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PurposeCapitalism as a concept is founded on "free economy" guided by a free price system and free access to markets. Many of the ills facing present day society such as unemployment, poverty, rising disparities of income, malnutrition, high polluted environment are getting increasingly linked to this corporate philosophy. Alternatives such as social business enterprises have been suggested and practiced by some of the enlightened entrepreneurs. This paper examines the tenets of social business, which advocates enhancing values to society, and the social benefit to all the stakeholders.Design/methodology/approachThis is an exploratory study and presents the origin, the rationale of the development of the strategic business model and its implementation. The model, based on the philosophy of social business, has been developed and practiced by Grameen Danone Foods Limited. The study has been conducted entirely on the basis of information and data available in the public domain.FindingsThe findings show an encouraging contribution towards enhancing social benefits to society. These are visible in meeting the needs of the children suffering from malnutrition, in the generation of employment and providing a rare dignity to the poor of the poorest. The shortfall in business results is traced to missing economy of scale of operations.Originality/valueSocial business is a new and a bold concept. It has faced many hurdles in its journey to meet objectives. The solutions it has discovered are sure to benefit many researchers, entrepreneurs, social‐welfare oriented societies, non‐profit organizations, national planners, regulators and society‐leaders.

This ebook provides a balanced mix of cases facing various aspects of challenges of business growth. It presents revised and expanded versions of seven selected cases presented at the International Conference on Business Cases ICMC2011, organized by Birla Institute of Management Technology , Greater Noida (India), and School of Public Policy, George Mason University, Arlington, Virginia(USA)on December 1-2, 2011 at BIMTECH campus. The dominant theme among these cases is identifying challenges of growth from an emerging turbulent global economic environment as well as from in-house factors. The

PurposeThe purpose of this case study is to explore and study the determinants (demographics and psychographics) impacting consumers food choice towards fast food in India.Design/methodology/approachFood choice variables have been explored using literature reviews and exploratory survey of young consumers in the age group of 20‐40. Data obtained from the reliable sources (e.g. the World Health Organisation, Euromonitor International and Datamonitor International) have been used to study the implications of consumer food choice and growing trend towards organic food.FindingsBased on literature reviews and exploratory surveys, the key determinants impacting consumers food choice are passion for eating out, socialize, ambience and taste for school and college goers and convenience for dual‐income families in urban India. Findings indicate that fast food companies can no longer rely on convenience as USP in India, unless the implications of same on consumers health is given equal importance in the years to come.Research limitations/implicationsData obtained from the convenience sample and literature reviews have been generalized for inferring consumption patterns of Indian consumers (population).Practical implicationsThis case study focuses on growing trends towards organic food and green consumerism in view of rising global obesity with fast food consumption in Western countries and significantly very less in India despite obesity being an epidemic in India.Originality/valueThis paper focuses on determining a food choice model in wake of changing food and eating habits in India, using literature reviews, exploratory surveys and reliable data sources.

PurposeThis paper seeks to investigate the manner in which a traditional ceremony with a high emotional content is being transformed into a capitalist market industry through a case study of the Thai company Suriya Coffins.Design/methodology/approachThe case study involves a critical analysis of secondary data together with ethnographic observation of Buddhist funerals in Thailand.FindingsSuriya Coffins has achieved a degree of market success by providing a basic package of services that can be supplemented by additional services on a network model. However, there have to date been certain constraints to growth.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper considers one single model in a single location in Thailand and so results cannot be taken to be widely generalisable.Practical implicationsUrbanization attenuates the link between people and traditional village communities and this opens spaces for commercial corporations to operate.Social implicationsGlobalization means increasing amounts of the sphere of traditional culture enter the world of commerce and this can lead to a certain degree of alienation.Originality/valueFew if any studies of the funeral industry in Thailand have been undertaken from a business perspective. The link between tradition and commercialism is generally underresearched.

PurposeCommunities around the world continued to be pummelled by devastating natural disasters with little to no relenting to the amount of loss of life, and property damage suffered by businesses and individuals. The United Nation reports huge financial commitments in 2010 to the tune of $109 billion in recovery in an effort of securing some semblance of normalcy. This paper aims to highlight the tremendous accomplishments created by the passing of the Post‐Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act within the US Federal Emergency Management Agency and to introduce a new concept titled Synergistic Protection that encourages citizens and businesses with special skills, equipment, or unique talents to volunteer by enrolling their contact information into a database maintained by the local emergency manager.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology that was used to construct this paper was traditional scholarly research and observations of the Washington, DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency. A personal account of what was said and that occurred was used.FindingsThis is a concept paper and did not use qualitative or quantitative procedures to conclude findings, but after the data were reviewed professional assessments were made to recommend a new way of involving citizens and private industry in disaster preparedness training and planning.Practical implicationsThe practical implications of the concept of Synergistic Protection being applied globally is tremendous and has relevance the world over. It is the author's goal for every country to start using aspects of Synergistic Protection in designing disaster and crisis management planning.Social implicationsThe social implications of applying Synergistic Protection are huge. If and when applied people living in communities will start to form bonds out of necessity and need, and not shy away from one another because of petty differences. I believe that Synergistic Protection is needed around the world.Originality/valueSynergistic Protection is completely original and both copyrighted and trademark by the author.

PurposeThis conducive and concise phenomenon aims to review the illusive victimization homeowners face and to zero in on the underlying factors optimistically stimulating deceptive and oppressed sensations homeowners endure in America before, during, and after mortgage foreclosure. The purpose is to accurately discover the behaviors, which lead to the homeowner's decision making from real storytelling of those alleged victimized homeowners.Design/methodology/approachThe homeowner, an autonomous contributor, who stands to reason has its own non‐prejudiced commentaries, and places the propositions in a binding framework, adapts this preparation.FindingsPrior to the year of 2000, the real estate market was booming. It was at an all‐time high. The rich, the powerful, the influential, etc. were making top dollars off some innocent and some not so innocent homeowners. Suddenly, American homeowners everywhere found themselves drowning in mortgage foreclosure meltdown (debt) crisis. This crisis, believed to be a consequence of the Commodities Act of 2000, was under the watch of former President Bill Clinton. However, although, this Legislative Act appears to have been inconsiderate, unethical, and immoral for sure the homeowner had a choice in the decision for or against the loan as well. This review's contribution to the book of knowledge finds that from the mortgage foreclosure stories told by homeowners, they are also really held accountable for their responsibility, virtuality, answerability, decision making, and appreciative intelligence in this situation. This newfound knowledge seeks to find the cruciality in one looking before one leaps.Practical implicationsThe paper intends to provide stratagems, which are insightful, and of unimaginative thinking to get into the hearts and minds of individuals by helping them to understand the reality of their behaviors. Homeowners should recognize the importance of self‐honesty towards education, credit ratings, and their happiness or unhappiness in terms of the best decision for themselves before signing on that dotted line.Originality/valueThe paper extricates strenuous research for researchers, educators, and those seeking to educate themselves about the potential difficulties of being a homeowner in a mortgage foreclosure situation. The value of this contribution provides the most pertinent information, which is accessible in a conducive, concise and stress‐free digestive format. The originality of this contribution is designed to influence the willingness many of the world's leading banks, bankers, lenders, mortgage brokers, mortgage companies, and most of all the homeowner to change their behavior and to stop the unethical practices relating to the continuing mortgage foreclosure crises today.

PurposeThe purpose of this case study is to understand effect of Indian ethos, socio‐cultural setup, etc. on growth of family‐based business; impact of ethnicity and genetic intelligence on development of entrepreneurial traits, etc. in family business contexts in India.Design/methodology/approachThe approach takes a single case study on an organized retail firm named Bothra Megabazar Private Limited in Rourkela, India to comprehend the established theories and literature on emergence and spread of business community/class in India known for its own ethos and values as a country. As a part of narrative enquiry method in qualitative research, it collects the narratives of central and peripheral characters in the respective business house through "story telling" and by "restorying" the same, understands and explains the family‐based entrepreneurial journey amidst business dynamics.FindingsThe important findings of this case study are manifold. It finds that there is inter‐connectedness of different aspects amounting for success/growth of family business entrepreneurs and enterprises. Some of these factors are deep‐seated Indian ethos and values, multiple family and social networks, joint and undivided family structure, inheritance of family business down the generations, financial backing from members of family and social networks, long standing experience in trade, genetic intelligence across generations, internal capacity building with unique style of leadership and high‐risk appetite, etc.Research limitations/implicationsWith its focus on one specific community like Bani(y)as or Marwaris in Indian business society, the case may not justify the understandings on genetic intelligence in case of other communities/class. However, the study elaborates scope of future studies in the same direction.Practical implicationsPracticing managers and research scholars can use this case for understanding of the key success/growth factors behind socio‐culturally guided family‐based business enterprises.Originality/valueThe paper presents a case that is original.