Since its founding days in the early 1990s, Starbucks has strived to build its brand identity by offering customers a relaxing and enjoyable experience

Since its founding days in the early 1990s, Starbucks has strived to build its brand identity by offering customers a relaxing and enjoyable experience. From the very beginning, the experiential aspect of the brand has been consistently and effectively implemented in all its stores across the world. In addition, Starbucks has also built its brand on things that tend to be out of the box, by consistently defying conventional wisdom.

When companies were aggressively advertising, Starbucks decided not to advertise. When cost cutting was the dominant paradigm of the industry, Starbucks chose to emphasize non-routine procedures to create excitement among the baristas instead of streamlining procedures to minimize cost. Unlike most other companies, Starbucks made its employees its partners, by offering them stock options and health insurance.

Question 1: Innovation at Starbucks

A.   Why is Starbucks an innovative company? Support your answer with examples.

B.    Discuss the role of four business functions at Starbucks. Give at least two innovation examples for each business function at Starbucks.