I believe for a business to survive first of all, they need to prioritize profit. By doing this, the business will be able to stabilise sooner as well as reach break-even to pay for all of their start-up debts. As the business prioritizes profit, they contribute to the economic growth and reduces unemployment by giving good job security, this is because when profit is high enough for the employees to receive good wage, they become loyal to the company. The business may have objectives to be sustainable however, if they aims to always ensure they are doing good for the society, the pressure and expectation will pound upon them as they will have to always find a solution to both maintaining a good amount of profit and be sustainable. Sounds petty but it is much easier to only maximize profit from the start then slowly drives towards sustainability just enough for customers to stay and attract new audiences as time goes on, than to focus on sustainability right from the start.

Profit act as incentives for owners and shareholders. Encouraging more innovation goods & services and development of the business, as well as encouraging more investments and trust from shareholders. Additionally, for some businesses, profit can be essential for internal re-invest, enabling funds to develop new products or other business activities such as advertising or investing in new technology.

Social responsibility ensures that the business operates in a way that is sustainable and ethical. If a business has social responsibility, this would encourage trust and support from consumers in the business and helps build customer royalty and brand image. Moreover, the business can avoid pressure groups and possible legal issues.

I believe that when a business first start up they should prioritize profit to break even and cover cost. When they’re financially stable and are in a good state, the business can starts developing a more sustainable production.

Profit maximization allows firms to reinvest in new products, expand production, and create jobs.

• Encourages efficiency and innovation since firms aim to reduce costs and increase revenue.

• Generates higher returns for shareholders, which can attract more investment.

• Leads to government revenue through taxes, which can be spent on public services.

If a company prioritizes profit maximization over social responsibility, it can create wealth for its employees by offering higher wages, thereby ensuring the business's sustainability. However, without any social responsibility in the industry, the company can damage its public image, harm the environment, exploit workers, and face long-term backlash from consumers, regulators, and the community, which could ultimately threaten its reputation and sustainability. Although this may sound beneficial for a company that prioritizes social responsibility, focusing on maximization is the only realistic option because the business is probably going to go down if making profits is not the business's aim, and when companies prioritize making profits ethically and responsibly, it can actually help society by creating more job opportunities to stay competitive and maximize profits. I believe profit comes first, social responsibilities are something a business itself can grow within a strong business model.

Economic Growth: Profit maximization fuels economic development by encouraging investment, innovation, and efficient resource allocation. When companies generate profits, they can reinvest in their operations, create jobs, and contribute to overall economic prosperity.

Shareholder Value: Businesses have a fundamental duty to their shareholders to maximize returns, which can lead to increased capital availability and market expansion.

Competitiveness: Focusing on profits incentivizes companies to be efficient, improve products and services, and stay competitive in the global market.

Maximizing profits will allow more capital stored inside the business. This will provide the business more capital to be invested for the expansion of the business. Maximizing profits also provide more assets which can be used for paying the liabilities and allow more liquidity throughout the business.

In comparison with focusing more on social responsibility, where the business will be less likely to survive due to the lack of income. Additionally, focusing on profit maximization will allow the employees to receive higher salaries where they are more motivated.

However, focusing on improving the society will allow the business to have a better brand image. This will attract more customers and also create more loyal customers. Social responsibility also reduce the possible problems that can be caused from pressure groups.

I think that different businesses will have different aims and objectives to follow. Profit maximization means that said business will prioritize short-term profit over long-term, by producing and earning profit at the highest level possible, the firm can remain financially sustainable, and provide the finance needed to purchase better capital and fund expansion that will benefit production. However, decision making might not be beneficial in the long-term as it encourages taking high risk for high rewards. Business will need to cut cost in production of goods or service, resulting in lower quality that will damage brand’s image and reputation.

By prioritizing social responsibility, businesses will consider society, environmental issues and take action on the damage caused by their activities. By doing so, not only does will firm attract more customers due to their eco-friendly view and increase revenue, but also encourages innovation and increase efficiency that will earn them more competitive advantages due to being different and more unique from the other businesses in the same market. In contrast, they might suffer from the increased cost.

If the business is small, they should focus on earning profit as it is essential for survival against bigger competitive business and reduces the chance of it being taken over. Even though social responsibility will be advantageous in terms of building trust and loyalty from customers, the business might not be able to cover the cost from the production of goods with resources that are more ethically sourced.

I think businesses should prioritize social responsibility. This is because being social responsible allow them to enhance their brand image and build trust with customers. Nowadays, customers often like to support and react positively to businesses who are socially responsible with society and environment. By being socially responsible, the business can not only increases their reputation but also create stronger customer loyalty, which allows profit and long-term success to be achieved.

Whether businesses should prioritize what depends on the scenario and the aim of the business. However, most firms need to balance out between profit maximization and social responsibility. This is because profit maximization ensures the ability to survive and growth, social responsibility will ensure long-term benefits. So by not concentrating on just one side, businesses can be both profitable and responsible at the same time. However, I personally believe that businesses should prioritize profit maximization more for the following reasons:

Business should prioritize profit because it ensures the development of the company. This is because without profit, the company wouldn't be able to pay for raw materials, wages, and attract more investors. Moreover, when businesses have more profit, they will grow and contribute to the overall economy. They will be more competitive and hence adopt more advanced technology, being more innovative and this will benefit the customers as they have more quality products. In addition, more profits causes businesses to expand, this provides job security to employees, creates more job opportunities, and more promotions to workers. When businesses grow, they benefit the society a lot as they makes roads and infrastructure of local area to become better. As a result, profit maximising not only help businesses to survive, expand, attract more investors, but at the same time benefiting the society a lot.

Being social responsibility does help businesses a lot, especially the brand image. This is because customers love brands that are ethical. So when doing CSR campaign, businesses improve their credibility a lot and hence attract more customers and sales. Being responsibility also help to conserve the resources that the businesses exploit, which means they are also creating a more sustainable path for their growth. However, just focusing on social responsibility will costs businesses a lot and they can even become inefficient. As a result, profit maximizing will be better choice for both businesses, customers and the society.

Economic Growth: Profit maximization fuels economic development by encouraging investment, innovation, and efficient resource allocation. When companies generate profits, they can reinvest in their operations, create jobs, and contribute to overall economic prosperity.

Shareholder Value: Businesses have a fundamental duty to their shareholders to maximize returns, which can lead to increased capital availability and market expansion.

Competitiveness: Focusing on profits incentivizes companies to be efficient, improve products and services, and stay competitive in the global market.

Businesses should prioritize maximizing profit because it enables them to survive, grow. This can create many opportunities such as

• Without profit, a business can't pay employees, suppliers, or operating costs.

• A company that isn’t financially healthy can’t sustain itself — let alone support social causes.

• Social sustainability initiatives (like eco-friendly practices, fair wages, community programs) require funding.

• A profitable business can afford to invest in sustainability without compromising its operations.

• Investors, banks, and stakeholders are more willing to support profitable businesses.

• Once growth is stable, companies can shift focus to broader social and environmental goals.

• Social responsibility efforts without real profit can be seen as PR stunts or greenwashing.

• A profitable business is in a better position to embed sustainability into its core strategy — not just treat it as an add-on.

I think that businesses should prioritize profit maximization because it ensures their long-term survival, fuels innovation, and supports economic growth. Profit allows companies to invest in research, expand operations, and create jobs, benefiting not only shareholders but also employees and communities. By focusing on profitability, businesses can remain competitive in dynamic markets and attract investment that drives further development. While ethical considerations matter, a strong financial foundation is what enables companies to pursue broader social goals sustainably. In essence, profit isn't just a goal...it's the engine that powers everything else in a business. However down the line i think its important that a business prioritizes social responsibility because it strengthens their reputation, deepens stakeholder relationships, and ensures long-term sustainability. In an era where consumers, employees, and investors increasingly expect companies to act ethically and contribute to societal well-being, social responsibility is no longer optional.

Business should prioritize profit maximization to stable the business, ensure their growth, and increase the economic growth of the country. The profit can stabilized the business by providing them the money they need to pay the loan they took out and deal with unexpected repairs. Profit can ensure their growth as they have more money to develop new products and services, which they can use to compete with other businesses and increase their profit. They increase the economic growth of the country by raising the GDP. Also, having more profit, they can do CSR or develop eco-friendly packaging.

I think businesses shouldn’t just chase profit. Of course, making money is necessary, without it, a company can’t survive. But if profit is the only goal, businesses often cut corners, harm the environment, or mistreat workers. In the end, that damages their reputation and can even hurt their profits later on.

Being socially responsible is smarter in the long run. When companies prioritise their workers' well-being, protect the environment, and give back to the community, people trust them more. Customers today like to support brands that stand for something positive. Workers are also happier and more motivated when they know their company values more than just money.

Profit and responsibility don’t have to be opposites. A business that acts responsibly can still make plenty of money, maybe even more, because it builds loyalty and respect. So to me, businesses should put social responsibility first, while still aiming to be profitable. That way, they succeed while also helping society.

I think businesses should prioritize profit maximization because profit controls the business activities, profit ensures their long-term survival and economic growth. In addition, profit provides necessary funds for managing risks and investing in future growth. Profit drives activities and maximises profit, encouraging businesses to be efficient. This efficiency drives them to optimise production, reduce waste, and allocate resources in ways that generate the most value. Profits can provide businesses with a healthy profit margin to attract investors and lenders for projects, making it easier to secure loans and capital for new projects and expansion. Higher profits provide businesses with the financial resources to invest in research and development. When businesses are profitable, they are more likely to expand and hire new employees, which contributes positively to the economy. Profit is a simple and reliable metric for measuring a business's efficiency and overall performance.

On the other hand, social responsibility had a huge effect on the business. It enhances the loyalty of customers and the brand image of an ethical and sustainable business that they should support. Studies show that a majority of consumers are more likely to buy from companies that support causes they care about, and many are willing to pay a premium for products from socially responsible brands. This translates into increased sales and customer loyalty, which are crucial for long-term profitability. A strong social responsibility can be a powerful recruitment and retention tool. Employees, especially younger generations, want to work for a company that has a clear purpose and makes a positive difference in the world.