Cultural Approaches of Team Detroit

1. 3 Culture Tips From
Team Detroit
Brianna Booker

2. About Team Detroit
★ Recently renamed GTB
★ Headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan and founded in 2007
★ 49 global offices across 6 continents
★ Clients include Ford Motor Company, Johnson Controls, Ohio Art, and Purina

3. Article Overview
★ Team Detroit was awarded in May of 2015 for their unique
positive business practices.
★ Manager of business Intelligence Christopher Jimenez gives
tips on how to improve work culture
○ Create a Recognition System
○ Committee based culture initiatives
○ Dedicate time to researching culture

4. Tip #1
Creating A Recognition System
★ At Team Detroit, they believe in providing recognition to all
employees.
★ The have established a platform called YouEarnedIt
○ It's a formal, public channel for you and your teammates to
recognize each other
○ Removed barriers for praising employees

5. ...More About YouEarnedIt!
YouEarnedIt is an online platform where
employees throughout the company are
recognized for accomplishments such as, coming
up with great ideas or making deadlines on
certain projects, When you are recognized you
earn points, These points can not only be
redeemed to earn prizes, but can also be re gifted
to fellow coworkers when you want to recognize
them for something they have done.

6. Tip #2
Committee Based Culture Initiatives
★ Creating committees within the organization
○ The Positive Incentive Committee is one committee formed
○ They believe forming these committees makes the
organization stronger as a whole
○ Committees empower employees to work together to solve
problems

7. Tip #3
Dedicate Time To Research Culture
★ Having a Passion for Culture
○ Researching what other successful companies are doing and
trying it out at their organization
○ Recognizing what does and does not work
○ Accepting employee feedback and using it

8. Culture at
Team Detroit
Deal & Kennedy’s
“Strong Culture”
Team Detroit is definitely a
company that has a strong culture.
They follow Deal and Kennedy’s
ideas on a what it takes to have a
strong culture completely

9. Vision
Team Detroit doesn't have distinct
core values listed out there have some
quotes they want people to associate
with their organization.
★ If it's interesting, we’re
interested
★ We cultivate a culture of what’s
next
★ We’re always close by
★ If we see a path to progress, we
take it

10. Heroes
Satish Korde
President and CEO of Team Detroit
Satish is responsible for combining
several different agencies together
and making them into Team
Detroit.

11. cont...
Because the company has
not been around long,
there isn't a definite hero
as of yet. But Satish
definitely strikes as a
potential candidate in the
next 10-15 years.

12. Rites and
Rituals
Team Detroit Hosts several events
throughout the year celebrating
internal and external successes. This
has become a tradition within the
company and helps create and
maintain relationships with
customers and members of the
organization.

13. Communication
Systems
YouEarnedIt
This online database is a prime
example of how Team Detroit values
communication. This allows for
feedback to be given and received
among anyone belonging to the
organization.

14. Analysis
Deal & Kennedy would definitely
categorize Team Detroit as having a
“Strong Culture”. They continuously
put forth effort in revitalizing their
culture. They know that the
company is constantly changing and
wants to always maybe sure the
culture is fitting for these
advancements.

15. What about Peter and Waterman
In terms of “Excellent Culture” Team Detroit also is in line with Peter and
Waterman.
★ One of the main themes in this organization is with Autonomy and
Entrepreneurship.
○ They celebrate all new ideas from employee and promised to explore these ideas to see where it
takes them.
★ Productivity Through People is another theme at Team Detroit
○ They encourage positive and respectful relationships among employees and management,
YouEarnedIt is the best example of this theme. An outlet where not only is management allowed
to give recognition, but also fellow employees.

16. Questions
★ How is conflict among teams in this organization?
★ How and when are employees evaluated?
★ Is there a channel in which employees can speak with managers about
suggestions, if so what are they ?
★ What is the average time length employees stay with this company?
★ Are the cultures in all 49 offices consistent? If so how does that work?
★ Is there room for employees to grow within the company?

17. Suggestions
Overall I think Team Detroit would be a a great company to work for. The fact that
they keep culture a priority, shows me how much they value their customers and
their employees. It seems as though the YouEarnedIt program has been successful
but it does seem to have some flaws. It could posses a negative response if some are
being recognized more often than others. This program is public so everyone in the
company can see. Having an award ceremony seems more fitting, maybe even an
employee of the week could eliminate these possible flaws.

19. Why work for Team Detroit?
I can definitely see myself working for Team Detroit. I love the fact that they have
employees whose sole purpose is to maintain the culture of the company. This shows
me that employee satisfaction is extremely important to them. It makes me wonder
how else they cater to their employees. I know their office is filled with shiny paint
and arcade games and this is something that I think is important in maintaining the
sanity of employees. Of course there are always changes that could be made to
improve, but I believe Team Detroit is on the right track.

20. Works Cited
Miller, Katherine. Organizational Communication: Approaches and Processes.
Belmont (CA): Thomson/Wadsworth, 2003. Print.
Wenger, Garrett. "3 Culture Tips from Team Detroit." Newmind Group. N.p.,
05 Jan. 2016. Web. 10 Oct. 2016.