Perhaps the most distinctive aspect of Starbucks is its commitment to the environment and the suppliers they deal with, often in third-world countries. It is a distinctive competency that helps many upscale customers identify with the company, and has earned their loyalty. In addition, the company employs its corporate resources in many civic-minded ways, earning even more loyalty from employees and customers. Starbucks believes in supporting communities where they do business in many ways, from purchasing from local providers to supporting Earth Day activities and literacy programs (Editors, 2007). In addition, they have taken a relatively narrow niche market and expanded it to be extremely successful around the world. Essentially, they sell coffee and snack items, and yet they are consistently growing, opening new stores, and increasing revenue each year. The fact that they are so successful is an extremely important aspect of their competency and business model. Not everyone could make such a success out of coffee, so obviously, management at Starbucks, while concerned socially, is also extremely perceptive when it comes to business and business planning.

While the company is committed to social responsibility, they are also an extremely successful company, which means their organizational competencies are working. They provide a variety of beverages and foods that appeal to their customers and offer good customer service that keeps them coming back. Thus, they have developed a model that...

They pride themselves on customer service, and to create a favorable working environment, they treat their employees as "partners," and offer savings, benefits, and stock option plans to a majority of employees. Oh, and each employee gets a pound of coffee each week. They have a successful business plan that allows them to grow fiscally and physically each year. They are consistently rated one of the best places to work in America by industry analysts. They are socially responsible and give back to communities and locales where they do business. They are committed to maintaining a balance between people, the environment, and business, and encourage other businesses to do the same. They are committed to supporting diverse suppliers and communities as well. They support literacy, the environment, and many other social causes both locally and globally. Thus, the company has many characteristics that helped create excellence in the organization. No organization is perfect, and it is certain Starbucks has problems internally and globally. However, they are committed, dedicated, and successful, and that adds up to social and business excellence.
References

Editors. (2007). Investor relations. Retrieved from the Starbucks.com Web site: http://investor.starbucks.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=99518&p=irol-financialHighlights17 Feb. 2007.