Book Review: Chapter 6: Development as Social Transformation
Book: The Fortune at the bottom of the Pyramid
Author: C.K. Prahalad and Stuart L. Hart
Library Reference: N/A
Amazon Reference:
http://www.amazon.com/Fortune-at-BottomPyramid/dp/B00006L5AW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232066330&sr=1-2
Learning Expectations:
- Development in BOP
- What is Social Transformation?
- The role of BOP in Social Transformation
Quote:
“The poor can be a market, Serve the market is to innovate, Demands a range of innovations in products and services, business models, and management innovations, Making the government accountable to the citizens and making it accessible and transparent.”
These are the foundations of development as social transformation. These are the lists of foundation are gateway to success especially in BOP Markets. If companies or government follow these foundational concepts, there will be an authentic change for the society and for the world as a whole. BOP leads to innovation and that innovation will lead to world to success. For a result, people will now motivated to work and giving them a chance of hope.
Review:
When a poor at the BOP are treated as consumers, they can reap the benefits of respect, choice and self-esteem and have an opportunity to climb out of the poverty state. Just like the previous chapter, it discusses about ecology as a wealth of creation. In this particular chapter, we can see that it is also applicable. We see that this chapter discussed all about development as social transformation and in part of this title, there is a “social” which we can relate it to ecology and also we can include this in the BOP market aspect. For the word social, it means that we are still connected to each other knowing the fact that we are united as one and that’s the role of ecology. On the other hand, the word “transformation” is a word of change. This means that we develop as an individual and as a social community. Since we are talking here about social transformation, through BOP Market, people will have an opportunity to literally climb out of the poverty trap. Meaning that all of us had a potential an opportunity to raise ourselves and prove that we can do it. When the time we done it, it is called an authentic social transformation. Again, we developed with our own perception and once we did it, we are considered to be part of a transformation.
As stated above, the quote means that these are the foundations or guide for a development as social transformation. Each people should learn these foundational aspects so that people will know how to transform or change themselves. Even that individual is just a starter, more and more determination will acquire by him or her. The question is how will these changes impact life at the BOP? The answer is stated here. “As a BOP Consumers get an opportunity to participate in and benefit from the choices of products and services made available through market mechanism.” With this answer, as a consumer of
BOP Markets, it will now be understand that it is easy to acquire these knowledge in BOP provided and knowing these foundations.
What I’ve learned:
Converting the poor into a market will require innovation. I agree with this because if people don’t think or move, how can their lives transform. I mean, what’s the use of their lives if they don’t move. Bottom of the Pyramid concept is given. People analyzed and study all about it to process an innovation for all humans. This is for all people who seek change specifically in market. All we have to do is to move and do something to implement it in our lives. We cannot call ourselves an authentic social transformation because we did not implement it yet therefore, since we aim for an innovation, we must gain knowledge for the BOP. Modern Technology, Good product and services are given; this will enable them to take a huge step in improving their quality of life.
For a final remark in Bottom of the Pyramid, while doing this book review, I realized that for our country, it is hard to implement this concept because we need more knowledge about this. Even if innovations for us already existed, the basic concepts must be inherited for the people so that they will know the true value of this study. We have enough ethical values because, first, we are Christian people and we are aiming for good values for our country. We also have a big opportunity to think what is good for us and other. Given all of these, we can do this together; the only problem is the solidarity which some Filipino’s don’t have.
For me, I love the study of the Bottom of the Pyramid. It is the good and best way to analyze the status of a particular company for their products and services. Thanks to this BOP because I learned a lot in expounding my knowledge as an IT Student and Business student.
Integrative Questions:
- How will these changes impact life at the BOP?
- What is the Real Test?
- What does BOP Consumer gains?
- What are the foundations of social transformation?
- What is BOP Consumer Upgrade?
Citations: N/A
