Bettr Barista: A shot at better lives

• Main Authors: WANG, Heli, MITTAL, Sheetal, LAI, Adeline Natalia Sue Yi
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2021
• Subjects: Sustainable competitive advantage; Social entrepreneurship; Resource-based strategy; Value proposition; Differentiation strategy; Business models; Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations; Strategic Management Policy
• Online Access: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/lkcsb_research/7171; https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/lkcsb_research/article/8170/viewcontent/BettrBarista_2021_av.pdf
• Institution: Singapore Management University

This chapter presents a case study in which Pamela Chng, the founder of Singapore-based Bettr Barista (BB), believes that a workplace cannot exist aloof from society's challenges and that companies need to be accountable for their contribution to society. The enterprise offers a four-month-long holistic programme, equipping them with job skills as a barista. The chapter highlights the challenge in maintaining the balance between financial and social goals, as this drives most of the decisions taken by the company, be it its value chain or the key stakeholders. The social programme was a comprehensive training course for the marginalised section of the society, especially youth and women. BB, through its integrated management approach and commitment to its social mission, can be considered to have exploited its resources effectively to make social objectives an integral and indispensable part of its business.