and opened over 11,000 locations worldwide. But for a company that has accomplished so much, outsiders really know very little about the Starbucks secrets to success. That’s because much of the company’s sage advice and weathered truisms exist solely in the hearts and minds of longtime Starbucks employees. This so-called “tribal knowledge” includes pithy quotes uttered by Starbucks executives, mantras used by Starbucks project groups, learnings from failed pilot programs, and “ah-ha” moments from successful projects. It’s company stories passed down from one generation of employees to the next. It’s intense. It’s poignant. It’s thought provoking. It’s actionable. It’s a language of Starbucks “tribal knowledge” that has never been written – only spoken – and only within the Starbucks tribe. Until now. In Tribal Business Wisdom Brewed from the Grounds of Starbucks Corporate Culture , longtime Starbucks marketer John Moore shares untold, behind-the-scenes stories of the processes, the programs, and the products that have made Starbucks a remarkable business success, · Why Starbucks was purpose driven to make a difference in the world. · How Starbucks goes beyond simply having a mission statement to living its mission statement. · How the Starbucks principled, innovative, and cause-related approach to marketing built an endearing and enduring brand. · Why efforts to extend the Starbucks brand into lifestyle offerings such as a literary magazine and full-service restaurants failed. · How the Starbucks approach to employee career growth has created a passionate workforce. · How to apply the Starbucks “tribal knowledge” to your business, entrepreneurial venture, or project group. Tribal Knowledge gives you unprecedented access to the many business lessons that helped Starbucks find prosperity by selling a commodity – all from a marketer who lived inside the Starbucks tribe.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Leadership, Memoir, Management

264 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2006

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name.

Other authors publishing under this name are:

John Moore, US SF & fantasy writer
John Moore, languages
John Moore, British author and pioneer conservationist
John Moore
John Moore, Scottish physician and writer
John Moore, English clergyman of Puritan views

Reviews

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent vignettes with deep thoughts to make business work better. I used the mission statement of Starbucks to write one for my business.

[Dennis Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn’t stand the test of time. Feels dated.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book about Starbucks corporate culture that I ever read; I picked it up a few months after I started working there. In my opinion, this is the best book for store-level employees at Starbucks, or in any retail position, for how to make your job more fun and treat your customers better. It will seem odd to anyone who hasn't at least known someone who worked in retail, because the chapters are very specific to that environment. It's not a business book, or a management book (although it will help managers get their perspective back when store details get them down). This is a book how Starbucks used front-line employees and the stores they work in to build their business. Get to it, baristas!

[Gizzard · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an ode to what Starbucks used to be, before it became a McDonald's clone. It is funny to read a book about everything that made Starbucks unique. Now I want a book on how the heck they got where they are now- and all the uniqueness gone. They still keep a few of their better ideas such as good benefits.

Some good ideas if you want some business 101, a little outside the box.

[Steve Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read from a former master of marketing at Starbucks. John Moore shares pearls of wisdom that were applied during his tenure at Starbucks but could be easily applied to anyone in any business.

A great read!!!

[Bruce Hawkins · Rating 1 out of 5]

Some interesting but a lot of fluff. Just a an advertisement for Starbucks that overhypes the company. Starbucks has changed the World? Give me a break. Would resonate more if it was written by someone outside the company.

[Two Readers in Love]

A quick read; mostly a puff piece for Starbucks, written by and for marketers. There are a few potentially intriguing ideas amidst the fluff, but without any hard data or even enough general information to outline a real case study it is hard to ascertain their validity.

[Megan Carpenter · Rating 4 out of 5]

An in-depth look at the marketing and branding behind Starbucks. Lots of ideas for updating your marketing, and for further reading on the topic.

[Lori Grant · Rating 3 out of 5]

An optional-read company profile for knowledge workers, managers, directors, C-levels, and entrepreneurs.