Required Media
Laureate Education (Producer). (2016). Business strategy and innovation: Effecting positive social change [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 7 minutes.

Optional Resources
Dyer, J., Godfrey, P., Jensen, R., & Bryce, D. (2018). Strategic management: Concepts and cases (2nd ed.) Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

Case 18: Safe Water Network: Mastering the Model at Dzemeni (pp. C-189-C-201
Kane, G. C., Palmer, D., Phillips, A. N., & Kiron, D. (2014). Finding the value of social business. Retrieved from http://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/finding-the-value-in-social-business/

Mycoskie, B. (2016). The founder of TOMS on reimagining the companys mission. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2016/01/the-founder-of-toms-on-reimagining-the-companys-mission

Servaes, H., & Tamayo, A. (2013). The impact of corporate social responsibility on firm value: The role of customer awareness. Management Science, 59(5), 10451061. Retrieved from http://faculty.london.edu/hservaes/ms2013.pdf

Discussion: Strategic Impact of Positive Social Change Initiatives

Not all initiatives for promoting positive social change are successful, but these represent an opportunity to not only learn from one specific context, but also to shed light on a wider understanding of strategic planning. When larger corporations such as Starbucks have an initiative that fails, they can treat it like a learning opportunity for both the next initiative and their overall business strategies. Smaller companies, on the other hand, may be impacted in a more significant way.

To prepare for this Discussion, review the video case study featuring Walden alumnus Eric Barton and his organization, Business Owners Benefits Association (BOBA), and consider the potential benefits and risks of incorporating a social change mission into business strategy. Be sure to utilize the Walden Library to identify scholarly examples of both successful and unsuccessful instances of social change integration.

By Day 3
Post an analysis of the risks and benefits of integrating a positive social change mission into organizational strategic planning. Your analysis should include the following:

What are the benefits for organizations considering integrating positive social change into their business strategy?
What are the potential risks for organizations considering integrating business strategies with an emphasis on positive social change?
Provide a real-world example of an organization that experienced an unsuccessful implementation of a positive social change initiative. As an independent scholar and global change agent, explain what the organization might have done differently, including planning or executing strategies to improve marketplace or cultural impacts.
Be sure to support your work with a minimum of two specific citations from this weeks Learning Resources and at least one additional scholarly source.

Refer to the Week 6 Discussion Rubric for specific grading elements and criteria. Your Instructor will use this rubric to assess your work.

Read a selection of your colleagues postings.

By Day 5
Respond to at least two of your colleagues postings in one or more of the following ways:

Compare your initial posting with that of your colleague, including insights on the advantages or disadvantages of integrating positive social change missions into business strategy.
In what ways do you agree or disagree with your colleague on the impacts of a positive social change initiative on a business, and how can this enhance or expand on your main post?
Provide a suggestion for an additional example of successful or unsuccessful social change integration into a business strategy to better support your colleagues posting, including a rationale for your suggestion.
Please note that, for each response, you must include a minimum of one appropriately cited scholarly reference.

Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what insights you gained as a result of reading the comments your colleagues made.