1-2 QSO 321 Response

• Do you agree or disagree with your peer’s initial post? Why or why not?
• What examples from the textbook or outside resources (such as news articles) support or dispute your peer’s stance, and how?
• Did your peer provide any insight or information that changed your opinion about the TBL? If so, how?

Post 1: Thomas

My name is thomas and I am working to get my business degree. I like to brainstorm business ideas, and I work for The Salvation Army. It is business organizations responsibility to track and manage social, economic, and environmental impacts of their actions. Businesses want to be honeybees that contribute to the wellbeing of the people and the planet, this could help their image and get more profits. Businesses do not want to be locus because they suck the planet dry from resources, this could hurt their image (Soomo).

The cost of being innovative to produce less greenhouse emissions is expensive. Paying for ethical employees can be more expensive than exploiting a countrys citizens for labor. TBL brings accountability and secures a future for the world. Organizations that practice TBL help the planet and its resources last longer. By not polluting the world as much and giving sustainable living wages to people. Being a B certified company is also an accomplishment that many companies strive to achieve.

References

Soomo Learning. (2025). People, planet, and profit (2nd ed.). https://www.webtexts.com

Post 2: Roy

I’m Roy and I’m majoring in Business Administration with a concentration in HR Management. I’m hoping to be a Budget Analyst as a GS in the Air Force. I was a maintenance technician contractor for MQ9s under Lockheed and before that I was enlisted for 7 years as a CV22 backshop maintenance technician.

I do believe it is the responsibility of businesses to track and manage the social, economic, and environmental impacts of their actions. Organizations do not operate in isolation, they rely on employees, communities, natural resources, and public infrastructure to function. Due to this interconnectedness, businesses have both an ethical and strategic obligation to consider how their decisions impact people and the planet. Focusing only on financial performance may create short-term gains, but it can also lead to long-term reputational damage, regulatory risk, and loss of stakeholder trust.

The Triple Bottom Line (TBL) framework brings significant value to businesses by expanding how success is measured. Instead of focusing solely on profit, it encourages organizations to evaluate their performance based on people, planet, and profit. This perspective can strengthen brand reputation, improve employee engagement, attract socially conscious consumers, and reduce operational risks. While there are challenges, such as inconsistent reporting standards and potential short-term cost increases, the long-term strategic benefits often outweigh these drawbacks. In many cases, sustainability efforts drive innovation, efficiency, and competitive advantage.

For society, businesses that embrace TBL contribute to healthier communities, environmental protection, and more equitable economic systems. When companies prioritize fair labor practices, responsible sourcing, and environmental stewardship, society benefits through improved quality of life and resources preservation. If TBL were not widely practiced, we could see greater environmental degradation, widening, social inequalities, and increased public distrust of corporations. Ultimately, TBL helps align business success with societal wellbeing, which is crucial for sustainable economic growth.