Question

Research an article where a stakeholder challenged the status quo of an organization that eventually led to major changes in the social responsibility of the organization. Place close emphasis on the sources of values created that transpired in the article that you researched.

Answer 1

Become a leader by challenging the status quo that leads to social responsibility

One of the concepts which can help you to excel as an operations manager or a leader more than anything else is consistently challenging the status quo of what you are delivering and how you are delivering it. Not only will it help you optimize the project you are currently working on, but also help you to improve your client’s business processes and as well as the organization you work for.
  
When you challenge the status quo, it means that you identify new and better ways of doing things on behalf of your organization. It also means that you are adding value, and that’s the very basis for being successful. In order for you to become a operations management leader, you must add more value than anyone else. It is not enough to just do a good job, we have to be competitive and consistently look for new and better ways of doing business, saving money and adding benefits to our customers.

Challenging the status quo is a mindset shift from how things operate today to proposing a new and better way of doing things. The steps involved are outlined below:

1. See things the way they are.
The first step is to have a realistic and accurate understanding of your current organization. What are the business processes that your client follows and what are the expected benefits from your organization? These aspects represent the status quo. It is how you normally go about things and how you usually execute projects. It is also how your client normally does business.

2. See things better than they are.
The second step is to have the vision and ability to see a better future. Be inspired and imagine what the future would look like if you made use of more simplified processes, new technology, were able to build a highly motivated team, had better relationships with your customers, and if you were able to improve the way they do business. Identify the gaps that represent opportunities for improvements, and opportunities for you to step up and lead.

3. Implement your view of the future.
When you have a clear vision of how your team can add more value and work more effectively, the next step is to believe in your vision and make it happen. Motivate others to help you implement the vision and make people understand what’s in it for them. They will be more supportive and willing to follow when you demonstrate how they fit into the vision and what the benefits are to their career and reputation of your organization.

The best way of challenging the status quo is to ask questions of your team members how they feel you can work more effectively as a team, how you can improve quality.

When you consistently challenge the status quo of your organization, you have the scope of unlimited success, because you add an unlimited value. You have the potential to demonstrate your leadership skills, because you make things happen based on your vision. Thought leaders are not satisfied with following others or doing just a good job. They are committed to excellence, therefore, they make their own models and brave enough to implement these models.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate Social Responsibility is a management concept, companies integrate social and environmental aspects in their business operations and interactions with their stakeholders, they take responsibility for the company's effects on the environment and impact on social welfare. Corporate social responsibility can incur short term costs that do not provide an immediate financial benefit to the company, but instead promote positive social and environmental change.

Many organizations have realized that they have to look not only at the economic aspect of their organization, but also at its ecological and social impacts on the environment. Organizations across the world are realizing the benefits of adopting socially responsible behavior. If a company engages with its stakeholders effectively, it can enjoy a strong and enduring reputation in the market and community.

There are people who claim that Corporate Social Responsibility underlies some ulterior motives while others consider it as a myth. The reality is that CSR is not a tactic for brand building; however, it creates an internal brand among its employees. Indulging into activities that help society in one way or the other only adds to the goodwill of a company. Corporate Social Responsibility is the duty of everyone i.e. business corporations, governments, individuals because the income is earned only from the society and therefore it should be given back.

For example, Infosys.

Infosys is actively involved in different community growth programs. In 1996, Infosys has Infosys Foundation as a non profit trust, it contributes up to 1 percent of their profits after tax every year towards various social welfare community development projects. The management team of Infosys continues to set an example in the area of corporate citizenship and has involved itself vigorously in key national bodies. They have taken initiatives to work in the areas of research, education, community service, rural outreach programs, employment, healthcare, arts and culture for poor people.