1. Patagonia has a history of putting sustainability ahead of profits. But it also has to face up to everyday business realities and the need for operating capital. How do you think the company decides which products to offer so that the outcomes will be both business practical and environmentally friendly? And, with Chouinard such an important influence on company ideals and values, what can be done now to ensure that his positive impact is still felt long after he leaves the company?
2. Let's suppose Yvon Chouinard comes to you, a new employee, and asks for a proposal on a timely and "forward looking" sustainability agenda for the firm. In other words, he wants a program that can drive Patagonia's future and not just celebrate its past. What would you include in this agenda and why?
3. Further Research Could ethics lose out to greed even in a company with the idealism of Patagonia? See if you can find examples of decisions that forced people in the firm to make difficult choices between ethics and profitability. Look for examples of decisions made at other companies that may have resulted in different ethics versus profitability choices. Try to explain through the examples what makes the difference between organizations where ethics and social responsibility are part of core values and those where they are more superficial issues. Could ethics lose out to greed even in a company with the idealism of Patagonia? See if you can find examples of decisions that forced people in the firm to make difficult choices between ethics and profitability. Analyze the decisions and their outcomes. Look for examples of decisions made at other companies that may have resulted in different ethics vs. profitability choices. Try to explain through the examples what makes the difference between organizations where ethics and social responsibility are part of the fabric and those where they are more superficial issues.