ETH 501
Case 3
Business Ethics
Introduction
In reviewing the case for module three on Mattel I couldn’t help but notice how similar a case study this was to another multinational corporation (MNC). That corporation is Nike. It seems that around the time I was entering my teenage years more and more corporations where being placed under this microscope. This was a direct correlation of globalization. Every industry leader has gone through this as a result of being a industry leader and a trailblazer in globalization; Wal-mart in retail, Nike in shoes and Mattel in toys. Still, in all investigative coverage there is the one that rips the lid of and sheds light on a world we couldn’t have imagined and have never seen.
The
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Compassion is demonstrated in improving the dormitories that these workers were subjected to living in. For example in the article titled “A Toy Maker’s Conscience” it states how on many of the dormitories running water was not available above the fifth floor (Dee, 2007). Workers were forced to get water from the bottom floor and transport back to the sixth floor (Dee, 2007). This is something that was corrected under the leadership of Prakash. The last virtue that is displayed in the case is the virtue of integrity. Based off the moral and ethical principles they showed in fixing the living quarters and work conditions for the workers (Dee, 2007). All three of the virtues lead to worker safety, working conditions.
Best Normative Ethics
It is my belief that the normative ethic that best fits this case is the virtue ethics. In the introduction of the test portion Mattel fits the question of “Does it represent my organization’s reputation or vision of the kind of enterprise it wants to be (Hamilton)?” The answer would be yes it does. Furthermore, when you go through the four steps of applying the test you Mattel fits all four. Step One, “Ask if the action will help to make you the kind of person you want to be (Hamilton)?” This is a grayish area for
Over the years I have been at INDE, I have realized that we lack a business ethics in the workplace, which has sometimes lead to ethical dilemmas and quite frankly has affected the quality of work and trust with employees. I know this company started off as a startup but as we strive to provide our clients a world class product and service we must not forget on important work ethics at INDE. The crisis we are facing right now easily could avoided.
Every business develops a set of ethical principles that they abide by. The business ethical principles intentions: it construct the business certainty in the community , maintain the employees liveried in what the business attempt to have as structural conducts and aid the employees consume principles to make ethical choices that guards the business. In a culture with a diverse assessment structure and augmented judgment visibly by companies with changeable ethics and interests, there appears to be further difficulties on business individuals to make tougher ethical assessments. In our day-to-day performances, we depend on on our ethical principles to monitor us in the correct path and do the correct things. The substance of any efficacious and perpetual business is they segment a mutual ethical matter concentrating on presenting and generating value along with allocating their business values with the citizens they network with on a day-to-day basis.
Breaking down an overview of Lockheed Martin’s organization leads to Terris’ elaborate plan to gain a general overview of the evolution of business ethics and revealing a balance between profits and stakeholder concerns. Responsibilities of top leadership involve several different form of involvement. These leaders have to be aware, decisive, honest, focused and inspiring. A top leader is usually referred to as a chief executive officer, CEO. CEOs have helped throughout the history of business ethics by seeking unfair advantages through immoral arrangements and creating new ways of business. With business changing occurring, welfare capitalism becomes a major aspect in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. As a result of issues with welfare capitalism, corporate social responsibility has made its appearance in the twentieth century. Programs of corporate social responsibility now form many of corporate America’s largest advertising campaigns, especially in industries that have been vulnerable to public criticism for their social impact (Terris, 2005, p.42).
In the chapters, “The Discarded Factory” and "A Tale of Three Logos," Klein explains the globalizing effects on brand name multinational corporations? In the first chapter, “The Discarded Factory,” Klein tells about how corporations are putting much less of an emphasis on the production side of their business and more of an emphasis on the brand name they build. In the second chapter, “A Tale of Three Logos,” Klein talks about how three large corporations, Nike, Royal Dutch Shell, and McDonalds grew their brand.
I feel that transnational cooperation’s have had a large impact on globalisation. A transnational corporation (Multinational Corporation) TNC is a corporation or enterprise that manages production establishments or delivers services in at least two countries such as Coca Cola and Nike. Very large multinationals have budgets that exceed those of many countries. Multinational corporations can have a powerful influence in international relations and local economies and play an important role in globalisation. I feel that the economy is the most significant motivating force
In her book she also addresses the growing massive globalization of corporations into global Goliaths. She makes the claim that such large corporations may even be considered form of multinational government. Klein states that these huge corporations are squeezing out the competition and creating less competition to compete with within the markets, and less of a fight to attract consumers.
Globalization refers to the “tendency of investment funds and businesses to move beyond domestic and national markets to other markets around the globe, thereby increasing the interconnectedness of different markets. Globalization has had the effect of markedly increasing not only international trade, but also cultural exchange”³. Globalization is closely related to foreign investment in the sense that foreign investment is a contributing aspect of globalization. It has also been noted that globalization can especially impact developing countries as it “helps developing nations "catch up" to industrialized nations much faster through increased employment and technological advances” . McDonald’s is a prominent example of a company that has embraced the opportunity to globalize and achieve success doing so. McDonald’s is the largest fast food restaurant chain in the world consisting of more than 35,000 outlets spread across 118 countries. Although the company was founded in the United States, they have not limited themselves to North America; they now spread worldwide into every continent. Similar to their global growth increase, the company has also seen their revenue tremendously increase as they continue to share their product with more and more people around the world. “McDonald’s key to success is its business mantra of “think global, act local”. This has allowed the company to achieve financial success in every region it opens its fast food restaurants”4. McDonald’s has clearly found the right strategy in terms of growing their product internationally as they’re seen to be one of the most successful companies doing so, their numbers support their success as they receive around 65% of their revenue from international
Utilitarian is one of the most powerful and persuasive approaches to ethics and moral rights. It is normally held to be the view that morally right action is the actions that produces the most good. I will be discussing the utilitarian ethics in regards to The Case of Sole Remaining Supplier.
Utilitarianism is a type of theory that was developed to come up with a proper course of action that maximizes the joy of the stakeholders involved. While consequentialism is defined as the view that value of an action derives solely from the value of its consequences. Today, consequentialism is the form that usually takes form. Utilitarianism tries to evaluate the moral worth of an action after one has considered the actual consequences, the foreseen consequences, and the anticipated consequences. In the business environment, situations arise that require the application of utilitarianism ethics. Decision makers are placed on notice and utilitarianism takes priority over the
Case 5.1 discusses the Frontline documented Wal-Mart and its effect on globalization. Wal-Mart is a major corporation and it has been one of the top ranked retailers in the world. Wal-Mart has been criticized for how it handles its global affairs, and how the workers are affected by the decisions the company makes.
Globalization involves global interaction and cooperation between individuals, corporations, countries and their governments. As demand for products grows and the technology it takes to improve the process by which products can be manufactured more cheaply grows, globalization grows as well. It is supported by advancements in technology. These changes can have both short-term and lasting effects on issues surrounding economics, politics, the environment, and human rights. Thanks to globalization, companies like Nike are able to transform themselves. In Nike’s case, from a small local company to a global sports shoe and apparel superpower and a globally-recognized brand. However, as Nike
Globalization is a necessary evil that allows business to make huge profits and third-world countries to begin creating a free market economy. While it seems that globalization may be a solution to the problem of poverty and starvation for some people, it may also contribute to issues such as child labor, discrimination, exploitation and health and safety issues for people working in developing countries. Since U.S. laws do not apply to American companies operating in foreign countries, these companies have an ethical responsibility to create codes of conduct to govern the way they treat people and conduct business overseas. Levi Strauss & Co. has been a leader
In accordance to Velasquez, ethics is the discipline that deals with “right” and “wrong” or “good” and “evil” decisions that are made in according with approved standards of behavior. This is normally regulated by society and legislated by laws from federal government, state, and the country in which the business is executed, as well as, highly scrutinized by the media. But ethical behavior should not stop there, because usually laws only set minimum standards which corporations could always improve on (Velasquez, 2006).
This chapter begins by providing the background and context of globalization as a workplace issue; followed by the problem statement; purpose of the study; and research questions that the study is striving to address. Concluding the chapter are common terminology definitions used throughout the study.
The media has to look for everyday business operations at global market. International business develops different outcomes that not only meet the requirements but also elaborate the performance of business. Different drivers of globalization can basically