Description
Not all initiatives for promoting positive social change are successful, but these represent an opportunity to not only learn from one specific context, but also to shed light on a wider understanding of strategic planning. When larger corporations such as Starbucks have an initiative that fails, they can treat it like a learning opportunity for both the next initiative and their overall business strategies. Smaller companies, on the other hand, may be impacted in a more significant way.
To prepare for this Discussion, review the video case study featuring Walden alumnus Eric Barton and his organization, Business Owners Benefits Association (BOBA), and consider the potential benefits and risks of incorporating a social change mission into business strategy. Be sure to identify scholarly examples of both successful and unsuccessful instances of social change integration.
Post an analysis of the risks and benefits of integrating a positive social change mission into organizational strategic planning. Your analysis should include the following:
- What are the benefits for organizations considering integrating positive social change into their business strategy?
- What are the potential risks for organizations considering integrating business strategies with an emphasis on positive social change?
- Provide a real-world example of an organization that experienced an unsuccessful implementation of a positive social change initiative. As an independent scholar and global change agent, explain what the organization might have done differently, including planning or executing strategies to improve marketplace or cultural impacts.
Be sure to support your work with a minimum of two specific citations from this week’s Learning Resources and at least one additional scholarly source.
Business Strategy and Innovation: Effecting Positive Social Change
Business Strategy and Innovation: Effecting Positive Social
Change
Program Transcript
[MUSIC PLAYING]
ERIC BARTON: I incorporated a positive social change strategy into BOBA and
its mission by taking the time to research what challenges small businesses.
Also, by understanding, as a business owner myself, what it takes to run a
business successfully. As I left the Marine Corps and attended seminary,
eventually went to the Middle East to spend years developing my own business,
and moved our businesses into the United States, I understood from the
beginning– as a Marine, later as a seminarian, and as a business owner– that if
we’re not providing a positive social change in our own communities, then what’s
it worth?
We can’t make a change for everyone. But if we can make a change for that one
business owner that then can turn around and hire a new employee to make a
positive impact in our community and their community– ultimately, our world-that’s what BOBA’s about. And that’s what being part of a community and part of
a loving neighborhood really is.
As my executive team at BOBA researched the impact small businesses have to
our nation and to their communities, we found that 28 million small businesses in
the United States employ more than 99.7% of all employees. That’s a huge
financial impact in every community in the United States. And in fact, I believe it’s
the same throughout the world.
Because of this, BOBA is making a positive social change by bringing financial
balance back to the economy. Small business owners are the people in each and
every community that are working, that are contributing, and that are making a
difference in local organizations. That are putting food on the table, that are
working with churches and local nonprofits to bring back, again, that financial
balance.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
As a small business owner, creating positive social change does have costs, and
there are risks associated with it. For example, if we allow our employees, as a
small business owner, to volunteer in the community, that pays dividends. We
don’t see the financial rewards possibly on the next payroll, or the next payroll
that goes through, but what we do see is that our brand starts to be recognized
as one that adds value, and that is ingrained in the community.
Unlike large businesses that have vast resources, that have marking
departments and branding departments, the typical small business doesn’t have
© 2016 Laureate Education, Inc.
1
Business Strategy and Innovation: Effecting Positive Social Change
that. But what we do have is our employees. We do have a team, we do have a
brand that’s so important.
And we don’t have the time, nor can we have afford the risk of not being a part of
our community. Therefore, things like volunteering, being active at your chamber
of commerce, wanting to make a difference in your local nonprofits, become so
critical. We don’t see dividends right away, possibly, but long-term, you’re going
to, as a small business owner, see the rewards.
Locally, we own Lex Lin Gypsy Ranch. We have a program called the Gypsy Gift
Program. And through that, we donate horses each and every year to therapy
centers throughout the country. These centers are impacting tens of thousands
of children and people with disabilities.
Other programs are Angels over America. That foundation has created
endowments to support families and children of Marines to support other
community members and employees to put their kids through college. We
believe that education is an economic driver.
Another organization that’s a sister company to BOBA is Peak Technical
Institute. We are giving financial scholarships. We’re working with manufacturers
and other businesses in our local community and beyond to bring education,
particularly as it relates to blue-collar workforces and technical trades, that are so
needed, as we bring manufacturing back into the United States.
Other organizations that we work with include the United Way. I am on the Alexis
de Tocqueville Society. We also work with Smoky Mountain Service Dogs.
Smokey Mountain Service Dogs is a great organization that provides service and
mobility canines to veterans and other wounded warriors throughout the east
Tennessee Community.
Part of the risk that we face everyday at Business Owners Benefits Association,
which includes the strategic planning over years, which includes our current
operations today, is that it’s very challenging to go to small businesses to help
them understand why it’s important that we come together in our association.
And so financially, being able to put money into the business association, as well
as being able to market to discuss with community leaders, with other business
owners, the importance of what we’re doing, takes a lot of time.
We have been blessed to have resources to put into the business, but at the
same time, we understand that you can only do that for so long. And there are
only so many available resources. So part of our risk is convincing our neighbors
and our other business owners in the community and in the nation that this is
worthwhile, this is important, and indeed, this will make a positive social change.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
© 2016 Laureate Education, Inc.
2
Business Strategy and Innovation: Effecting Positive Social Change
BOBA believes that social change is so critical. It’s not just about profit in terms
of dollars, but it’s profit in terms of good, sound, healthy communities. Giving
back is something that makes a difference in my life and makes a difference in
my team’s life. And we talk about passion, and advising, and walking alongside
business owners. It’s not just about the dollar, but it’s about making a difference,
making an impact that goes well beyond the years we’re living.
For me and for the businesses that I’m a part of, for Business Owners Benefits
Association, we always incorporate social change into our mission. If it’s worth
doing, if it’s worth putting your time and effort into, and if you’re passionate about
it, then it’s going to make a difference in your community. So I believe that
making a positive social change is always important and always worthwhile in
each and every business that I am a part of.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Business Strategy and Innovation: Effecting Positive Social
Change
Additional Content Attribution
FOOTAGE:
BenEricPromotion
Photo used by permission of Dr. Eric Barton.
Eric_in_Dubai
Photo used by permission of Dr. Eric Barton. Retrieved from
EricPinningOnPromotion
Photo used by permission of Dr. Eric Barton.
100_0538
Photo used by permission of Dr. Eric Barton.
IMG_1603
Photo used by permission of Dr. Eric Barton. Retrieved from
www.govanquish.com
BOBA Logo_193 PMI_RGB_300.dpi
Photo used by permission of Dr. Eric Barton. Retrieved from www.whyboba.com
100_0887
Photo used by permission of Dr. Eric Barton. Retrieved from
© 2016 Laureate Education, Inc.
3
Business Strategy and Innovation: Effecting Positive Social Change
Eric at Vanquish office (2)
Photo used by permission of Dr. Eric Barton. Retrieved from
www.govanquish.com
Eric at Vanquish office
Photo used by permission of Dr. Eric Barton. Retrieved from
www.govanquish.com
DSC_0244
Photo used by permission of Dr. Eric Barton. Retrieved from www.whyboba.com
© 2016 Laureate Education, Inc.
4
Purchase answer to see full
attachment
Business Strategy and Innovation: Effecting Positive Social
Change
Program Transcript
[MUSIC PLAYING]
ERIC BARTON: I incorporated a positive social change strategy into BOBA and
its mission by taking the time to research what challenges small businesses.
Also, by understanding, as a business owner myself, what it takes to run a
business successfully. As I left the Marine Corps and attended seminary,
eventually went to the Middle East to spend years developing my own business,
and moved our businesses into the United States, I understood from the
beginning– as a Marine, later as a seminarian, and as a business owner– that if
we’re not providing a positive social change in our own communities, then what’s
it worth?
We can’t make a change for everyone. But if we can make a change for that one
business owner that then can turn around and hire a new employee to make a
positive impact in our community and their community– ultimately, our world-that’s what BOBA’s about. And that’s what being part of a community and part of
a loving neighborhood really is.
As my executive team at BOBA researched the impact small businesses have to
our nation and to their communities, we found that 28 million small businesses in
the United States employ more than 99.7% of all employees. That’s a huge
financial impact in every community in the United States. And in fact, I believe it’s
the same throughout the world.
Because of this, BOBA is making a positive social change by bringing financial
balance back to the economy. Small business owners are the people in each and
every community that are working, that are contributing, and that are making a
difference in local organizations. That are putting food on the table, that are
working with churches and local nonprofits to bring back, again, that financial
balance.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
As a small business owner, creating positive social change does have costs, and
there are risks associated with it. For example, if we allow our employees, as a
small business owner, to volunteer in the community, that pays dividends. We
don’t see the financial rewards possibly on the next payroll, or the next payroll
that goes through, but what we do see is that our brand starts to be recognized
as one that adds value, and that is ingrained in the community.
Unlike large businesses that have vast resources, that have marking
departments and branding departments, the typical small business doesn’t have
© 2016 Laureate Education, Inc.
1
Business Strategy and Innovation: Effecting Positive Social Change
that. But what we do have is our employees. We do have a team, we do have a
brand that’s so important.
And we don’t have the time, nor can we have afford the risk of not being a part of
our community. Therefore, things like volunteering, being active at your chamber
of commerce, wanting to make a difference in your local nonprofits, become so
critical. We don’t see dividends right away, possibly, but long-term, you’re going
to, as a small business owner, see the rewards.
Locally, we own Lex Lin Gypsy Ranch. We have a program called the Gypsy Gift
Program. And through that, we donate horses each and every year to therapy
centers throughout the country. These centers are impacting tens of thousands
of children and people with disabilities.
Other programs are Angels over America. That foundation has created
endowments to support families and children of Marines to support other
community members and employees to put their kids through college. We
believe that education is an economic driver.
Another organization that’s a sister company to BOBA is Peak Technical
Institute. We are giving financial scholarships. We’re working with manufacturers
and other businesses in our local community and beyond to bring education,
particularly as it relates to blue-collar workforces and technical trades, that are so
needed, as we bring manufacturing back into the United States.
Other organizations that we work with include the United Way. I am on the Alexis
de Tocqueville Society. We also work with Smoky Mountain Service Dogs.
Smokey Mountain Service Dogs is a great organization that provides service and
mobility canines to veterans and other wounded warriors throughout the east
Tennessee Community.
Part of the risk that we face everyday at Business Owners Benefits Association,
which includes the strategic planning over years, which includes our current
operations today, is that it’s very challenging to go to small businesses to help
them understand why it’s important that we come together in our association.
And so financially, being able to put money into the business association, as well
as being able to market to discuss with community leaders, with other business
owners, the importance of what we’re doing, takes a lot of time.
We have been blessed to have resources to put into the business, but at the
same time, we understand that you can only do that for so long. And there are
only so many available resources. So part of our risk is convincing our neighbors
and our other business owners in the community and in the nation that this is
worthwhile, this is important, and indeed, this will make a positive social change.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
© 2016 Laureate Education, Inc.
2
Business Strategy and Innovation: Effecting Positive Social Change
BOBA believes that social change is so critical. It’s not just about profit in terms
of dollars, but it’s profit in terms of good, sound, healthy communities. Giving
back is something that makes a difference in my life and makes a difference in
my team’s life. And we talk about passion, and advising, and walking alongside
business owners. It’s not just about the dollar, but it’s about making a difference,
making an impact that goes well beyond the years we’re living.
For me and for the businesses that I’m a part of, for Business Owners Benefits
Association, we always incorporate social change into our mission. If it’s worth
doing, if it’s worth putting your time and effort into, and if you’re passionate about
it, then it’s going to make a difference in your community. So I believe that
making a positive social change is always important and always worthwhile in
each and every business that I am a part of.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Business Strategy and Innovation: Effecting Positive Social
Change
Additional Content Attribution
FOOTAGE:
BenEricPromotion
Photo used by permission of Dr. Eric Barton.
Eric_in_Dubai
Photo used by permission of Dr. Eric Barton. Retrieved from
EricPinningOnPromotion
Photo used by permission of Dr. Eric Barton.
100_0538
Photo used by permission of Dr. Eric Barton.
IMG_1603
Photo used by permission of Dr. Eric Barton. Retrieved from
www.govanquish.com
BOBA Logo_193 PMI_RGB_300.dpi
Photo used by permission of Dr. Eric Barton. Retrieved from www.whyboba.com
100_0887
Photo used by permission of Dr. Eric Barton. Retrieved from
© 2016 Laureate Education, Inc.
3
Business Strategy and Innovation: Effecting Positive Social Change
Eric at Vanquish office (2)
Photo used by permission of Dr. Eric Barton. Retrieved from
www.govanquish.com
Eric at Vanquish office
Photo used by permission of Dr. Eric Barton. Retrieved from
www.govanquish.com
DSC_0244
Photo used by permission of Dr. Eric Barton. Retrieved from www.whyboba.com
© 2016 Laureate Education, Inc.
4
Purchase answer to see full
attachment
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