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

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/small-business/sb-growth/day-to-day/can-fair-trade-boutique-expand-without-alienating-customers/article4405520/

Picture link: http://www.fabjob.com/socialentrepreneur.asp

The term social entrepreneur refers to an individual or organization that applies business strategies in order to achieve the goal of benefiting the society. According to the article “What is Social Entrepreneurship?”, social entrepreneurs are usually ambitious, mission driven, strategic, resourceful and results oriented.

Getting back to the question, in my own opinion, social entrepreneurs not only seek for making a profit, but their strategic decisions often aim to increase community’s standard of living. The United Nation may be fully funded, but it does not have the ability to improve everyone’s quality of life. Therefore, social and Arc entrepreneurs are needed. As the pre-reading article “Can fair trade boutique expand without alienating customers?” mentions, Ms. Tesfaye and Mrs. Kassahun are able to benefit their community by not only employ local individuals but also offering them with financial support through two weeks of training. This is a clear result of the Arc Initiative’ involvement, where they would not have been able to do so without the help form social entrepreneurs.

In my point of view, social entrepreneurs and Arc Initiative have played an important role in benefiting the society and spreading awareness. The United Nations would be fully funded but it is not able to be involved in every country’s community problem. Therefore, social entrepreneurship and programs like the Arc Initiative should be encouraged by everyone.

Article link: http://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet/basics/google6.htm

Picture link: https://blog.kissmetrics.com/googles-culture-of-success/

Google, one of the world’s top Internet technology companies that employs more than 19,000 people all around the world, provides its employees with a unique working environment. Its headquarter offers a list of special amenities for employees such as exercise rooms, café stations with free food and games rooms with video games. In my opinion, this relaxed office environment is provided due to Google’s organizational culture, and it is one of the main reason for Google to maintain its leading position.

Unlike other traditional companies, Google has a flexible and innovative business culture. Its unique working environment is created for a reason. As working in Google’s headquarter, employees are able to manage their own time schedule, and they can sit in the café, talking to each other while eating free food. Thus, Google’s has created a stress free environment, where its employees are able to truly enjoy working. By doing this way, Google’s employees are offered with time to think and exchange creative ideas, leading to a higher probability in creating new innovations.

As a high technological company, Google has to be innovative continuously in order to keep its market position. Its corporate culture truly helps to fulfill the need of being creative. Therefore, in my point of view, Google’s success proves that organizational culture sometimes truly affects a company’s market competitiveness.

Blog link: http://www.sweetleafteablog.com/how-green-tea-can-help-you-lose-weight/

Picture link: http://www.sweetleafteablog.com/how-green-tea-can-help-you-lose-weight/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweet_Leaf_Tea_Company#mediaviewer/File:SweetLeafTeaCompany.png

The blog “How Green Tea Can Help You Lose Weight” seems to be a normal educational blog post. However, it is written by the Sweet Leaf Tea, which is a company that sells specialty teas. The blog is posted on the Sweet Leaf Tea official blog website, where none of the posts are directly linked to the company’s product. However, in my point of view, the company is actually promoting its product indirectly.

The blog itself gives a brief scientific explanation of how drinking green tea can help people losing weight such as it helps to mobilized fat from fat cells etc. I believe it is a smart way to attract potential consumers as people with the habit of drinking tea often prefer a healthy diet. Therefore, the topic truly attracts people’s eye. Also, it is written in the format of a blog, which it indirectly brings a less formal, and more human touch to the brand.

Posting blogs with supporting facts that positively influence the company’s product is a creative way of indirectly promoting both the brand and company. Comparing to the traditional advertisements, it has a relatively low cost and it can also be more convincing as it has no direct connections with any of the company’s product. In my opinion, creative thinking like this one should be encouraged.

Article link: http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/jan/31/tata-nano-safety-crash-test-results

Picture link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tata_Nano#mediaviewer/File:Tata_Nano_im_Verkehrszentrum_des_Deutschen_Museums.JPG

The article mentions that the Tata Nano was launched in 2009 with a price of $2000 in India, and Tata expected to expand this product to European and North American countries. However, for the Ncap test, “Tata Nano received a zero-star adult protection rating and failed to meet even the most basic UN safety requirements”. In my point of view, it would almost be impossible for the Nano to achieve a qualified safety requirement.

The Tata Nano is known as the world’s cheapest car. It is targeting the group of consumers in India whom do not have the ability to afford a normal automobile. In order to meet this customer segment, the price for the model has to be lower than the existing cheapest car on the market. Therefore, the main design and materials used for the model is to lower the manufacturing the cost as much as possible. Hence, Nano’s low selling price is based on the sacrifice of both comfort and safety.

Tata Nano is able to be sold in India due to a low safety standard, however, European and North American countries often have a higher safety requirement for automobiles. Thereby, Nano has to achieve a higher rating in the Ncap test in order to expand to these markets. But to do so, the manufacturing cost will has to be increased and the model may even need to be redesigned. In my opinion, Tata would not be willing to do so as it will increase the selling price and the model may no longer be competitive against other models. It would be impossible for the Nano to meet the requirement while still maintaining the lowest price.

Blog link: https://connect.ubc.ca/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_45359_1%26url%3D

Picture link: http://www.redorbit.com/media/uploads/2013/09/3dprinter.jpg

According to Yihan’s blog, the development of 3-D printer providess young entrepreneurs and businesses the opportunity to compete with the market leaders. In my point of view, this new innovation brings both pros and cons.

In my opinion, 3-D printer technology and market has a great growing potential where in the future, small businesses and individuals would be able to afford. Thus, with 3-D printers, small businesses would be able to develop and produce products within a lower cost, preventing them from early stage cash liquidity problem, and therefore, gain a higher opportunity to survive and compete with the market leaders. When this happens, markets will be more competitive and thereby, more creative innovations would be developed under the pressure, leading world’s technology to the next level faster.

However, 3-D printers are great substitutes for factory workers, where firms may lay off employees and replace the old assembling line to save costs. Therefore, there will be less job opportunities provided, and many people will lose their jobs causing an increase in unemployment rate. This would be a serious social problem that has the potential of causing chaos in the society.

Overall, 3-D printer is a great innovation that brings benefits to the society. But in the main time it also has the potential to harm the existing market system. Thereby, in my own opinion, both advantages and disadvantages it would create should both be under consideration.