Case Study 2: Starbucks' Mission

Business Ethics: Case Study 2: Starbucks’ Mission: Social Responsibility and Brand Strength 1. Why do you think Starbucks has been so concerned with social responsibility in its overall corporate strategy? * Starbucks achieved social responsibility by taking steps to follow guidelines, minimize its environmental “footprint”, and became involved with the community. This is important to the company because ethical companies do better in the long run. Customers feel good about bringing business to social responsible companies and employees feel good about working there and in turn employees provide better customer service. 2. Is Starbucks unique in being able to provide a high level of benefits to its employees? * Starbucks is unique in being able to provide a high level of benefits to its employees. Many businesses do not provide employees with many benefits. Starbucks understands how important its employees are and that they are the face of the company. Happy employees create good customer service experiences and repeat business. It seems like a lot of businesses overlook their internal customers too often. 3. Do you think that Starbucks has grown rapidly because of its ethical and socially responsible activities or because it provides products and an environment that customers want? * Starbucks rapid growth is due to both its ethical and socially responsible activities and it providing products and an environment that customers want. A company needs to worry about its business in the long run and the short run. Its ethical and socially responsible activities create a positive image in the public eye. Customers want to support businesses like this and employees want to work for a company that makes them feel like they are a part of something bigger. This helps the company in the long run. A company also has appeal to the customer by providing a welcoming and comfortable environment and by staying up to date on products that