53 SPAR in Canada

Team 112 Poster

Team Reflection

SPAR Canada is a warehousing and distribution company that updated its app to allow clients to use photos alongside text, addressing previous limitations in communicating their needs. This innovation improved client satisfaction by enhancing the clarity of service requests and fostering stronger relationships. Although the app was later replaced, SPAR’s commitment to client-focused improvements and adaptability helped them maintain service quality and set a positive precedent for future changes. Reflecting on this, we find SPAR’s responsiveness to client feedback and dedication to innovation inspiring. It shows how even small changes can have a lasting impact on both business success and client relationships.

A concept that relates to SPAR Canada’s story is the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) framework, which emphasizes a balanced approach to social responsibility through people, planet, and profit. This framework suggests that innovation and company practices should encompass all three components of sustainability. By building a new software system to better meet their clients’ needs, SPAR Canada demonstrates how an innovation can drive profits through efficient operations while simultaneously reducing waste and conserving resources. Importantly, this innovation also benefits local businesses, employees, and communities, highlighting a commitment to the “people” aspect of the TBL.

Our interview emphasized how powerful it can be when a company considers the Triple Bottom Line in its innovations. Seeing this in practice reinforced our understanding of TBL and how accountability in these three areas leads to sustainable and meaningful impact. This process taught us that innovation for sustainability doesn’t always require sweeping changes; small, incremental improvements can drive substantial progress over time. Initially, we assumed that impactful corporate sustainability required major overhauls or large-scale innovations. However, our conversation with SPAR Canada revealed that sustainable progress often begins with smaller, carefully considered changes. This realization challenged our previous assumptions and broadened our perspective on how businesses approach CSR and sustainability.

Exploring the AIM2Flourish story about SPAR Canada has prompted us to reflect deeply on our future approach as a businessperson. The company’s commitment to innovation and sustainability has highlighted the importance of adapting to client needs while maintaining a focus on social responsibility. This leads us to a pivotal question: How can we incorporate these principles into our own business practices to create a positive impact?

As a group, we found several common themes in our discussion about SPAR Canada’s practices and their implications for our future careers:

1. Collaboration and Communication: We collectively agreed that effective communication is crucial for fostering collaboration. Just as SPAR improved its services through better communication with clients, we recognized that transparent communication within our teams will be essential for achieving our goals.
2. Embracing Change: The adaptability shown by SPAR Canada encouraged us to embrace change as a constant in our future careers. We discussed the importance of remaining flexible and open-minded, especially in a rapidly evolving business environment. This mindset will help us navigate challenges and seize new opportunities.
3. Social Responsible: Our group emphasized the importance of integrating social responsibility into our business models. We recognize that a successful business should not only focus on profits but also consider its impact on the community and environment. We plan to advocate for initiatives that support local charities and promote ethical practices.

The AIM2Flourish story of SPAR Canada has significantly influenced the way we envision our future actions as a business leader. By prioritizing client feedback, committing to sustainability, and fostering a culture of innovation, we believe we can create a positive and lasting impact on our organization and society. This reflection has solidified our commitment to being a businessperson who champions both economic growth and social responsibility, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable future.

In our cross-cultural project, our team learned several valuable lessons that enhanced both our collaboration and our understanding of global perspectives. Here are some key takeaways:

1. Diverse Perspectives: We discovered that each team member brought unique viewpoints shaped by their cultural backgrounds. This diversity led to richer discussions and more innovative solutions, as we considered problems from multiple angles.
2. Communication Styles: We learned that communication preferences vary significantly across cultures. Some team members were more direct, while others preferred a more indirect approach. This taught us the importance of adapting our communication styles to ensure clarity and mutual understanding.
3. Conflict Resolution: Cultural differences sometimes led to misunderstandings. We learned to approach conflicts with empathy, recognizing how cultural contexts influence perspectives and reactions. This helped us develop strategies for resolving disputes constructively.

The coursework in intercultural communication provided a theoretical framework that helped us navigate our differences. Concepts like cultural dimensions and communication barriers were directly applicable to the challenges we faced. The lessons from my project management class were crucial in organizing our work. We applied techniques like setting clear goals, defining roles, and using collaborative tools, which helped streamline our efforts and keep everyone engaged. as well as for Understanding group dynamics from my psychology classes allowed me to identify and leverage individual strengths within the team. This knowledge helped us assign tasks more effectively and foster a supportive team environment.

We arranged weekly meetings that allowed us to communicate with each other and divide the tasks evenly amongst the members of our team. We created summaries after each meeting so team members could refer to them if they have difficulties with who has been assigned to which task. When creating our story and other aspects of our final project we created shared documents and working spaces to aid in collaboration and receiving constructive input from team members.

I believe our team members would agree that our strategies worked as we successfully divided all the tasks, met requirements and due dates and created a good final product. We had some problems with communication due to difficulties presented by time differences, but we were able to overcome them and find times to meet that worked for all team members, keeping us on the same page.

Individual Reflection

Sarah Chrumka:

Working on this project with a culturally diverse team was both challenging and rewarding. Reflecting on the experience, I realized the importance of communication, humility, and empathy in collaboration. Cultural and time zone differences initially posed barriers, but finding effective ways to communicate helped bridge these gaps. I learned to respect each individual’s perspective, understanding that no one culture should dominate, which enabled us to work cohesively toward productivity and sustainability goals. This project showed me that sustainability and social responsibility go beyond corporate settings—they’re essential in every team and project. The COIL assignment reinforced the impact of attitude on teamwork success.

Tejan Alotayan 

Participating as a virtual team member was challenging yet rewarding. Working remotely required clear communication, flexibility, and patience to adapt to different schedules and preferences. I prioritized staying engaged, managing responsibilities, and aligning my contributions with team goals. This experience taught me discipline, helping me overcome distractions and stay focused. Clear, respectful communication proved essential for team harmony and avoiding misunderstandings. Beyond task completion, I learned valuable lessons in collaboration, patience, and organization. Realizing that every member’s input matters, I approached this experience with respect and commitment, ultimately enhancing my teamwork skills and contributing meaningfully.

Noura Alshaya

Begin in a cross-cultural communication group project in Aim2Flourish was a challenging yet enriching experience that highlighted the complexities of collaborating with diverse peers. Initially, I felt apprehensive about differing communication styles and cultural norms, which led to misunderstandings. Each team member brought unique perspectives shaped by their backgrounds, and I quickly realized that assumptions based on my cultural framework could lead to misinterpretations.

To address these challenges,We proposed an open discussion where we could clarify our expectations and establish communication guidelines. This step was crucial; it not only allowed us to voice our concerns but also helped each team member articulate their preferred communication methods. By creating an environment of patience and active listening, we fostered a culture of respect and understanding.

Layan Al binhar 

My experience was really beautiful and full of interesting challenges. Working with a team from different cultures helped me improve my communication skills, understand the difference in points of view, and understand the conflict resulting from misunderstanding due to cultural differences. I learned soft skills such as the art of persuasion and negotiation with team members and the skill of effective communication. At first, there were barriers in terms of time differences, but with understanding and effective communication, it was easy for us to overcome the barriers. The work helped us in identifying the required tasks and completing them on time, overcoming many barriers. The results were wonderful and an enriching experience in terms of choosing the company and conducting the interview with the company.

References

Milne, M. J., & Gray, R. (2013). W(h)ither Ecology? The Triple Bottom Line, the Global Reporting Initiative, and Corporate Sustainability Reporting. Journal of Business Ethics, 118(1), 13–29. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-012-1543-8

Mission. SPAR Canada. (2022, December 28). https://sparcanada.ca/about/mission/

United Nations. (n.d.). The 17 goals | sustainable development. United Nations. https://sdgs.un.org/goals