Respond to two or more of your colleagues’ posts in one or more of the following ways:
(150 words each Colleague)
· Ask a question about the social and economic impacts the organization has had on the community that your colleague described.
· Offer a related example from your own post to your colleague’s analysis of their selected organization’s impact on its community.
· Provide an additional perspective on how the benefits or consequences of the social impact your colleague described could shape others’ perceptions of the organization by including how it would shape yours.
Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you have learned or any insights you have gained as a result of the comments your colleagues made.
1st Colleague to respond to:
Briefly describe the organization and the community in which it operates.
I chose Horizon Credit Union in Butte, Montana. I moved to Butte in 2019 and there are many companies that give back to the community, but in my research I found Horizon does a lot for a particular community event that is close to my heart. Butte is a town in western Montana. It is an old historic mining town. The community here is close and always helping others when possible.
Analyze the organization’s social and economic impacts on the community (positive or negative). Provide specific examples to support your analysis.
One of the many community outreach that Horizon Credit Union does for our community is support one of the local scholarship funds and charities in our town. A teenage was killed by a drunk driver several years ago and there is now a Mariah’s Challenge. The charity is to fight against drunk drivers and then there is a scholarship fund that Horizon Credit Union sponsors. Another impact they have in the community is they give all of their employees 24 hours of paid time off to do community service in our town. Horizon Credit Union also has one day every year that they close early and get out in the community to help those who have food and housing insecurity (Horizon Credit Union, 2023). The economic impact that they bring to the community is they help the community with financial guidance and try to help its members be more financially stable.
Analyze how the benefits or consequences of this social and economic impact on the community shapes your perception and others’ perceptions of the organization.
When our community members see all the effort that the Credit Union puts in to help others, it gives positive vibes. I have seen on local pages that Horizon Credit Union was highly recommended by others. I think that the impact they have on the community shows people that they care and they are trying to make a difference and shapes the perceptions that they are a good company to do business with.
Horizon Credit Union (2023). Community Outreach, Retrieved from:
2nd Colleague to Respond to:
Organization and Community Description
The story of General Motors begins in 1886 as two men began building carriages. Over the years, the organization began growing, making purchases such as Buick and becoming the founders of Chevrolet. GM Motors became a company that designs, manufactures, and sells automobiles. "GM to become the largest industrial company in the world" ( GM Heritage | General Motors, n.d., n.p.). In 2008 they had approximately 7,000 dealerships, four times more than Toyota, which was second in the industry (Hampton, 2015).
GM provides jobs to thousands of people internationally, which is a positive impact. On the other hand, in 2008, GM revealed an alarming crisis and asked the US government for a bailout. Their issues included bloated salaries, excessive dealerships, and low sales. GM neglected to recognize and alleviate the troubles that led to its situation, leaving the organization barely surviving.
Social and Economic Impact
The company needed to increase sales, reduce costs, break deals, close the doors to many dealerships, and downsize workers. GM financed $33 million from the government and filed for bankruptcy in 2009. The organization paid much of the loan and made drastic efforts to get out of the red.
Corporate social responsibility is a matter that not only involves the organization but society. Large organizations such as GM motors demonstrate a negative impact on society if they are not socially responsible. The 2008 bailouts were considered important governmental decisions to prevent an economic collapse.
Perceptions of an Organization
I vaguely remember this event, but what sticks out is the CEOs showing up in private jets asking the government for money. Perhaps this is why market research "reported that 80 percent of car buyers would not purchase a car from a bankrupt company. Another survey said 51 percent would not buy a car from GM in any case" (Hampton, 2015, p. 28). Additionally, the United Auto Workers did not express concern for the situation.
As the story goes, the CEO refused to leave the organization; the board pushed him out. The United Auto Workers were unmoved by the gravity of the situation as they still pressed for their benefits. Perhaps, these factors resulted from the organizational culture and leadership (Gitman et al., 2018). The example of GM shows poor judgment and irresponsible behavior, creating a negative perception of the organization. Overall, the impact of this organization and other conglomerates offer jobs but create negative economic consequences. These factors are likely due to poor leadership and unhealthy work culture.
Reference
Gitman, L. J., McDaniel, C., Shah, A., Reece, M., Koffel, L., Talsma, B., & Hyatt, J. C. (2018). . In Introduction to business. OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/introduction-business/pages/1-2-understanding-the-business-environment
GM Heritage | General Motors. (n.d.). https://www.gm.com/heritage
Hampton, J. J. (2015). Fundamentals of enterprise risk management: How top companies assess risk, manage exposure, and seize opportunity. New York NY: American Management Association.
