Starbucks Mission: Social Responsibility
For the first assignment, please read Case 2, "Starbucks ' Mission: Social Responsibility and Brand Strength" on pages 319-326. Answer the questions at the end of the case, plus this question: In what other ways does this case relate to the concepts that we have learned in the chapters so far?
1. Why do you think Starbucks has been so concerned with social responsibility in its overall corporate strategy?
Starbuck is concerned about its social responsibility because it is a very highly visible part of the company’s ethical practices. As the book stated, ethical practices and issues that are highly visible will have great influences on how the public perceives the company and their products or services. This perception is the deciding factor for consumers to either do business with the company or not. Since Starbucks is a people business, it has to stress the importance of portraying the company in the right light for people to continue to purchase their services and products. People/consumers value social responsibility because it makes them feel that the company isn’t just after their money and actually cares about the wants and needs of the people as well as the environment. Starbucks giving back to the people for causes like HIV and AIDs and changing the way that they grow coffee are a few things that allow for the people to perceive the company an ethical business. By making this concern part of the overall company’s strategy, it instills it in every employee to make decisions that will follow the strategy and promote continuing ethical practices.
2. Is Starbucks unique in being able to provide a high level of benefits to its employees?
From an ethical culture viewpoint, Starbucks is a unique company in being able to provide its employees a high level of benefits. It is a company that is concerned about social responsibility and extends that concern not to just people outside of the company but also within by providing its employees with a
1. Why do you think Starbucks has been so concerned with social responsibility in its overall corporate strategy?
Starbuck is concerned about its social responsibility because it is a very highly visible part of the company’s ethical practices. As the book stated, ethical practices and issues that are highly visible will have great influences on how the public perceives the company and their products or services. This perception is the deciding factor for consumers to either do business with the company or not. Since Starbucks is a people business, it has to stress the importance of portraying the company in the right light for people to continue to purchase their services and products. People/consumers value social responsibility because it makes them feel that the company isn’t just after their money and actually cares about the wants and needs of the people as well as the environment. Starbucks giving back to the people for causes like HIV and AIDs and changing the way that they grow coffee are a few things that allow for the people to perceive the company an ethical business. By making this concern part of the overall company’s strategy, it instills it in every employee to make decisions that will follow the strategy and promote continuing ethical practices.
2. Is Starbucks unique in being able to provide a high level of benefits to its employees?
From an ethical culture viewpoint, Starbucks is a unique company in being able to provide its employees a high level of benefits. It is a company that is concerned about social responsibility and extends that concern not to just people outside of the company but also within by providing its employees with a