John Deere has always relied on teamwork, and through its Team Enrichment initiative the company is creating an environment in which employees of all backgrounds can participate in high-performing teams and develop leadership skills.

Under the initiative, regional councils develop location-specific tools and methods for developing high-performing teams.

The initiative includes behavioral guidelines for employees. The guidelines describe behaviors that support aligned high-performance teamwork and enhance individual performance. An on-line tool allows employees to identify and improve their teamwork behaviors.

Workplace diversity

The company believes that fostering the participation of employees with diverse backgrounds, talents and perspectives puts the company in the best position to understand customer needs and create innovative products, services, and processes. To foster diversity, John Deere supports employee networks around the world. John Deere employee networks work to advance John Deere's businesses, employees' careers and local communities, and bring together people with shared interests, gender, ethnicity, skills or specializations. They also help new employees feel welcome and quickly develop their own networks and knowledge of the company.

In 2009, Lakshya, a women's network group in India, found a way to have a significant impact on John Deere employees and the business by helping to make cost-effective childcare available to employees at the John Deere Technology Center-India. The group collected information from local daycare centers, and then negotiated a special rate with one of them. Network members also visited the center to ensure that it met their standards.

Following the selection of the daycare center, Lakshya worked with management at the Technology Center-India to develop a cost-sharing program, making use of the daycare center more affordable for employees. Transportation is also provided for employees who use the daycare center.

The networks also sponsor professional and technical forums, encourage a broad understanding of corporate goals, participate in community outreach programs and plan and implement social, cultural and educational events.

John Deere dealers are independent businesses that represent the company in the marketplace.

John Deere distributes information on how to become a dealer so the company can attract high-caliber, qualified candidates with diverse backgrounds. Deere's equipment divisions in the United States, for example, include dealerships owned by entrepreneurs of African-American, American Indian, Asian, and Hispanic descent, and a significant number of dealerships are owned by women.

Supplier diversity

A sustainable business relies on strong, competent suppliers and a supply base that mirrors the diversity of markets worldwide. Since 1980, John Deere's supplier diversity program has been seeking out capable small and diverse suppliers.

We have found over the years that adding diversity in the supply base provides the company with broader perspectives and increases innovation and the adoption of technology.

As important, when we seek out and conduct business with small, diverse companies, those in high unemployment areas, and those in emerging economies, we help communities and the people in them flourish.

Community diversity

John Deere also works to foster diversity in professional communities through education. For example, for K-12 students in the United States, the company is a supporter of the Southeast Consortium of Minorities in Engineering (SECME), a national program that encourages budding scientists and engineers.

The company also supports collegiate-level programs such as Minorities in Agriculture, NSBE (National Society of Black Engineers), SWE (Society of Women Engineers), SHPE (Society of Hispanic Engineers), and NABA (National Association of Black Accountants).

Additionally, the company supports minority education and diversity initiatives at a number of colleges and universities throughout the United States. One of these initiatives is the annual John Deere Advancing Diversity Award. This award is presented to faculty and staff members who make significant contributions to diversity efforts at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business.