Communities

As I continue to read Measure What Matters by Katie Paine, the importance of a community was discussed.  When I think about the word community, I see it as individuals in my area where I have close contact on a regular basis.  I have my work, college and pharmacy communities.  When looking at a business, a community may include stakeholders and most importantly the customers.  In addition, one has to consider governmental agencies and other parts of the community where a relationship can be established.

Typically, businesses will focus on the key members of its community.  However, they often forget about the other pieces of the public who are influential in a business.  Sometimes it takes a problem, like a protest towards a product, to raise awareness to the other components of the community.  Areas associated with a company expect some type of corporate social responsibility (CSR) to be in place in order to be considered part of that specific community.  This typically can be accomplished through community outreach programs and other events. 

Overall, it is imperative for businesses to establish relationships with the community and communicate when appropriate.  If members of a community can’t easily contact you, then they may turn to social media to express their frustration.  It only takes one post to hurt a company image quickly.  By establishing and maintaining a relationship, a business can thrive in a variety of settings.