LEAD 3030 BLOG REFLECTION ASSINGMNET

1. Do you agree that businesses should prioritize social and ecological well-being over profit maximization? Why or why not? I believe that a business should prioritize social and ecological well being, but this can't be done if the business is not profitable. The SET model explains that a business should generate enough profit to remain sustainable while focusing on long-term well being. It is unrealistic for a company to completely ignore profit but the SET model shows that prioritizing profit over everything else leads to long-term damage. So, I think that a business that can find a healthy balance between sustainability and profit will be successful in the long run. 2. What outcomes might emerge if businesses widely adopted the SET model? I think the SET model was widely adopted we could see significant positive changes in society as well as within these businesses. Employee well being would be a focus so they would enjoy better working conditions and gain a sense of fulfi...

1. Do you think the primary purpose of business should be maximizing shareholder profit, or creating value for multiple stakeholders? Explain your reasoning. I firmly believe that businesses should seek to create value for multiple stakeholders, not just maximize profits. The reading explains that businesses operate within a broader social and ecological systems. This means that business decisions impact employees, communities, and the environment. By focusing solely on maximizing profit businesses tend ignore the broader impacts of their operations. Profit is still important as it ensures that the company is viable and can continue its operations however it shouldn't be the only factor that is considered. 2. Do you think purpose-led business is becoming a necessity rather than a choice? Why or why not? This reading shows us that ESG reporting, government regulations, and changing consumer expectations are pushing businesses to consider their social and environmental impact. S...

  1. Which of the two models—conventional or sustainable—best reflects the type of organization you would want to work for? Explain why.   As a supply chain major that wants to preserve the Earth as much as I can for the future generations, I would prefer to work for a sustainable organization. A sustainable business focuses on social and ecological wellbeing rather than just profits which is something that resonates with my values. With the increase in global supply chains and the greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, I feel that I have to contribute to sustainability and it would be much easier to do it from within a company that already has these values. Working for a company that contributes positively to society would be more fulfilling to me. 2. Choose one business function. How might it operate differently in a sustainable business? Marketing would be the most visible change in a sustainable business. For example, in the fashion industry wher...

1. Think about where you currently live, study, or grew up. After learning that these places are located on treaty land, how does this change—or not change—your understanding of your relationship to that place? One of the very first things I learned once I arrived in Winnipeg was that I live and study on Treaty 1 territory. Before this reading, I never paid much attention as to what that actually meant however now there has been a significant change on how I understand my relationship to the place around me. I always thought that land was simple a physical space but this reading showed me that treaties are living agreements that still shape relationships to this day. Now, I don't see myself as person that just occupies land but as someone that is part of a larger relationship of responsibility and respect. I'm more aware that many of the opportunities I benefit from exists within a system that has disadvantaged Indigenous communities. This shift in perspective and better unders...

 1. Think about a product you purchased this week. What social or environmental costs might be externalized in its production? Who likely bears those costs — geographically and across generations? I recently purchases a Big Mac meal from McDonalds on my way to school as it was convenient and affordable. This reading made it quite clear that although it was affordable there is much higher "true" cost that I did not pay. In the case of the Big Mac meal, externalized costs can be seen from sourcing ingredients to putting the burger together. Greenhouse emissions from the cattle farms and water pollution from industrial farming are two main costs that can be identified. Apart from the environmental impacts, there are some social costs as well. For example, many workers are overworked and underpaid in the fast-food industry to keep prices low and margins high. According to the reading, these costs don't just disappear, instead they are shifted onto society, ecosystems, and fut...