There is a great sense of community in Island Park that stems from the residents’ pride and traditional values of being part of the North American dream. The problem of inadequate street lights in the area has had a negative effect on the lives of the residents. EmPower Solar, is part of this community because it Island Park serves as its headquarters. It can gainfully contribute towards solving this problem by implementing a low-cost street lighting program. Herein is a suggestion on how EmPower can actively participate in the facilitation of a solar street lighting program at the lowest cost possible.
Bonini et al. (2009) suggest that corporations gather enough information to help justify sustainable CRS programs. Thus, this idea follows that companies develop coherent strategies to optimize their impact on the environmental and social systems under their operational jurisdiction. It shows that CSR is an important segment of the job for every board member as well as executives. A perfect alignment of CSR programs starts with an audit and inventory of existing programs.
Our research show that a street lighting program would be vital in meeting both the community’s and corporate objectives. However, EmPower should not view this program as separate and unrelated from their core business operations. This program should work in tandem with EmPower’s business values. It will ensure that all streets, pedestrian walkways, alleys and roads in Island Park have solar-powered street lights. These lights will help enhance the security and safety of every resident of Island Park.
How the program will be implemented
Programs under this category work within a business model that delivers environmental benefits in instances that support the company’s operations across the value chain. EmPower’s ultimate objective is to improve its efficiency and effectiveness in operations. It could achieve this objective through increased revenue streams from high solar panel sales. The best way indirect way of objective achievement is through reduced emissions and investment in the community to improve its reputation (Buddenborg, et al., 2011).
According to Buddenborg et al. (2011), the best public project implementation plan is one that looks that protecting the character of a community from the threats that may adversely affect it. The program will have EmPower supplying solar panels that will be used to power street lights spread at reasonable areas across the village of Island Park. EmPower can work with the city council to ensure that there are sufficient street lights in the town. EmPower will come in to provide an alternative and safe source of energy to power these lights.
What will make the program low-cost?
It seems impractical for companies to engage in CSR programs that cost more than their intended benefits. Instead, their CSR programs should seek guidance from a diversity of factors such as the societal and corporate environments as well as individual motivations. Given this explanation, EmPower finds rich opportunities in using its resources to reduce an environmental impact as well as a community problem. The company operates in a community that lacks sufficient federal involvement in its security needs. As a company exploring new ways of operations, funding for street-lighting would prove exceptionally valuable to the community (Rangan, et al., 2015).
Wu and Ren (2012) note a significant decline in the cost of harvesting solar energy over the past decade. The authors’ findings further imply that additional innovations into solar energy see the emergence of solar as a high-powered sector. Thus, solar cells and generators remain cost-competitive yet effective in energy production. The program will be low-cost because EmPower will simply be providing solar panels to power the street lights that already exist, and only add a few street lights where there are none. Since EmPower deals with the production of solar panels, the cost of implementing this program will be fairly low. Ideally, they will take the solar panels from the products that are already part of the company’s production plan.
How the program will address the community issue
Based on Rangan et al. (2015), the best-practice organizations know how to operate independent and coordinated programs across the CSR portfolio. Most of their initiatives help create shared value through society-oriented value creation. The one thing such organizations share though is the connection of two separate entities as important stakeholders to the company. These entities include the company’s executive wing and communities. However, communities come out as the most important of all parties in this relationship.
According to Rangan et al. (2015), superior CSR projects bring more benefits to a community than the company. Thus, these benefits are those that look at solving the toughest of all community problems. Island Park’s biggest problem is enhancing its security detail. The EmPower lighting program will address this community issue by improving he safety and security of residents of Island Park. It will achieve this objective by lighting all streets, roads, alleys, and walkways at any given time of day. The overall effect is a system that discourages criminal behavior.
How the program will benefit EmPower
EmPower stands to benefit from the program because its products will gain popularity. The creation of corporate societal value is essential to organizational success. According to Bonini et al. (2009), firms use CSR to create measures of environmental and social value that can help produce superior financial results. An active and successful participation in CSR shows a healthy relationship between the two elements. In EmPower’s case, there is sure to be a huge improvement in its financial yields. For a typical investment of streetlights around Island Park, members of the community will enhance their need of association with the company’s products. The added value developed through the investment would enable EmPower to boost its sales while retaining its reputable public image (Bonini et al., 2009).
Similarly, Rangan et al. (2015) state that organizations perceive CSR as a viable opportunity to help strengthen their business operation. Thus, CSR is vital in mitigating risks, enhancing company reputation, and contributing to the overall good of corporate results. The residents get to know of EmPower’s involvement in powering the street lights in their area using state-of-the-art solar panels. They will then make use of EmPower’s products in their homes for their energy needs. They are also highly likely to recommend these products to people they know. The idea here is that they have firsthand experience of how effective the products have been towards serving their needs. Therefore, this program will act as an efficient marketing tool for Empower’s products as well as show the community that EmPower cares about their welfare.
References
Bonini, S., Koller, T. M., & Mirvis, P. H. (2009). Valuing social responsibility programs. McKinsey Quarterly. Retrieved from http://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/valuing-social-responsibility-programs
Buddenborg, J., Lindberg, J., Walker, A., Kandt, A., & Hotchkiss, E. (2011). Implementing Solar PV Projects on Historic Buildings and in Historic Districts. Golden, CO: National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
Rangan, K., Chase, L., & Karim, S. (2015). The Truth About CSR. Retrieved from The Harvard Business Review: https://hbr.org/2015/01/the-truth-about-csr
Wu, J., & Ren, J. (2012). Research and Application of Solar Energy Photovoltaic-Thermal Technology. Solar Power , 262-292.
