A. How could Jeff's attitude toward social responsibility impact
Perry's strategy? Justify your rationale with support from course
materials
aa aa aa aa The attitude Jeff has towards social responsibility is lacking, and
he is not even sure if he believes in the concept of running a "green"
business. He is lacking in social responsibility and, as a result, could
negatively affect the company's strategy. In today's world, there are
very few people that would criticize moving in a more sustainable
direction as a bad thing. More than ever, people are looking for more
sustainable, eco-friendly products and services. Hence, if Jeff dismisses
the idea entirely, the company is most likely to feel the effect of his
hindsight bias down the road. Hindsight bias occurs when mistakes are
made evident after they have already happened and is often seen
when second-guessing a failed move ( Saylor, 2014. pg.334). If Jeff
decides not to take a step and act on the idea, there is a possibility
that he would regret it in the nearest future, and consumers would
likely switch to the company's competitor for a better service. In
addition to this, if he does not change his attitude toward social
responsibility, he will never discover the opportunities that were
available to the company as a "green" manufacturer.
b) Should Perry's Printing respond to this new strategic plan published
by their competitor? Why or why not? Justify your opinion with
support from course materials
aa aa aa aa By not acknowledging Donovan's shift to being "Lean and Green,"
they are sending a message to their customers that sustainability is not
as crucial to Perry's as it is to Donovan's. So, it is crucial to respond
to the competitor's activity to assure Perry's Printing consumers that it
is dedicated to conserving the environment. Also, Perry's printing
should at least publish what they are doing even if they do not switch
to 100% sustainable manufacturing, consumers would see that the
company is sustainable. Also, perry's printing would need to decide if
going green would be the best choice for them by running the idea
through the rational decision-making model. This involves identifying a
problem, formulating and weighing criteria for decisions, identifying
alternatives, selecting the best alternative, and implementing and
evaluating decisions (Saylor, 2014. Pg 331).
C) Porter identified one of the most commonly accepted definitions
of strategy as "choosing a unique and valuable position, rooted in
systems of activities that are difficult to match." In other words,
differentiation is the key to strategy. If all competitors are choosing
sustainability as part of their processes, can sustainability really be a
strategy? Support your opinion with course materials.
aa aa aa aa Yes, sustainability can be a strategy for a company's survival in
the market. It should not, however, be the primary driver of greater
customer awareness. Rather than paying attention to whether or not a
company is following a sustainable trend, I believe differentiation is
more important for achieving success in terms of product/service
differentiation. Providing a simple product that is inexpensive, easy to
use, and simple to price is key. The product should be at the center of
the plan, with sustainability playing a supporting role. Many countries
announced emission reduction targets, and incentives are being offered
for driving electric vehicles(Gurria, 2013). As a result of a demand for
sustainable solutions from customers and governments, sustainability is
still a strategy and will most likely remain so.
Reference
Gurria, A. (2013). The climate challenge: Achieving zero emissions.
Retrieved from: https://www.oecd.org/environment/the-climate-
challenge-achieving-zero-emissions.htm
Saylor aa (2014). Mastering Strategic Management. Ch. 10 Leading an
ethical organization: Corporate governance, corporate ethics, and social
responsibility. The Saylor Foundation:
https://leocontent.umgc.edu/content/dam/equella-
content/bmgt495/Chapter10_Leading_EthicalOrganization.pdf
