Module Two
Learning Objectives
By the end of this module, you will meet these learning objectives:
Recommend culturally conscious business practices that
strengthen business, consumer, and supplier relationships
Examine how investing in community can drive
organizational value
Analyze how investing in employees can impact an
organization
Module Overview
This module will build upon the concept of the triple bottom line (TBL)
and focus heavily on opportunities for organizations to positively
impact people and society. The investments that organizations make
into their employees, local communities, and society at large are
rooted in the values of those organizations and their business leaders.
Organizations have the opportunity to invest in employee
development, local infrastructure, cultural competence as
demonstrated by leadership and other employees, or a specific good or
service that will make a positive impact on society.
Investing in employees and a positive organizational culture typically
brings about costs that are tied to education, training, and the support
of your employees’ health and future. However, when done
effectively, these investments can positively influence operations and
profits. Another developmental investment is into cultural awareness.
Cultural competence is becoming increasingly important as we interact
with a more diverse global audience. For organizations, a high degree
of cultural awareness and dexterity allows for more effective
negotiations, improved cross-cultural management, increased
engagement and business opportunities, and more. When exploring
culture, we need to be culturally conscious so that our business
practices strengthen business, community, and consumer and supplier
relationships.
In this module, you will evaluate opportunities to support employees
and promote business practices that demonstrate a concern for
people. You will also have an opportunity to explore similarities and
differences across cultures and how these influence business practices.
The needs of your business must be balanced with how you interact
with and treat employees, global suppliers, partners, and customers.
Module at a Glance
This is the recommended plan for completing the reading assignments
and activities within the module. Additional information can be found
in the module Resources section and on the module table of contents
page.
1. Review the module resources and complete the webtext
questions.
2. Submit your initial discussion post.
3. Complete the assignment.
4. Reply to at least two peers in the discussion.
