BUS 374 Week 10 Reflection

 This week's focus was on Hybrid companies. These are companies that are working to make a difference instead of working to make a profit, but aren't isn't reliant on the "hustle" for funds from donors and grants because it has a product and service that is for sale. The sale of the product or service all goes directly back into the business to make it self-sufficient.

For the Application activity this week, we created a fictional hybrid company. This sparked interest for me as something that I might actually look into doing. I am working on my degree to either become an elementary school teacher or to go into special education. This was prompted by my own experience trying to navigate the system and advocate for my son. A hybrid makes so much sense because I do want to help families in my community but I don't want to spend all of my time and energy trying to figure out where the funding is going to come from.

What is it about hybrids that make them so successful?

I think the nature of hybrids makes them successful. They have the heart behind them that non-profits and social businesses do. They have a goal to make a difference in the world and to solve a problem. They are successful because they are not in it to make a huge profit. High profit businesses rely heavily on marketing and ad campaigns. They also do not have to rely on grants and donations; both of which take so much time and energy away from the goal of the company. Instead, they can focus on the solutions they are driving forward.

BUS 374 Week 9 Reflection

 This week, we covered non-profits and nongovernmental organizations (NGO). These are companies that are set up not to make money, but to make a difference.

The assignment this week that stood out to me the most was the case analysis regarding the brand Timberland. Not only did I learn that this company was heavily active in the world of CSR, but that it was an all around good company. The package that they offer to employees includes lactation rooms, coverage for infertility treatment, tie off for volunteering, and a host of other things designed to make the employee feel like they are cared about by the company. This is something that I can argue to be CSR. Companies should have the responsibility to the people that work for them to make sure that they have the best opportunities available to them because it benefits everyone. There is a saying that goes "When momma's not happy, no body's happy." I think the employees are momma in this. Happy employees make better companies. Timberland is setting an example that other businesses should follow.

I can use these lessons on how non-profits run in my life by placing the focus on individuals around me. The focus needs to be on humanity, not on personal gain.

BUS 374 Week 8 Reflection

"What the public thinks of your company is critical to its success," Schmidt told Business News Daily. "By building a positive image that you believe in, you can make a name for your company as being socially conscious."

This week the focus was on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). This is businesses being socially accountable by working to have some sort of positive impact on the community, the environment, or the economy. 

In Skye Schooley's article, "What is Corporate Social Responsibility,"she states that there is no one "right" way for companies to practice CSR. In the same article she quotes Susan Cooney saying, "If decisions [about CSR] are made behind closed doors, people will wonder if there are strings attached and if the donations are really going where they say." This made me think about a CSR initiative run by BP Gas in my home state of Louisiana. In 2010, the oil rig, Deepwater Horizion, exploded because of negligence on their part. By 2011, just about every Children's Museum, park, and school had a plaque somewhere that a new addition as provided with funds from BP. What should have been a thoughtful act of CSR, came across as nothing more than an attempt to buy back a positive company image. 

Respond to the W08 prompt:

• Why do you think CSR has become more popular in recent years?

I think that CSR has become more popular in recent years because consumers expect more out of the companies they buy from. People have more options today than ever on where and how to spend their money. It is also much easier to know details about the companies with the internet and quick access on our phones. Because of this, we want the most from companies. There was a statistic in the reading this week that said, "more than 60% of Americans hope businesses will drive social and environmental change in the absence of government regulation." People want changes around them and when government doesn't make the change, people want businesses to be the "bigger man" and make the positive changes.