“If the United Nations was fully funded why would we need the Arc or social enterprise?”

The power of the Arc and social enterprise is more than just providing money to impoverished communities, they provide opportunity and education. United Nations, UN, and social enterprise hold different values and goals. Although, both pledges a positive impact to underdeveloped communities, the result of UN being fully funded, will not deter nor alter social enterprise influence.

UN is a massive international peace keeper. Their job ranges from humanitarian to economic, political, social, and environmental issues. Undertaking so many responsibilities and making so many decisions, UN must categorize each issue whether they are important and/or urgent. As a result, UN will be dismissing important details and growth of the country. However, this is when Arc and social enterprise take action.

Social enterprises are to initiate positive changes within a community. They pay attention to details and needs of the community. In this article I learned that to really initiate a change, we cannot just scrape the surface (provide funds) but have to dig deep for the solution (provide opportunities). Arc enterprise is praised for providing basic knowledge of how to manage funds, staffs, and ideas to Rwanda, as “this is the starting point – tapping into the brain of the entrepreneur to tap into the market of East Africa.” The business fundamentals that is bestowed to the community members, allows them to effectively apply them into their own businesses.

UN has the ability to help out underdeveloped countries during urgent and serious circumstances, but Arc and social enterprise have the ability to educate and hone these communities for a better future.

Sauder School of Business Arc Initiative Rwanda team, http://www.sauder.ubc.ca/News/2014/BCom_student_brings_Arc_Initiative_knowledge_exchange_home_to_Rwanda

Works cited:

Skoll, Jeff. “What Is Social Entrepreneurship?” Skoll World Forum. Skoll Foundations. Web. <http://skollworldforum.org/about/what-is-social-entrepreneurship/>.

“United Nations.” United Nations. United Nations. Web. <http://www.un.org/en/>.

“Upward Arc.” UBC News. Public Affairs, 30 June 2014. Web. <http://news.ubc.ca/2014/06/30/upward-arc/>.

Everyone has innovative ideas; it’s just the uncertainty of whether the world is ready to accept the idea. Dragon’s Den, a reality T.V series, displays many great entrepreneurs and innovators but only a number of them wins the judges investment. Does that mean they are an awful innovator?

Innovation is like…, http://thinksmart.typepad.com/headsup_on_organizational/cartoon5.jpg

When I encounter ­Adam Sibbald’s blog post where he discusses major corporations, like Google and Apple, buying off ideas or products, instead of creating and developing their own ideas. It got me thinking whether this solution is the best for these invisible creators.

S2 Water Purifier, https://www.behance.net/gallery/S2-Water-Purifier/10142817

As, I browse through the web, I staggered upon “4 Innovative Products You’ll want in 2014” site. Products shown there indicate how many people support these innovators through funding. What makes it unique is that these creators feel more accomplished than selling their creation to major corporations and companies, as they still have ownership of their products and their products are maintained and supported by their customers. Of course, innovators and entrepreneurs’ values vary from group to group, where one might want to establish a disruptive innovation and change the world, but for this specific group they are satisfied with the result.

Tips I learned to be a good innovator:

1. Look to the future: market trends, customer needs
2. Take risks: do not get discourage by failures
3. Hold passion: don’t make it feel like it’s mere work

Thus, whether creators sell their creations or keep their creations, the products’ worth and value depends on the creators.

Works Cited:

Chianis, Alexia. “4 Innovative Products You’ll Want in 2014.” Business Bee. Business Bee, 1 Jan. 2014. Web. <http://www.businessbee.com/resources/news/entrepreneurship-buzz/4-innovative-products-youll-want-2014/>.

Cohn, Chuck. “How To Stay Innovative In Your Industry.” Forbes. Forbes, 11 Oct. 2014. Web. <http://www.forbes.com/sites/chuckcohn/2014/11/10/how-to-stay-innovative-in-your-industry/>.

What’s the best thing in starting a business? To make money? To obtain self-satisfaction? Or to make the world a better place? Well, Thirlwell, Co-founder of UK chocolate shop chain Hotel Chocolat, made all three happen.

Types of Organizational Culture http://2012books.lardbucket.org/books/management-principles-v1.0/s12-02-measuring-organizational-cultu.html

Although, Thirlwell’s company has grown into a multi-million pound empire, his love and passion in his chocolate business has not faded, yet instead stronger. His goal is to educate and influence his customers the value of chocolate.

Angus Thirlwel inside his Hotel Chocolat http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/article-2156359/Interview-Hotel-Chocolat-founder-Angus-Thirlwell.html

With a CEO like Thirlwell, the organizational culture: people and team oriented business, screams a working environment where employees and executives hold the same value, belief and interest as Thirlwell. Thus, their objective is to develop exceptional customer relationship, similar to the Zappos Case. It is true how human resource and organizational culture practices are costly when trying to achieve better customer relationship, since it took Thirlwell 5 years for his dark chocolate to become profitable. At the same time, it demonstrates how risky this disposition is, as it clarifies the difficulty of calculating the successful return of a long term process.

Read article here:

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-29689340

Works Cited:

Hope, Katie. “The Man Who Built the Hotel Chocolat Empire.” BBC News. BBC News, 26 Oct. 2014. Web. <http://www.bbc.com/news/business-29689340>.

“Measuring Organizational Culture.” Lardbucket. Lardbucket. Web. <http://2012books.lardbucket.org/books/management-principles-v1.0/s12-02-measuring-organizational-cultu.html>.

http://www.rivercorp.ca/economic-development/rivercorp-economic-development-board-directors

After discussing in class the value and significance of employers pushing forth employee engagement, where they are to keep employees motivated and pleased in the workforce. I stumbled upon Jacob Shriar’s blog on “Passion at work is more important than engagement,” where he discusses about the difference between engagement and passion. He suggests that engagement with workers results in a source of happiness: happiness at work environment, happiness with employers, and happiness with coworkers. However, he claims that passion goes beyond that. If an employee holds passion in the workforce, they will not only feel happiness, but accomplishment.

http://www.riversoftware.com/helpful-resources/blog/item/299-the-millennial-quest-for-passion-meaning-at-work-your-new-competitive-advantage

I absolutely agree with Shriar’s stance. While, employers are trying to establish better relationship with their employee, such as providing working benefits as an incentive for workers to work harder, the employees must also hold its share of dedication to the workforce. Since, passion is an emotion where workers can devote themselves to the workforce even without a sort of reward. I understand how hard it is for employers to bring out their employees’ inner passion, because even for me I still haven’t figured out what I am most passionate for. Thus, I am so glad to discover that Shriar has listed tips to assist employers in finding their employees’ inner passion.

The following are the ones I find most useful:

1. Encourage workers to work cross-functionally
2. Encourage workers to network with people in their industry
3. Encourage workers to engage with customers
4. Enabling workers to make a bigger impact, through things like collaboration tools both inside and outside the company
5. Create an employee survey to find out how passionate the workers are
6. Develop specific questions to ask during the next recruitment to find out how passionate the individual is
   1. What is the market/industry that you want to impact in the next 5-10 years?
   2. How will this job help you achieve that goal?

Works Cited

Shriar, Jacob. “Passion At Work Is More Important Than Engagement.” Office Vibe. Office Vibe, 24 Oct. 2014. Web. <http://www.officevibe.com/blog/passion-work-important-engagement>.

After a successful launch of Alibaba, also known as a disruptive innovation, that has out-ran both Amazon and E-Bay in the online-shopping sphere, it has also completely altered China’s perception of purchasing goods. As a result, Stephen Harper flies to China to meet with Jack Ma, CEO of Alibaba, and China’s officials to establish better business relationship between the two.

Stephen Harper and Jack Ma http://www.bradfordtimes.ca/2014/11/07/few-blemishes-in-stephen-harpers-job-creation-record

What makes it significant is that Harper does not only seize the opportunity of China’s fast growing economy, but he continues to push for more trades and create even more opportunities toward Canada’s best interest. This method is extremely beneficial in many business settings, like public relation and entrepreneurship. In the beginning of the term, opportunities in the SWOT analysis were to make use and grasp on to arising opportunities. However, the most valuable memo is to not only grasp on to opportunities but establish their own. As this is how a company or Canada’s economy in Harper’s perspective, grow even stronger.

Thus, Canada will now open trade offices in Hangzhou and three other cities in 2014, where there will be 15 regional offices more than any other countries.

Read article here:

http://business.financialpost.com/2014/11/07/stephen-harper-courts-alibabas-jack-ma-opens-4-trades-office-in-visit-to-china-that-so-far-is-all-business/

Works Cited:

Fisher, Matthew. “Stephen Harper Courts Alibaba’s Jack Ma, Opens 4 Trades Office in Visit to China That so Far Is All Business.” Financial Post. Postmedia News, 7 Nov. 2014. Web. <http://business.financialpost.com/2014/11/07/stephen-harper-courts-alibabas-jack-ma-opens-4-trades-office-in-visit-to-china-that-so-far-is-all-business/>.

Kirby, Bill, and Warren McFarlan. “The Alibaba Effect.” Forbes. Forbes, 13 May 2014. Web. <http://www.forbes.com/sites/hbsworkingknowledge/2014/05/13/the-alibaba-effect/>.

When customers are willing to promote a company, the company has reached a notable status: popularity.

I definitely agree with Winnie Woo’s blog post, where she discusses about Whole foods being able to effectively differentiate themselves from other organic grocery stores by projecting store values amongst their customers. Whereas, their store value consists of company sustainability: natural, organic, GMO free and company shared values: redefining productivity in value chain, such as everyone wants to live a healthier life. Thus, it is no surprise why the best promoters and marketers are their customers. In addition, I would like to note that a local company in Vancouver has also managed to effectively dominate the market all thanks to their customers and their use of social media: Earnest Ice Cream.

Earnest Ice Cream packaging http://www.savvymom.ca/index.php/guides/7-spots-for-frozen-treats-in-vancouver/13

Earnest Ice Cream managed to become one of the hot cold favorites in the ice cream business and it’s not just because of their sustainable use of natural ingredients. Earnest Ice Cream was able to manipulate and take control of the social media trends, as social media trends can sway and alter customers’ thoughts on a product (in other words, a very essential marketing tool). As, I go on Instagram, I can see my friends posting pictures of their Earnest Ice Cream and captioning it as “I hope it lives up to the hype” or “I finally get the chance to try this.” Overall, Earnest Ice Cream is a very photogenic product.

As a result, what really drives Earnest Ice Cream to success is their use of packaging: mason jars and paper banners. Although, their packaging is very minimalistic and simplistic, it is currently very “in” in the social media trend right now, due to its vintage appearance. Hence, with this simple appearance they have successfully differentiated themselves from other ice cream brands, from boring white plastic container to a trendy reusable mason jar.

Read article of Earnest Ice Cream using its popularity to advocate democracy:

http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2014/11/feed-democracy-campaign-menu-earnest-ice-cream/