Profit, politics, and principle : the case of Costco and DEI / Matthew McDonald, Wendy Cukier, Guang Ying Mo.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

McDonald, Matt, author.

Cukier, Wendy, 1956- author.

Mo, Guang Ying, author.

Series:

SAGE business cases.

SAGE business cases

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Costco Wholesale Corporation--Case studies.

Costco Wholesale Corporation.

Diversity in the workplace--Case studies.

Diversity in the workplace.

Physical Description:

1 online resource.

Other Title:

Case of Costco and diversity, equity, and inclusion

Place of Publication:

London : SAGE Publications: SAGE Business Cases Originals, 2026.

Summary:

This case examines the outcomes of Costco's decisions to maintain its DEI initiative despite significant backlash from political and shareholder pressure in early 2025. While many other major, successful companies (e.g., Amazon, Meta, Target) decided to scale back or get rid of their DEI programs amid political and legal backlash, Costco chose to defend its programs as integral to its business success. The case highlights the tension between upholding corporate values and responding to political pressure in a polarized environment. It offers insights into the strategic advantages of maintaining consistent values-driven leadership, even when faced with external pressure. It suggests that principled decision making can reinforce internal culture, build stakeholder trust, and serve as a differentiator in crowded markets. Costco's experience challenges the perceived dichotomy between profit and purpose, demonstrating that companies can uphold inclusive values while delivering financial returns.

Notes:

Description based on XML content.

ISBN:

979-83-488-5239-9

OCLC:

1569208662

Publisher Number:

T301065