Corporate Social Responsibility | Operations and Project Management in Today's Competitive Environment

As the demand for any product grows, a corporate powerhouse with efficient standardized processes seems to rise with it. Yoga, which began as an art for the spiritual or inward looking, has been no exception. Look at these numbers that show the growth of yoga in recent years (reported by Emily Ritter of ChannelSignal.com early this year).

CorePower Yoga has capitalized on this growing trend. They have “corporatized” what was initially more of an art so people can accomplish a full workout in one yoga session. All classes include an abdominal workout section, many are heated so you can break a sweat, there are class options with weights, etc. The idea is you can do a 1-hour yoga workout that will cover cardio, strengthening, flexibility and finding your inner chi.

I have dabbled with yoga throughout the last few years to gain an advantage as a basketball player. The typical workouts basketball teams do are lifting, running and basketball practice, all mostly restricting flexibility. Yoga is unique in it focuses on increasing this very valuable flexibility. CorePower also adds weights and an abdominal section to many classes – even more benefits for an athlete like myself. Great, right? I wasn’t a fan.

The best yoga class session I ever had was one-on-one session in the heart of my workday with a really weird dude, Chad. I walked into what was supposed to be a group class session at Cat Financial to see I was the only employee who showed up. We began with a few simple poses so Chad could assess my flexibility and strength. What followed was a plethora of poses tailored specifically for me. Chad encouraged me to try new things or stay where I was based on how I feel. He talked me through the origins and purposes of different parts of the practice. There was no music and no heat like CorePower. Chad didn’t care if I stayed on my mat or followed exactly what he was saying. By the end of the session, I was flowing through my own combination of poses focusing inward. When I went back to work I felt refreshed, not just physically, but mentally too. Yoga with Chad was personalized, creative, an art, and the best yoga experience I’ve had.

CorePower Yoga created efficient standard operations to allow the optimal large-scale production, and this is usually viewed as a positive, but maybe it’s not always better. I learned through yoga that variability and personalization, even if inefficient on a large scale, could be preferred. Chad only had one student in his class because most people seeking out yoga will be led to a CorePower, not a freelance instructor. Maybe they would be better off if there was not a corporate in the way of them finding an artist.

My questions: Is large-scale operational efficiency brought by corporate powerhouses always a benefit to society? If not, where are other markets you see it as a disadvantage?

There are questions that people ask about the route a company should take in order to be successful. The main question is, what does it mean to be successful? Is it always about the money? Configuring a company’s operations of benefiting the community may bring out the answer.

Corporate Social Responsibility has become a huge impact on the image companies portray. One way to look at this would be future investments. I’m not only talking about assets we may gain, but also maintaining a healthy environment we all wish to live in. There are so many products and services that emit toxic chemicals that damage the planet we live in. Now if you don’t support or care about the health of our planet, I’m sure you care about the reputation of the company you work for. In today’s society, consumers prefer to purchase green products and services over others. From my own experience, when I saw two identical products where one promoted “going green”, you can bet I chose the product that supports the health of our environment. Choosing the “going green” route will label your company in the ecofriendly category that will support its marketing campaign.

Addition to helping our planet, Corporate Social Responsibility improves businesses’ public relations. As mentioned, consumers prefer products that do not harm our environment. Representing an ecofriendly company can also have an opportunity to connect with potential suppliers. Going green includes conserving energy and using recycled products. These acts will reduce costs of businesses and attract suppliers. Think yourself as a supplier. Would you rather partner with a business with low costs and responsible actions, or one that does not have these attributes? I don’t think I need a response.

Let’s get into the most desirable component that derives from Corporate Social Responsibility. Profit. To put it out there, thousands of businesses are profitable who aren’t socially responsible. They may even be more profitable than businesses that are socially responsible. However, looking at a long-term perspective, businesses that are socially responsible are more likely to stay profitable. There are numerous options of cost savings such as recycling and reducing energy consumption. Maintaining an appropriate level of social responsibility will look more appealing to the community, allowing businesses to expand.

Benefiting both the consumer and the supplier will result in a successful company and a happier community. I personally took a class on Corporate Social Responsibility where I learned how much of an impact this trait could do for a business. The best method for a business to succeed and maximize their revenue is to benefit the community and establish a reputation. Taking these steps will open new opportunities and accomplish the desired goals. With this in mind, LET’S GO GREEN!

Do you believe that Corporate Social Responsibility can determine how well a business will operate?

Other than “going green” what other ways do you believe Corporate Social Responsibility can be portrayed?

What do you think is the most important aspect of Corporate Social Responsibility? Is it the reputation of a business or actually improving our environment?

Sources:

http://www.businessrevieweurope.eu/leadership/164/Feature:-The-Evolution-of-Corporate-Social-Responsibility

http://smallbusiness.chron.com/benefits-going-green-business-3225.html