Zara has helped ensure its innovative information systems are actively used by staff through several key strategies centered on employee involvement, motivation, and relevance:
- Employee Involvement in System Design: Zara involves employees in the design and development of its information systems. This involvement creates a sense of ownership and ensures the systems are tailored to meet the actual needs of staff, making them more relevant and easier to use. Employees who participate in creating the system understand it better and are more likely to embrace and promote its use
- Linking System Use to Performance and Rewards: System usage at Zara directly impacts store success, with up to 70% of employees' salaries tied to sales performance. This creates a strong incentive for staff to engage with the systems effectively, as their compensation depends on it
- Employee Engagement and Feedback Integration: Zara empowers store managers and staff to gather customer feedback using handheld devices (PDAs), which feeds into the system for rapid decision-making and product updates. This engagement makes employees feel their input matters in shaping product offerings, further motivating system use
- Comprehensive Training and Knowledge Sharing: Zara ensures that new employees receive proper training on the company's information systems, often facilitated by experienced staff. This continuous knowledge transfer helps maintain smooth operations and consistent system use across the company
Together, these approaches ensure that Zara's information systems are not only innovative but also embraced and utilized by key staff members, supporting the company's rapid response to fashion trends and competitive advantage
