A. How could Jeff's attitude toward social responsibility impact Perry's
strategy? Justify your rationale with support from course materials
e e 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
e e 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.
e e 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 e (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
