In the unlikely event that the UN was fully funded, there are several reasons why Sauder’s arc program and social enterprise would still be relevant. Assuming small businesses receive sufficient funding from the UN, they would not be able to use it efficiently.  That’s where the Sauder Arc program comes into play. Sauder students, alumni, faculty members, and business professionals offer workshops and mentoring to small business owners in South Africa, Ethiopia, Colombia and Rwanda. Through the advice and business tools Sauder provides, African businesses continue to improve on their business model.
Shega Shero Eatery, one of the recipients of Sauder’s Arc program, was facing problems when rival restaurants had very similar menus.  Through a workshop Sauder hosted, she started selling sweets, which was very successful.  She ended up making more than the average yearly GDP per capita per month.
As to why social entrepreneurship is important, the UN does not have enough sufficient manpower to tackle all of the world’s social problems. Often, social entrepreneurs take on problems that typical businesses do not take because of their low profitability. It is important to have them to take on the many social problems society faces. Although they generate profit, their main goal is to generate social value.

http://skollworldforum.org/about/what-is-social-entrepreneurship/

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/small-business/sb-growth/going-global/in-a-crowded-market-ethiopian-entrepreneur-finds-a-sweet-way-to-stand-out/article17912688/

http://www.sauder.ubc.ca/Global_Reach/ARC_Initiative/Programs

My classmate Cobie Damsel’s blog post about the impact Netflix has on cable companies really opened my eyes. I haven’t been realizing how much more I was watching shows online rather than buying DVDs or on my television.  The low cost of Netflix and its convenience are salient reasons why they are so successful as a disruptive innovator, causing Shaw and Rogers to lose “nearly 200,000 cable subscribers in the past year.”

One of my favorite things about Netflix is the convenience it offers. As mentioned by Cobie, why would anyone spend money and time buying DVDs when Netflix is available anytime for a low cost of $8 a month? Furthermore, to catch an episode of your favourite show, one would have to wait for a certain time for it to play. With Netflix, one can watch it anytime. Established companies such as Shaw and Rogers are quickly losing customers to this fast growing company.
Because of Netflix’s low cost and the convenience it offers, it is preferable by many to watching classic television. Cable television is already losing its relevance, and might face becoming outdated. As I finish writing this, I think I’ll go watch some How I Met Your Mother on Netflix.

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/10/27/cord-cutting-netflix-cable-subscriptions_n_6053474.html?utm_hp_ref=canada-business

As mentioned in my previous post, labor cost is getting increasingly expensive in Canada and America. Many firms are looking to outsource production to Asian countries; China in particular.  However, working in different countries involves working with different cultures. In the blog post by Eden Collinsworth, a business deal she was doing with a Chinese business man resulted in him trying to “purchase” her.
In a world where business is becoming increasingly globalized, mainly due to the low labor costs of foreign countries, a clash of cultures is to be expected.  It is important that businessmen take time to learn and understand the other parties’ culture. What is acceptable in one’s culture could be heavily frowned upon in another; a great example would be the case mentioned in this blog. Although the Chinese business man offended Collinsworth, she handled the situation well by acting as if she was flattered.  If the businessman was more rehearsed in western culture, the situation itself would have probably been avoided.
Nowadays, it is even more important to learn the different cultures of the world. Business is becoming increasingly globalized, and becoming comfortable with people with different cultural backgrounds is an important asset. Sauder does a great job of this by being comprised of 47% international students and allowing students to travel to universities in different countries to study.

Work cited: Collinsworth, Eden. “What Happened After a Man in China Tried to Buy Me.” Linkedin. Linkedin, 8 Nov. 2014. Web.

Picture: Sauder. N.d. Vancouver. Institutional | Sauder School of Business. Web. 08 Nov. 2014.

Shenzhen. N.d. Shenzen.