Responses

WEEK 2 RESPONSES

#1 General Mills (GIS) stakeholder groups are as follows: customers, consumers, employees, investors, regulators/policy makers, communities, nongovernmental organizations, industry associations, and suppliers (Globalresponsibility, n.d.). Financial stakeholders are roughly made up of 79% or 1,805 held by institutions (Yahoo, 2021). GIS works through engagement of stakeholders through a variety of means to push progress for social and environmental initiatives through “open dialogue, collaboration and transparent disclosure” (Globalresponsibility, n.d.). The stakeholder engagement aids GIS in meeting the mission of “Nourishing lives to make lives healthier, easier, and richer” where values are aligned with always doing right, innovation with every aspect, constructing great brands, investing in the employees, and consisted superior performance (GeneralMillsCareers, 2013).

Complex issues that the company is working to make better include “sustainable sourcing, responsible marketing, climate change, water stewardship and food waste” (Globalresponsibility, n.d.). GIS uses multiple techniques depending on the stakeholder group to drive dialogue, collaborate, and formulate new ideas for improvements such as: surveys, focus groups, social media, town hall meetings, food donations, employee volunteering, and so on (Globalresponsibility, n.d.). GIS continues to advance through strategic process improvements and by understanding their impact on global responsibility.

GeneralMillsCareers. (2013, October 25). General mills mission & values. YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTVJ5wkrim0  

Globalresponsibility. (n.d.). Stakeholder engagement. Retrieved from https://globalresponsibility.generalmills.com/2016/PDF/general_mills-global_responsibility_2016_0011.pdf

Yahoo! (2021, July 6). General Mills, Inc. (GIS) Stock price, news, quote & history. Yahoo! Finance. Retrieved from https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/GIS?p=GIS&.tsrc=fin-srch

#2 General Mills seeks to represent the stakeholders by making efforts to progress in global responsibility. In regards to making good food and serving the world, the CEO has said "Our goal is to continue doing so for another 150 years by treating the world, its resources and people with care." By implementing health metrics and removing artificial flavors and colors, General Mills seeks to create a more healthy product for the good of its consumers. In 2013, General Mills committed to sustainably source 100 percent of its 10 priority ingredients by 2020, representing more than 50 percent of the company’s annual raw materials purchases. General Mills seeks to project their ethics and a positive effect which gives the company a great corporate image and thusly represent the stakeholders. 

References:

Globalresponsibility. (n.d.). Stakeholder engagement. Retrieved from https://globalresponsibility.generalmills.com/2016/PDF/general_mills-global_responsibility_2016_0011.pdf

Yahoo! (2021, July 6). General Mills, Inc. (GIS) Stock price, news, quote & history. Yahoo! Finance. Retrieved from https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/GIS?p=GIS&.tsrc=fin-srch