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Integration of Faith and Learning Paper
IKEA (Chapter 9, Question 3)
Natalia Ivanova
BUSI 690-B04
March 11, 2016
Dr. Jonathan Wilson
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Introduction
Ethical or social issues are present in most companies around the world. Some companies
find ways to overcome the ethical or social issues and some others struggle with it. These issues
if not properly solved may lead to bigger problems later. In addition to these issues, each
company also needs to make sure they make their market presence and find ways to achieve
competitive advantage in order to succeed. One such company that achieved competitive
advantage and overcame some struggles is IKEA. IKEA is one of the leading furniture retailers
around the world. IKEA has numerous non-equity alliances with suppliers and manufactures
around the world. It has also used these partnerships to find solutions to social and environmental
challenges. The company was able to overcome the issues through having relationships with
various organizations and helping them overcome the odds of this world. The following essay
will cover the partnerships that IKEA was able to create, in what ways it participated in the
partnerships, how these partnerships helped IKEA to maintain competitive advantage, and apply
this concept to the Bible and what the Bible has to say about helping others and getting rewards
in return.
IKEA and its Partnerships
IKEA is the leading furniture retailer that creates furniture that is in style and
comfortable at the lowest price possible for everyone to enjoy. Since the company is competing
against other furniture companies, it decided to do something in order to save on cutting down
trees and make themselves stand apart from other furniture companies. One of the things that the
company decided to do is create partnerships with organizations like Save the Children, United
Nations Children’s fund (UNICEF), and World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Save the Children is the
world’s leading independent organization for children, delivering programmes and improving
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children’s lives in more than 120 countries worldwide (IKEA foundation). This organization
helps the children fill loved and cared for. Through this foundation, IKEA helps provide children
with quality of life and provide them with education that they deserve. IKEA was able to donate
resources and money to help with this organization. In return, the company was able to grow
their company and make themselves stand out about the rest. The next organization that IKEA
proudly collaborated with is the UNICEF. This particular organization works in 190 countries to
provide children with vaccines, quality basic education, and the protection of children from
violence and exploitation (IKEA Foundation). IKEA partnered with this organization in order to
make children worth to be alive and provide them with a life they deserve. IKEA also donates $1
to both UNICEF and Save the Children in order to provide what is needed. Last, World Wildlife
Fund is a foundation to raise money in order to help people in developing with farming and
everyday survival. Since partnering with IKEA, WWF has successfully provided cotton-farming
abilities to about 125,000 farmers in India, Pakistan, China, and Turkey (People and
Communities-IKEA). IKEA was able to provide ways to cut down on the use of chemical
fertilizers, which in return cut down costs and provide farmers with a healthy crop. Through
these partnerships, IKEA was able to help not only kids in developing countries but adults as
well. The company was able to partner with these organizations through the help of its
customers, employees, and its suppliers. In addition, IKEA was able to maintain competitive
advantage as the world’s largest furniture retailer.
IKEA and competitive Advantage
Maintaining a competitive advantage is one of the important priorities for IKEA and
creating partnerships with various organization has helped them to maintain that advantage.
There two ways that these partnerships helps IKEA maintain competitive advantage. First, these
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strategic alliances helps them to be able to reduce the production of cost of the company. IKEA
has been working on producing their products without hindering the environment for some time
now. In addition, by giving back to the communities has helped them find ways to be more
innovative while at the same time helping kids and adults around the world. Second, the
partnerships with these organizations helps the company to gain generosity. Being innovative,
supporter of environment, and provider of world relief, has made the company stand out above
the rest and in return maintain competitive advantage. It does not mean that IKEA want to show
off with that they can do but simply make others understand the importance of building a strong
business and relationships with other individuals. IKEA’s goal of wanting to help others and at
the same time improving their own business, teaches other businesses of how to be a successful
business in different ways.
Biblical perspective
IKEA’s partnerships with organizations in order to help kinds and adult around the world
has brought them tremendous success. In the same way, we as Christian individuals can have a
better life if are willing to sacrifice part of us to help the ones in need. The Bible teaches us that
we should be the hands and feet of Jesus. God also promises us a special reward for doing his
work while we live on this earth. James 2:14-17 teaches us about having faith in God.
James 2:14-17 states, “What good is it, my brother, is someone says he has faith but does
not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and
lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,”
without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by
itself, if it does not have works, is dead”.
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In this verse, James teaches us that profession without practice and words without deeds is not
how a Christian should live (James Overview). If we profess that we are Christian and believe in
Jesus Christ, we should live out this kind of faith. We should be willing to go out, serve others,
and help them get on their feet. It is not proper to see someone suffer, not stop, and help. In
addition, James points out that an emotion is not something in which to luxuriate; is it something
which at the cost of effort and of toil and of discipline and of sacrifice must be turned into the
stuff of life (James Overview). James teaches that we should not only feel sorry for something or
someone and not doing something about it. So many of us today talk about things should be done
but very few of us take the action to do so. Therefore, we as Christians need to live out our Gad-
given purpose for our lives and help the world become a better place to live in.
Bible and business
James in his book teaches us an important lesson of how we should live our lives as
Christian individuals. IKEA may not be structured with Christ-like individuals; however, they
made the big step in business to not only improve their business but also help people in
developing countries to get on their feet and enjoy life. Making strategic alliances and
acquisitions are ways that IKEA found to be helpful to them and at the same time give back to
the environment. In the same way, Christians should come together, join in the cause and do
something to help the needy. Many things in this world cannot be done alone; therefore, going
out in-groups or partnering with other organizations can make a huge difference in this world.
Conclusion
IKEA is the world’s leading furniture retailer who not only developing a strong business
but also making a difference in the world. Through partnerships with UNICEF, WWF and Save
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the Children, they were able to provide, education, food, clothes, and faming opportunities for
the people in developing countries. Forming such partnerships has helped IKEA reduce the
production of high cost for the company, gain generosity, and contain competitive advantage.
While IKEAs still has things that they need to improve on, they continue to make a difference in
other individual’s lives.
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References
James Overview - William Barclay's Daily Study Bible. (n.d.). Retrieved March 11, 2016, from
https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/dsb/view.cgi?bk=jas
Helping the world's most vulnerable children get the education they deserve. | IKEA Foundation.
(n.d.). Retrieved March 11, 2016, from http://www.ikeafoundation.org/soft-toys-2014/
People & Communities - IKEA. (n.d.). Retrieved March 11, 2016, from
http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_US/this-is-ikea/people-and-planet/people-and-communities/
