26 SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities – Team 29

Team Reflection

For this week’s activity for the poster we use three business innovations stories which are Ben & Jerry’s, HM Hotels and Whala and Thinker Motion. The goal of SDG 10, is to lessen inequality both inside and between nations. Inequalities in income, gender, age, handicap, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, economic status, or other variables are the main topics of discussion (United Nations, 2023). SDG 10 aims to guarantee that every person has equal chances for development and access to basic services by fostering social, economic, and political inclusion (United Nations, 2023).

By fusing social action with their product, Ben & Jerry’s transformed the ice cream market. They used their brand to raise awareness and spark conversations by naming flavors after relevant social topics (Barrett et al.). In addition to making them stand out in the market, this approach is highly consistent with their vision and guiding principles. They’ve creatively used ice cream to promote social change. We find this to be genuine and admirable, which increases brand loyalty and draws in socially concerned buyers. We feel like Ben & Jerry’s is admired for their dedication to social causes and forging an emotional bond with customers who value their position on a significant subject. By putting an emphasis on gender equality, employee well-being, and community involvement, HM Hotels and Whala! Hotels have completely reinvented hospitality management (Nicodemi et al.). Because they cater to the unique demands of people in Mexico and the Dominican Republic, their method is unique. Interestingly, they keep a gender-balanced workforce and offer their employees full perks and assistance. They also support the local economy by collaborating with surrounding companies to provide a range of services. We gather that their all-encompassing approach not only sets them apart from rivals but also shows a sincere dedication to sustainable business methods and social responsibility. We are of the opinion that customers are likely to view Whala! Hotels and HM Hotels as morally and socially responsible companies, which will increase consumer loyalty and trust. Positive feelings are evoked by this, such as admiration for their attempts to have a significant influence on their workers and the communities in which they operate. Thinker Motion has demonstrated incredible ingenuity by employing 3D printing technology to produce goods that radically alter people’s lives (González Osorio et al.). Kevin Alejandro Arroyave, whose modest income prevented him from purchasing such technology, had a huge improvement in his quality of life thanks to their mobility chair. This commitment to accessibility and diversity is demonstrated by this invention, which allows them to tailor solutions that would otherwise be unaffordable for those with special requirements. By giving crippled pets who might otherwise be abandoned or put to death a second chance, the autonomous mobilizer for pets exhibits empathy and compassion. We believe that customers would probably respect Thinker Motion’s commitment to enhancing lives and promoting diversity. Their creative method inspires sympathy for their dedication to assisting animals and vulnerable people, as well as respect for their technical skill. This makes people feel sympathetic and grateful for what they’ve done for society.

The narratives of Thinker Motion, HM Hotels and Whala!, and Ben & Jerry’s connect deeply with scholarly ideas about corporate social responsibility (CSR), sustainability, and moral business conduct. The examples mentioned above bolster the significance of integrating social and environmental factors into corporate tactics, according to the notion of the triple bottom line—people, planet, and profit. They provide examples of how companies may use their platforms and resources to address social issues, encourage diversity, and effect positive change. These narratives refute presumptions that companies just prioritize maximizing profits by emphasizing the benefits of a more comprehensive viewpoint that takes social and environmental effects into account. They stress how important it is for companies to take responsibility for their actions and actively support the health of the environment and local communities. These illustrations provide motivation and highlight how companies can act as catalysts for positive change by upending preconceived notions and promoting a more all-encompassing method of managing a company.

Examining the AIM2Flourish tales has had a significant influence on each of our personal viewpoints and possible business decisions going forward. Together, we acknowledged the revolutionary potential of incorporating social and environmental factors into company operations, highlighting the significance of sustainability and corporate social responsibility. For my part, I found great inspiration in the creative methods used in the stories, which questioned accepted ideas about what makes a successful business and highlighted the ability of companies to effect positive change. These anecdotes have made me reevaluate my beliefs regarding the place of businesses in society and the wider ramifications of corporate actions that go beyond maximizing profits. We can already see ourselves applying the knowledge we gained from this exercise to our future business ventures. In particular, we envision ourselves giving sustainability and social impact top priority in company plans, working to generate value for stakeholders, society at large, and shareholders alike. I am committed to using my future position to positively impact sustainable development and societal well-being because I understand how important it is to match company objectives with more general societal demands and aspirations. All things considered, this project has given us insightful knowledge about how companies may be positive change agents and has given us a sense of accountability and purpose that will definitely influence my future choices and actions.

Individual Reflections

Erica D’Cruz 
I felt very valued in my team. During the very first meeting itself we decided on the day and time each of us would meet virtually to overcome the difficulty of our schedules clashing due to being in different time zones. Each week we all would designate and divide the topics among ourselves. Gaining significant insights into the distinct socio-economic, environmental, and cultural factors influencing these challenges globally was made possible by working in a multicultural group. I gained understanding about the complexity of global issues, from poverty and inequality to environmental degradation and insufficient healthcare, through group debates and knowledge-sharing sessions. Through examining case studies and conversing with colleagues who are located all over the world, I was able to develop a more nuanced understanding of how these problems are interconnected and how cooperative, international solutions are essential. I am grateful to be able to be part of the COIL project as it helped me develop my interpersonal and problem-solving skills.

Lucas Brinkert 
Both a learning experience and a new challenge, the COIL activity was a special project, one that I am happy I participated in. Going beyond the novelty of being able to say I have worked with people from Spain and South Africa, this program allowed me to broaden my worldview, improve vital business skills, and gain experience/insight into familiar business terms like globalization, virtual teams, and of course CSR. I broadened my worldview through the realization that many societal issues here in Canada are universal. Gender inequality, sizeable socio-economic disparity, and racism were all issues raised by my group members and I over the past few weeks. While different in scale and consequence, it is rather upsetting to know these issues are common everywhere. However, I found optimism in being able to explore the universal effort by many businesses to solve these issues. Through this project, I also gained valuable practice and improvement in my leadership skills. On a few occasions, I had to actively step out of my comfort zone and take the lead. Whether it was the delegation of tasks, the creation and submission of the weekly minute documents, or the organization of meeting times. Finally, through the numerous business courses I’ve taken, I am no stranger to the topic of globalization. While previously recognizing the growing trend of international business, having that firsthand experience cemented its importance in my mind. I now understand the vitalness of matching the diversity of globalization, with an equally diverse team to maximize representation and effectiveness. Furthermore, this project gave me concrete examples of the current course I am taking, corporate social responsibility. I believe it is one thing to learn about why businesses should be responsible, and theories of how businesses are responsible, but another to see businesses being socially responsible. The latter inspired me far more to make a difference with my business degree. Finally, I also gained insight into the challenges and difficulties that come from international virtual teams. By the conclusion of the project, I have now gained a much larger appreciation of in-person group work. While there were slight cultural and language differences, as well as significant time barriers, the common interruptions, mic cutouts, and wifi issues ultimately were what made communication a challenge. A challenge that I believe impacted our accountability, group cohesion, and social connection. So, while I understand the potential of being able to meet with individuals from around the world at any time, I still value in-person meetings far more. Overall, I am very thankful that I had the opportunity to be involved with this project. An experience that I found to be very important to my personal growth as a business student, a hopeful traveler, and a future business employee.

References
Barrett, F., Appiah, S., Scibilia, N., & Holzli, C. (n.d.). Fighting Inequality With Ice Cream. AIM2Flourish. Retrieved April 2, 2024, from https://aim2flourish.com/innovations/fighting-inequality-with-ice-cream-2
González Osorio, A., Trujillo , F., & Rodriguez Rojas, W. A. (n.d.). If You Can Imagine It You Can Create It / Si lo puedes imaginar, lo…. AIM2Flourish. Retrieved April 2, 2024, from https://aim2flourish.com/innovations/if-you-can-imagine-it-you-can-create-it-si-lo-puedes-imaginar-lo-puedes-crear
Nicodemi, G., Caselli, C., Ramos Meseguer, J., Prats Castañer, P., Diez, A., & Goñi Lerena, J. (n.d.). International Sustainable Hotel. AIM2Flourish. Retrieved April 2, 2024, from https://aim2flourish.com/innovations/international-sustainable-hotel
United Nations. (2023). Goal 10 | Reduce Inequality within and among Countries. Sdgs.un.org. https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal10