Based on an evaluation of the organization's current state and recent initiatives, the areas listed below have been identified as beingin need of improvementbased on the triple-bottom-line framework and B Corp Certification requirements.

Governance

A more formal structure or stakeholder group is needed to review social and environmental performance regularly and accurately.

Workers

Employee pay is low, both for hourly and salaried employees.

Attrition rates are high, resulting in a significant loss of company resources.

Employees lack the autonomy to shut down unsafe practices and processes.

Required trainings are frequent, but professional development for growth is very limited in both

opportunities and funding.

Community

The organization needs to regularly screen and evaluate suppliers for social and environmental impact, not just when an initial partnership is begun.

The majority of materials used to grow, manufacture, ship, and sell the tea are not locally sourced.

Environment

Although some supplying farms do have some sustainable practices in place, not all facilities and practices are designed to restore or preserve the environment.

Most energy sources, especially energy sources for domestic locations, are not renewable.

The organization has not conducted any kind of environmental assessment since 2010, and that

assessment was only conducted to identify areas of opportunity, not for certification.

Cost and time are prioritized in shipping, resulting in the inefficient use of transportation and a

high carbon footprint.

Customers

Quality control is conducted randomly, but isn't an ingrained part of the workflow process.

There are no product guarantees available to customers.

Customer feedback is primarily collected through online reviews of purchased products or sales

locations, rather than customer surveys.

The following areas have been identified as beingstrengthsof the organization based on the TBL framework and B Corp Certification requirements:

Governance

The organization's mission, vision, code of ethics, and culture statement strongly support sustainable, ethical practices.

The organization has identified key goals and metrics to monitor and evaluate sustainable business practices.

Workers

Employees are very content with benefits.

Job-related training is thorough and frequent.

There are established employee feedback programs with high rates of engagement.

Community

The organization is very diverse in its workforce, and employees report feeling safe and respected at work.

There are clear, measurable goals to continue growing diversity and inclusion throughout the organization.

The organization has set key requirements for its outsourced workforce, although regular evaluations are lacking.

The organization provides incentives and sets goals for suppliers regarding socially responsible and environmentally friendly business practices.

Environment

The supply chain has been evaluated by a reputable third-party company.

Environmentally sustainable water conservation and treatment practices are a strength of the

organization and its suppliers, also benefiting many of the rural communities'surrounding farms

and manufacturing facilities.

Packaging is recyclable and minimal, despite frequent requests to change it to a shiny foil

packaging.

Customers

The mission, vision, and culture of NationaliTeas supports making high-quality, sustainable products accessible to customers.

Scenario

You work as the chief supply-chain officer at the large international corporation, NationaliTeas. NationaliTeas manufactures and sells tea worldwide. Its motto is "Keeping people and their taste buds awake (when they want to be awake)." Its mission is "Make the world more awake through rejuvenating and refreshing beverages and sustainable practices that uplift workers, communities, and souls." Its vision is "to be the most respected tea manufacturer across at least three continents for our tea and our actions, which will be driven by a commitment ethical sourcing, minimal waste, and empowerment of our employees."

You would like to establish an operational goal of having your corporation apply for a B Corp Certification within the next two years. You believe this would add value to the organization and help it to prioritize a stronger focus on sustainable operational practices. You have conducted a preassesment based on the recommendations for applying for B Corp Certification, and you've evaluated the corporation's current strengths and areas for improvement.

Directions

1. Part One: Justification of Benefits: Justify the value of working toward more intentionally incorporating the TBL framework into organizational decision making, specifically how ethical business practices regarding people, planet, and profit can benefit society, the environment, and the company's profit. Specifically, address the following:
   1. Key Components: Explain the three key components of the TBL framework and how each component benefits businesses and society.
   2. Organizational Value: Provide a justification regarding the value and benefits of using the TBL framework to inform corporate decision making, and explain connections between the organizational mission and the organizational vision.
   3. B Corporation Benefits: Briefly describe the organizational benefits of attaining B Corp Certification.
2. Part Two: Operational Recommendations: Read through the Preassessment Evaluation Summary (located in the Supporting Materials section) for each aspect of the TBL (people, profit, and planet). You will need to provide a detailed description of the initiatives that will create the needed improvement. You should note the organizational and societal value of the initiative along with the operational management techniques recommended to plan and complete each initiative. For each of your three initiatives, address the following:
   1. Organizational Impacts: Describe the organizational benefits of each initiative, specifically noting the expected positive impact of completing each. Examples of positive impacts include better alignment to the organization's mission, vision, and culture statements; increased amounts of funds or resources saved; and improvements to the organization's brand.
   2. Societal Impacts: Describe the societal benefits of each initiative, specifically noting the expected positive impact of completing each. Examples of positive impacts include increased community building and positive environmental impact.
   3. Customer Impacts: Describe the consumer benefits of each selected initiative, specifically noting the expected positive impact of completing each. Examples of positive impacts include increased alignment to target markets, improved product access and availability, and improved customer satisfaction.
   4. Business Risks: Explain the business risks associated with prioritizing, planning, and resourcing each initiative and how these risks will be considered and monitored.
   5. Operational Management Techniques: Recommend an operational management strategy or technique (e.g., project management, lean manufacturing, or Six Sigma) that is appropriate to implement for each selected initiative, and explain why.
   6. Defining Requirements and Scope: Define the requirements for the successful implantation of each selected initiative as well as the scope of each. Describe how changes to the requirements and scope would impact timelines, budget, and risk.
   7. Roles and Responsibilities: Explain the key internal and external stakeholders who would be involved in planning and implementing each selected initiative, as well as why each identified stakeholder is needed to successfully implement the initiatives.