Pros
Grainger gets the big things right. The company provides tremendous value to customers, makes long-term bets, and cherishes its people. This is rare. But with scale comes complexity. Logistics and bureaucracy creep in at a large enterprise like Grainger. Yet even at its size, Grainger has far less red tape than smaller companies I've seen. The culture shines through in their actions: • Working hard on worthwhile projects • Giving people visibility into their impact • Relentlessly delivering value to customers • Treating every employee with respect • Empowering people to achieve great things
Cons
Of course, no company is perfect. As they grow, some challenges emerge: • Complexity inherent in a global enterprise • Raising the skill level bar within the Grainger Technology Group (GTG) higher • Streamlining platforms and architecture, it's bloated and disorganized (cut platforms relentlessly, the pain will be temporary) But these are merely growing pains. The fundamentals are sound.