The concept of shared value is very important in the business industry. It is the operating of practices and policies that enhance the competitiveness in a company, while providing social and economic conditions within the communities it operates. In order for a company to excel and create a positive impact on society while simultaneously delivering a product that is needed/wanted by consumers, shared value becomes a must.

My classmate, Jianglin wrote about Starbucks, and how the company has become the leader in the coffee industry. The blog discusses how Starbucks has established a loyal relationship with its customers, and I believe that they’ve done this partly through shared value. The article Shared Value and Partnerships, recognizes Starbucks with it’s partnership with the Opportunity Finance Network, where Starbucks donated 5 million dollars to launch “Create Jobs for USA program” and asks it’s customers to donate when purchasing one of their products. Starbucks also achieves shared value through their initiative to recycle all customer cups by 2015.  This is a very important contribution that the company does which shoes costumers their contribution to the environment and sustainability.

Starbucks’ incentive of creating shared value not only contributes to society in a positive way but these contributions attract customers to purchase their product. People want to contribute to organizations and causes that impact society, and Starbucks allows them to this while they’re purchasing their product.

GoPro is a perfect example of an entrepreneur, Nick Woodman who found his passion and conquered his dream. Taking $265,000 and turning it into a business worth over a billion dollars is truly remarkable. Innovation is the backbone to this business, taking a regular hand held camera and attaching it to a strap was the start to this venture and innovation is what has carried it along.

12 years ago, GoPro didn’t even exist and now you can’t watch an extreme sport without seeing the name GoPro. Many businesses really focus on marketing, but GoPro’s approach was a little different. Yes they marketed and promoted the product, but it was the product itself that took it to the next level in the market. During the 2008 recession GoPro brought in 8 million dollars, this is because people wanted and frankly needed this product. Today GoPro promotes itself, and that’s the difference between a good and great product.

Creativity and following your passion is the drive behind an entrepreneur. Solving people’s needs and wants through creating a product is what all entrepreneurs strive for, but only the passionate ones succeed.  People use this product because it not only captures the moment and excitement in one’s life but it captures it with amazing quality.  GroPro’s are used in many world sporting events, such as the world championship for the Ironman.  As an athlete myself, I can appreciate what GoPro offers and understand the thrill of watching yourself competing in  your own sport in action at a high quality. Creating a business that contributes to society in a positive and innovative way is rare to come by but that is exactly what Nick Woodman has done.

Germany has transformed into a state that focuses and strives for sustainability. Its constant solar and wind production has become globally recognized and will continue to impact other parts of the world. In Germany solar panels supply 7 percent of power and wind turbines provide 10 percent. Germany is almost at 30 percent for receiving their energy through renewable energy resources and this has caused a ripple effect to the rest of the world. Slowly Canada has started to catch on to this remarkable economic difference and has increased its turbine and solar panel production. Just off the shores of Kingston Ontario, is an Island, Wolfe Island where 86 turbines were built up in 2009. These turbines combined create enough energy to power 75, 000 average homes. This is not only a huge step to renewable energy but it also has positive effects on the landowners where the turbines were built, because they are given monthly payments. Overall this project has positively impacted the environment and the Island’s income. Increase of tourists was quite substantial after the production of the turbines and small businesses were benefitting.

Wolfe Island Wind Farm  (By Kristina Walker)

Threats to Businesses:

As renewable energy continues to increase across the nation, other electricity generating companies will start to be compromised. In North America, renewable energy isn’t a big enough market right not to cause serious damages to other companies but could potentially lead to future economic problems in the future.

Wolfe Island Wind Farm (By Kristina Walker)

The Tsilhqot’in are a First Nations people of the Athabaskan-speaking ethnolinguistic group that live in British Columbia. The article, “To the Tsilhqot’in, with Gloves,” talks about the First Nation Peoples struggles that they face with regarding their preserved land. When companies want to overtake First Nations land I think an important issue to think about is ethics. Is it ethically correct when an oil company fights to overtake and destroy the Tsilhqot’s land? Supreme Court Justice Beverley McLachlin supports the First Nations and is the reason why their land is maintaining untouched.

Tsilhpot’in Nation

First Nation members have come together and banded the effort to conserve the land by making a large portion of it as a tribal park.  This restricts companies from extracting resources, which could lead to huge setbacks for many mining companies and restrict overall economic growth of the mining industry in British Columbia.

The Article “The First Nation chiefs to stage Site showdown,” discusses how BC wants to construct and operate a dam and 1,100 megawatt hydroelectric generating station on the Peace River in northeastern British Columbia. The Tsilhqot’in people have stated that they are interested in supporting smaller projects within the areas of wind, solar and geothermal power. I think that this is a very reasonable statement and very environmentally efficient.  If BC hydro were to build this dam, it will cause valley flooding, which would impair their rights to fish, hunt and use the area for ceremonial purposes. These issues that arise with big companies wanting to take over and destroy the First Nations peoples habitat need to be ethically revised.

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/First+Nation+chiefs+stage+Site+showdown/10215965/story.html