Sir Richard Branson

Financial well being is usually associated with success,

and thus the ability to be financially socially responsible becomes even easier.

Also, with success, the successful person usually attains more recognition, thus it is important to set a good example for others of how people should act/conduct themselves.

Creating new jobs and/or setting up charitable organizations that get out and tackle some of the world’s seemingly intractable problems.

Examples: Google – provide a gym, healthy lunch options, massage therapy and an on site doctor for their employees to promote healthy living.

Irving – replanting trees that their pulp and paper mill cuts.

Branson suggest that with success comes responsibility. Explain what he means and give an example or two of businesses you know of

that do this.

Entrepreneurs have the experience of looking

at a particular business problem and finding ways around it.

2. How does Branson suggest that entrepreneurs approach problems differently than the very people we expect to work at these problems, i.e. politicians

and social workers?

Branson feels that businesses should not just

be money making machines, but forces for good. To be good, you have to have good people that are treated well, and are generally happy. The employees will then take that sense of well being and transmit to others within the community.

3. Why do you think it is so important to Branson that his employees treat others

well?

For Branson, a business is simply people

creating something to make a difference in the world. To me a business usually stands for a company that is trying to increase their profits, so it is generally focused on their own well being, not the well being of others.

4. How does Branson define a business, and how does that differ from what your preconceived notion of what a

business is and does? Explain.

Social responsibility is that people who have

power/money have an obligation to act as a helper to society. When a company makes a large profit, they can afford to allow their employees time to spend with loved ones, or allow them to work part time. Branson, as a business man, truly embraces the idea/theme of social responsibility.

5. Branson’s message is “do the right thing even if it hurts your company in the short term.” How does this

message agree with the theme of “social responsibility”? Explain.