Cindy (Jia Xin) Li's Blog

In all honesty, I have next to zero knowledge on what social enterprise is before taking COMM 101. I thought social enterprises are firms that engage in ethical practices in order to benefit society. In a way, my previous definition was true as I learned that social enterprises are firms that enhance social and environmental factors while making commercial gains.

I was most intrigued by the firm, Entonces Yo Hago Dibujitos, who makes jewelry out of recycled materials that I usually would throw in the trash can without much thought. However, I was surprised that Entonces Yo hago Dibujitos makes their jewelry so unique that it is fashionable to wear them. With such low costs of production, I feel like I can even customize those bottle cap rings myself, while protecting the environment. Ecocalzer also struck me as such an impressive idea due to the fact that seemingly weak materials such as natural fibre can be used to make shoes with various designs. However, Ecocalizer does not just attempt to sustain the environment, it also tries to create a positive social impact through employing “vulnerable, rural women”. Thus, I realized that the innovations these two companies provide do not follow traditional, environmentally-friendly products, where appeal is sacrificed for the use of sustainable materials. Rather, the jewelry and the shoes will be attractive for even teens as they are “cool” to wear.

Overall, social enterprise seems to give the best of both worlds, both for the producer and for the environment in which it operates.

https://blogs.ubc.ca/jameslau/2014/11/09/everyone-wants-to-work-for-google/
Why is Google so successful? The answer lies not in the idea but in the number of employees who are motivated to work for that idea each day. According to James Lau’s post, Google’s development of a united workforce through providing benefits and appealing working environments is the key to the company’s success.



I strongly agree with James Lau’s views on the corporate culture that thrives within Google, a factor that stimulates loyalty, enhances reputation, and increases productivity. In reading James’ analysis, I realized that Google cultivates a suitable working environment for everyone, from the mothers of young children to newly graduated students. As a result, Google is able to attract the best of minds in the engineering, business, arts, and many other fields. Therefore, similar to James, I agree that the expenditures attached to providing healthcare, free food, and other benefits is recouped by the immense benefits that are engendered.

However, I would also like to note that it is vital for Google to ensure that these perks do not promote slack among its employees. It is still of utmost importance for employees to focus on the vision of the firm instead of on how comfortable their surroundings are. Personally, I believe that pressure is a key motivator in driving employees to their full potential. Thus, if I were the CEO of Google, I may not offer as many benefits as there exists presently merely because from my experiences, people are less inclined to take action when they are in a relaxing environment.

It is true that Google’s attractive working conditions play a major role in their strong workforce and high efficiency, as James asserts. Nevertheless, these benefits should not encourage complacency and encumber innovative ideas from being formed.

https://blogs.ubc.ca/richardwoong/2014/10/02/now-mcdonalds-has-a-black-cheeseburger-in-japan/

Upon reading Richard’s blog on McDonald’s new squid-ink flavored burger, I am stimulated to ponder on how glocalization, the adaption of a product based on the culture and environment in which it is sold, can be a successful point of difference for multinational firms such as McDonald’s. Nevertheless, I find that Richard offers a very limited perspective on how McDonald’s initiative is generating more profits for the company.

Firstly, though McDonald’s is attracting more customers in the region in which it operates through diversifying their menus according to culture, this can be very costly to carry out. It is uncertain as to whether local citizens will prefer the new burger to the traditional one, as it is more likely for people to buy the burger for the mere satisfaction of trying something interesting instead of sticking with the purchase in the long run. Furthermore, it may be difficult for McDonald’s to manage the different menus across all franchises as different suppliers need to be sought out in order to produce what is on the different menus.

I agree with Richard in his assertion that McDonald’s is improving its value propositions for its customers through the new burger. It is important, however, to ensure that the company is not weakening the promotion of its traditional products through localization. For example, McDonald’s in China localize their menus through adding entries such as rice and congee. Nevertheless, the number of sales of these elements is still less than that of traditional burgers mainly because customers can order better rice and congee at an Asian restaurant close by. The majority of customers go to McDonald’s to buy what they believe is not better offered elsewhere.

Therefore, I agree with Richard’s perspective on the benefits reaped by the squid-ink burgers as long as McDonald’s does not attempt to glocalize further through offering cultural foods that it does not specialize in making.