For all of its corporate proliferation, Starbucks also takes pride in social responsibility through charitable participation. The corporation gives back to the community through partnering with local organizations such as Make Your Mark, Product Red and UNICEF. While the fulfillment of such public generosity shows the corporation's social consciousness, taking part in such acts of charity garner Starbucks favorable publicity along with visibility thus making Starbucks a trendsetter of civil service as well. Starbucks began as a chain of stand-alone coffeehouses but has since transformed to become a staple amenity with locations in airports, hotels and even on cruise ships. The risk of expansion came with a price, but the innovative step taken to expand its product has helped to keep Starbucks ahead of its competitors. As explained by Peter Skarzynski and Jorge Rufat-Latre in their article, "Lessons to Jumpstart Disruptive Innovation," while Starbucks has taken financial hits with the rollout of multiple locations, the buyout of competitors like Seattle's Best Coffee company and the woes of the recent recession, its work has established its sustainability. The need...
By efficiently offering a product in a way that hadn't been done before and keeping that product current with consumer needs, Starbucks began and continues to cater well to the market. Through corporate partnerships, competitor buyout and visibility in the global market Starbucks has situated itself as a staple for coffee products. Overall, while the strategy for the success of Starbucks has come under fire by critics of capitalism, the company has managed to progress its business development.
Works Cited
Gaudio, R.P. (2003). Coffeetalk: Starbucks ™ and the Commercialization of Casual Conversation.
Language in Society. 32(5), pp. 659-691
Skarzynski, P., Rufat-Latre, J. Lessons to jumpstart disruptive innovation.
Strategy & Leadership, 39(1), 5-10. Retrieved January 21, 2011
