3M IN 2006

3M in 2006

Introduction

“One of the things I liked best about 3M's culture is that it encourages partnerships between scientists and marketers, but marketers are the ones who drive the business. They identify the market needs and then work with scientists to develop products that will meet the needs of the market.”

Discussion

3M's main terminal value seems to be innovation—pushing its employees to excel at inventing new and improved products and processes that benefit customers. To achieve this ideal end state, it promotes the instrumental values of entrepreneurship, risk-taking, and autonomy to encourage experimentation. 3Mdevelops norms and practices to encourage these ...