Entrepreneurial Leadership
The two entrepreneurial leaders on whom I want to focus are Larry Page and Sergey Brin from Google and Anita Roddick from the Body Shop. These leaders were able to combine a focus on earning profits and match this with a set of ethical principles that has guided decision-making, and helped to shape the company and its organizational culture. Google was initially not a profitable company, but had developed a superior search engine. At the time, searching on other engines was a crapshoot — hence Google’s “I’m feeling lucky” button. The company had a superior product, but this was a product that had yet to be effectively monetized (Entrepreneur, 2008). Over time Google developed an advertising model. The company’s drive for freedom of information has led it to provide numerous other information-based services. Google has run into problems with that — for example censoring information in China where the company has had a lot of issues over the years (Carmody, 2012) and privacy issues with Google Street View that seems to contradict the company’s ‘do no evil’ ethic (Kwek, 2010).
Roddick founded the Body Shop with more of a marketing strategy, but realized that to differentiate the company she could focus on socially consciousness. So her strategy led to the creation of the Body Shop, including eschewing animal testing, and using natural ingredients as much as possible (Entrepreneur, 2008). Roddick’s approach was more directly oriented to making a profit, because she realized that there was an untapped market for her idea, and her ethics were specifically tied into her differentiation strategy.
Google, in a way, saw its philosophy as part of its differentiation strategy as well, in that the provision of more information freely was seen as something beneficial and attractive. Whether Page and Brin specifically saw their upstart as something that could be monetized is an interesting question. There was certainly venture capital floating around Silicon Valley, but the business model had yet to be fully fleshed out. Nevertheless, they had the luxury of using the venture capital to build the company and buy time until the revenue model was determined, at which point the company quickly became wildly profitable.
2. For the founders of Google, their leadership style(s) were based on fostering technological innovation, and the reason the company became so successful is because they were the best. The leadership at Google has always remained focused on information and ethics, however, even when those things are not especially profitable. This commitment is in part captured by the idea that creating something good will eventually allow for profits. A company that has never really worried about access to capital has the luxury of taking this approach.
Roddick, on the other hand, was forced to take her company’s main competitive advantage and build it into the company. Her leadership style, much like that of Google’s founders, was based on building teams and creating a positive atmosphere at the company. The ethics had to be ingrained into everything the company did, because any company that stakes out a higher ethical ground is going to be subject to extra scrutiny — as the Body Shop’s issues with its palm oil supplier in Colombia illustrates (Syal & Brodzinsky, 2009).
Thus, with both of these companies, the ethics were built into their systems by their founders. The founders not only set the ethical tone for the company but they also set the vision, which all others within the organization subscribed to. The fact that these leaders had built the company with their own abilities also enhanced their ability to build ethical leadership into their systems — they set the ethical tone and the rest of the company was inspired to follow it. For Google, the freedom from having to worry about money allowed the company to expend more energy on its principles. Even with the China censorship issue, Google had the ability to walk away from that market for a period of time, because it did not need the money. The Body Shop’s ethical principles were sustained because they were a major part of its competitive advantage. Google’s ethical principles were sustained because the company had the time to place emphasis on ethics first.
3. Arguably, I relate more to Roddick’s approach that to Google’s. I love the ethics at Google, but I understand that they had the ability to focus on ethics to a much greater degree. Few companies have the ability to put ethics front and center, not because it is integral to their business model, but because they have a platform for doing it. Roddick never really had that. I relate more to her circumstance because she was more pragmatic about it. Where Google is a young Charles Foster Kane who can afford to be a champion for the poor, but Roddick’s ethics were necessary to make the business model work. She took ideas from her travels, blended them with her own personal ethics and felt that the market would respond (Entrepreneur, 2008). She was right, but it was the ability to see the opportunity there that I relate to a little bit more than somebody who is nice because they have no worries.
It is interesting to see how the challenges faced by these entrepreneurs as their business has evolved highlight the role that ethics has played in these organizations. For Google, it was the China censorship situation, which clearly placed the company in an ethical dilemma, forced to very overtly choose between its mission and making money. For a while Google did the wrong thing, then it did the right thing and left that market, but eventually it came back to China, unable to resist the potential revenue. I actually find that this does not reflect on their ethics all that well, that perhaps not doing evil is something they will do when it is convenient. It makes me wonder if, when they started, they had to abandon ethics early if they would have done so. Perhaps Google has always maintained its ethical position as a luxury.
The Body Shop faced its own tests, but seems to have come out a little bit better. The company was bought by L’Oreal a few years ago, and Anita Roddick has passed away. Given L’Oreal’s longstanding ethical problems (animal testing, supporting Vichy France), this takeover provided a serious test to the Body Shop. Yet, the ethics of the company has held fast, even without its inspirational leader and being run by a company with a distinctly different set of ethical principles. The Body Shop’s response to the Colombian problem was to cut ties with that supplier entirely, for example, and there is still no animal testing. For my money, the Body Shop’s ethical principles are a lot more ingrained in the way that the company does business than Google’s are, and that is an impressive feat.
4. I think that some interesting resources I would like to use are case studies, which can help me to gain inspiration for my own ethical model. I like the idea of benchmarking in general, and while I have my own ideas about ethics I also respect the fact that those who have gone before me have a lot to teach me about instilling ethics into every aspect of a business. Case studies highlight real world challenges and examples, so they are quite valuable for that.
I believe that knowing some things about how social and ethical systems work is important. It is one thing to announce a policy, it is another to achieve total employee buy-in, especially to the level Body Shop achieved where it still holds those ethics after the founder has passed on. It takes a keen understanding of a lot of different dynamics to make ethics stick in an organization, so any resource that can help me to understand the social systems at play, and the drivers of change in those systems, is something in which I have a serious interest.
Lastly, I would just like to know what approaches are out there. Everybody has his or her own idea, but I want to know what works for other people. Some will argue against any serious ethical principles at all, some will make ethics a central part of their company. For me, I know that I have to choose a market-based approach, so I am definitely curious to learn about the different theories and models that can help me not only know more, but contextualize that knowledge better.
Works Cited:
Kwek, G. (2010). Google Street View controversy takes a bizarre twist. Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved April 16, 2012 from http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/google-street-view-controversy-takes-a-bizarre-twist-20101125-18814.html
Carmody, T. (2012). Google co-founder: China, Apple, Facebook threaten ‘open web’. Wired/CNN. Retrieved April 16, 2012 from http://edition.cnn.com/2012/04/16/tech/web/google-sergey-brin/
Entrepreneur. (2008). Anita Roddick. Entrepreneur Magazine. Retrieved April 16, 2012 from http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/197688
Entrepreneur. (2008). Larry Page and Sergey Brin. Entrepreneur Magazine. Retrieved April 16, 2012 from http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/197848
Syal, R. & Brodzinsky, S. (2009). Body Shop ethics under fire after Colombian peasant evictions. The Guardian. Retrieved April 16, 2012 from http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/13/body-shop-colombia-evictions
Get Professional Assignment Help Cheaply
Are you busy and do not have time to handle your assignment? Are you scared that your paper will not make the grade? Do you have responsibilities that may hinder you from turning in your assignment on time? Are you tired and can barely handle your assignment? Are your grades inconsistent?
Whichever your reason is, it is valid! You can get professional academic help from our service at affordable rates. We have a team of professional academic writers who can handle all your assignments.
Why Choose Our Academic Writing Service?
- Plagiarism free papers
- Timely delivery
- Any deadline
- Skilled, Experienced Native English Writers
- Subject-relevant academic writer
- Adherence to paper instructions
- Ability to tackle bulk assignments
- Reasonable prices
- 24/7 Customer Support
- Get superb grades consistently
Online Academic Help With Different Subjects
Literature
Students barely have time to read. We got you! Have your literature essay or book review written without having the hassle of reading the book. You can get your literature paper custom-written for you by our literature specialists.
Finance
Do you struggle with finance? No need to torture yourself if finance is not your cup of tea. You can order your finance paper from our academic writing service and get 100% original work from competent finance experts.
Computer science
Computer science is a tough subject. Fortunately, our computer science experts are up to the match. No need to stress and have sleepless nights. Our academic writers will tackle all your computer science assignments and deliver them on time. Let us handle all your python, java, ruby, JavaScript, php , C+ assignments!
Psychology
While psychology may be an interesting subject, you may lack sufficient time to handle your assignments. Don’t despair; by using our academic writing service, you can be assured of perfect grades. Moreover, your grades will be consistent.
Engineering
Engineering is quite a demanding subject. Students face a lot of pressure and barely have enough time to do what they love to do. Our academic writing service got you covered! Our engineering specialists follow the paper instructions and ensure timely delivery of the paper.
Nursing
In the nursing course, you may have difficulties with literature reviews, annotated bibliographies, critical essays, and other assignments. Our nursing assignment writers will offer you professional nursing paper help at low prices.
Sociology
Truth be told, sociology papers can be quite exhausting. Our academic writing service relieves you of fatigue, pressure, and stress. You can relax and have peace of mind as our academic writers handle your sociology assignment.
Business
We take pride in having some of the best business writers in the industry. Our business writers have a lot of experience in the field. They are reliable, and you can be assured of a high-grade paper. They are able to handle business papers of any subject, length, deadline, and difficulty!
Statistics
We boast of having some of the most experienced statistics experts in the industry. Our statistics experts have diverse skills, expertise, and knowledge to handle any kind of assignment. They have access to all kinds of software to get your assignment done.
Law
Writing a law essay may prove to be an insurmountable obstacle, especially when you need to know the peculiarities of the legislative framework. Take advantage of our top-notch law specialists and get superb grades and 100% satisfaction.
What discipline/subjects do you deal in?
We have highlighted some of the most popular subjects we handle above. Those are just a tip of the iceberg. We deal in all academic disciplines since our writers are as diverse. They have been drawn from across all disciplines, and orders are assigned to those writers believed to be the best in the field. In a nutshell, there is no task we cannot handle; all you need to do is place your order with us. As long as your instructions are clear, just trust we shall deliver irrespective of the discipline.
Are your writers competent enough to handle my paper?
Our essay writers are graduates with bachelor's, masters, Ph.D., and doctorate degrees in various subjects. The minimum requirement to be an essay writer with our essay writing service is to have a college degree. All our academic writers have a minimum of two years of academic writing. We have a stringent recruitment process to ensure that we get only the most competent essay writers in the industry. We also ensure that the writers are handsomely compensated for their value. The majority of our writers are native English speakers. As such, the fluency of language and grammar is impeccable.
What if I don’t like the paper?
There is a very low likelihood that you won’t like the paper.
Reasons being:
- When assigning your order, we match the paper’s discipline with the writer’s field/specialization. Since all our writers are graduates, we match the paper’s subject with the field the writer studied. For instance, if it’s a nursing paper, only a nursing graduate and writer will handle it. Furthermore, all our writers have academic writing experience and top-notch research skills.
- We have a quality assurance that reviews the paper before it gets to you. As such, we ensure that you get a paper that meets the required standard and will most definitely make the grade.
In the event that you don’t like your paper:
- The writer will revise the paper up to your pleasing. You have unlimited revisions. You simply need to highlight what specifically you don’t like about the paper, and the writer will make the amendments. The paper will be revised until you are satisfied. Revisions are free of charge
- We will have a different writer write the paper from scratch.
- Last resort, if the above does not work, we will refund your money.
Will the professor find out I didn’t write the paper myself?
Not at all. All papers are written from scratch. There is no way your tutor or instructor will realize that you did not write the paper yourself. In fact, we recommend using our assignment help services for consistent results.
What if the paper is plagiarized?
We check all papers for plagiarism before we submit them. We use powerful plagiarism checking software such as SafeAssign, LopesWrite, and Turnitin. We also upload the plagiarism report so that you can review it. We understand that plagiarism is academic suicide. We would not take the risk of submitting plagiarized work and jeopardize your academic journey. Furthermore, we do not sell or use prewritten papers, and each paper is written from scratch.
When will I get my paper?
You determine when you get the paper by setting the deadline when placing the order. All papers are delivered within the deadline. We are well aware that we operate in a time-sensitive industry. As such, we have laid out strategies to ensure that the client receives the paper on time and they never miss the deadline. We understand that papers that are submitted late have some points deducted. We do not want you to miss any points due to late submission. We work on beating deadlines by huge margins in order to ensure that you have ample time to review the paper before you submit it.
Will anyone find out that I used your services?
We have a privacy and confidentiality policy that guides our work. We NEVER share any customer information with third parties. Noone will ever know that you used our assignment help services. It’s only between you and us. We are bound by our policies to protect the customer’s identity and information. All your information, such as your names, phone number, email, order information, and so on, are protected. We have robust security systems that ensure that your data is protected. Hacking our systems is close to impossible, and it has never happened.
How our Assignment Help Service Works
1. Place an order
You fill all the paper instructions in the order form. Make sure you include all the helpful materials so that our academic writers can deliver the perfect paper. It will also help to eliminate unnecessary revisions.
2. Pay for the order
Proceed to pay for the paper so that it can be assigned to one of our expert academic writers. The paper subject is matched with the writer’s area of specialization.
3. Track the progress
You communicate with the writer and know about the progress of the paper. The client can ask the writer for drafts of the paper. The client can upload extra material and include additional instructions from the lecturer. Receive a paper.
4. Download the paper
The paper is sent to your email and uploaded to your personal account. You also get a plagiarism report attached to your paper.
PLACE THIS ORDER OR A SIMILAR ORDER WITH US TODAY AND GET A PERFECT SCORE!!!
