...value is through the implementation of a social responsibility platform within common business practices and operations. The definition of social responsibility is for a company to maximize positive benefits and minimize negative effects to their stakeholders. Company Q’s lack of concern towards their primary and secondary stakeholder’s interests highlights their disregard, intentional or not, of social responsibility and the resulting negative effects it creates. Company Q demonstrated this social responsibility neglect to their primary shareholders by delaying their customers’ desire for organic, healthier options and by implying mistrust of their employees. Social responsibility advises regular attunement to stakeholders concerns as a means of keeping in touch with them, a form of open communication. It took three years of customer requests to implement the addition of organic food to Company Q’s inventory. A modest turn-around time is understandable as not all stakeholder desires are achievable. This request, was obviously achievable based on the eventual presence of organic goods, however it was ignored for a lengthy time; this does not demonstrate an attitude of social responsibility from Company Q. A company’s social responsibility also pertains to another primary stakeholder, their employees. Employees are considered stakeholders due to their concern over their employer’s wellbeing: it’s a symbiotic relationship. Company Q’s distrust of their employees, citing...
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...Company Q and Social Responsibility Company Q does not have a good attitude toward social responsibility. They had to close two stores that were not making any money due to the crime rate in the area the stores were located. Due to a lack of trust with employees the company has decided to refuse donations to the local food bank. Both of these situations have the potential to spiral out of control causing a loss of profit for the company and have a negative impact on the stakeholders. A lack of trust between company and employees could cause this store to suffer increased theft, because the employees know they lack the respect of the company. This may cause them to either turn a blind eye to theft, or steal themselves. In regards to the food banks request, donating locally would be a great way to bond with the community. More people will consider shopping at a store that is giving back to the community. My first recommendation would be for Company Q to start a Product-of-the-month program. They could choose to feature a different item every month and monitor sales on that item. This would lower the risk of ordering a large amount of something that will not sell well. If they only order a small amount and feature it in the store for a month, then they would know if it would be a good item to continue to carry in the store. This would be a good way to find out what customers like without spending a lot of money. It would be wise for them to advertise in their store that they...
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...COMPANY Q: A DISCUSSION ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY 1 COMPANY Q: A DISCUSSION ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY Objective 310.2.1-05 COMPANY Q: A DISCUSSION ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY 2 Overview of Business Ethics When considering a company’s responsibilities, it is easy to define responsibilities to owners, shareholders, and investors. Most businesses start up in order to make money. Being profitable is one of the fundamental responsibilities of a business. According to Dr. Milton Friedman (1970), profitability is a business’ first ethical responsibility. Customers, too, are an obvious area of responsibility of a business. Without customers, there is no income, and therefore no profit. So, it is also a responsibility of business to serve its customers, by providing them products or services of value. There are, however, other people also served by business whose interests are not so straightforward, others who have a stake in the success or failure of the business. These include employees, suppliers, and the community in which the business operates. For all of these stakeholders, the business has responsibilities beyond profit, including transparency, non-discrimination, and sustainability. Customers should be able to expect not only a valuable product or service, but also a safe and reliable one. They should also expect that the service rendered is non-discriminational, i.e. priced and provided to all potential customers on an even playing field regardless of race, religion, color...
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...Social Responsibility requires a sense of duty of good to the stakeholder and environment where the business operates. Social responsibility concepts are a part of society focus and adopted by business as the standard for ethics, Presently Company Q attitude toward social responsibility is negative or nonexistent. Consistently, management of Company Q approached business matters with mindset of profit gain. Company Q primary focus on loss revenue created missed opportunities to be social responsible. The missed socially responsible acts were missed increases in sustainable long term revenue or profit gains. Company Q revenue driven attitude is the prevailing decision maker for closing two alleged profit losing stores. When Company Q had the appearance of being social responsible by management deciding to offer a few healthconscious and organic products, it was revenue motivated. The revenue motive is overt by the products being high margin items. Although Company Q would not observe a specific loss of profit by donating day old product to a local food bank, management chose to heedless and claim loss due to presumed untrustworthy employees claiming food. Company Q could greatly benefit by reviewing it mission statement or creating a new statement that incorporates ethics and values that meet the needs of it primary and secondary stakeholders. Future management decision should be based on effects of the stakeholder. Company Q incorporation of the stakeholder need will create ...
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...EST1 TASK 1: Company Q and Social Responsibility When analyzing ethics in a business environment the examiner must evaluate the stakeholder system of morals, values and judgment of the organization in question to determine its collective ethical stance on a situation. Based on the prompt of this task we can derive a list of these stakeholders and use them to construct a current and future representation of Company Qs social responsibility attitude. From the prompt we can group the stakeholders on this issue in question as the: metropolitan community, company shareholders, company management, store customers, local charity and employees. Based on these groups, in terms of social responsibility fact pattern, it can be said that Company Q’s stance on social responsibility is unbalanced, limited and weak. The actions described of the company suggest that the bottom line and revenue are the drivers of company policy and operations. This is especially shown from the cost and loss control decisions made by the company when faced with ethical situations that involved social responsibility in the metropolitan community and local charity arenas. The decision of the company to ignore the opportunity for an increase of social conscience in both situations for revenue control exposes its limited approach to social responsibility. Furthermore the only action by the company that could be deemed as socially responsible was motivated by the possibility of higher revenues through the offer...
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...Western Governors University A: Evaluation of Company Q Social responsibility is a vital part any business or organization. Company Q does not display social responsibility as an important part of their company. Social responsibility shows the attitude actions and activities of a business which contributes a major impact on the image of that business. Company Q is a small local grocery store located in a major metropolitan area. This local area has a food bank that has requested assistance from company Q. The Food Bank asked that company Q donate day old products that they no longer need so that they may contribute them to their community. Company Q’s management team has declined the request and instead have decided to throw the food away. Company Q declining the donation request to the food bank shows a lack of interest in the community, which will reflect poorly on the business. Social responsibility is all about having a positive effect on our society. Company Q lacks social responsibility simply because they have denied to assist their community by donating day old foods to the food bank due to concerns of fraud by their employees. The choice that company Q has made will reflect negatively on the company. Shoppers may even choose to shop at other locations and the reputation of the company may decline. Businesses should be socially responsible and demonstrate ethical practices in their organization. Social responsibility within an organization should not be focused...
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...Company Q – Social Responsibility 1 Case Study on Social Responsibility – Company Q For over forty years, the subject of business ethics has continued to evolve and one aspect in particular, social responsibility has become more of a focus. A company’s attitude on social responsibility is evaluated in how they maximize positive impacts on stakeholders while minimizing the negative impacts. Stakeholders include employees, customers, investors and the communities in which they operate. Over time, examples from the world of business have shown ethical standards and social responsibility have a positive impact, not only in terms of reputation management, but long-‐term organizational success. Based on the information provided about Company Q’s actions, it appears that the primary driver for their business decisions is short-‐term economic responsibility without evaluating impacts to all of their stakeholders. Three...
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...I am tasked is to evaluate Company Q’s current attitude toward social responsibility and recommend three actions that Company Q could take to improve their attitude toward social responsibility. In evaluating Company Q’s attitude towards social responsibility there are a couple of examples that displays the company’s lack of social responsibility awareness. Company Q closed a couple of stores in higher-crime-rate areas with a claim that the stores are consistently losing money. The issue here is that closing these stores can create the perception that Company Q does not care about customers in these areas. In addition, after years of their customers requesting they start offering health-conscience and organic products, the company went ahead and stocked their shelves with the requested products but only a very limited amount. This can be seen as a half hearty attempt to please their customers, and a disregard for supplying healthy and possibly environmentally friendly products. Company Q also failed at another social responsibility initiative by declining to donate day-old products to a food bank, and further degrading their employees by projecting the possible loss revenue may result due to employee fraud and theft. The steps to make Company Q a more social responsibility aware entity can be achieved by putting immediate processes in place for the key points stated above. Company Q has the advantage of being a small local grocery chain and can follow examples...
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...In initially evaluating Company Q's actions it is relatively easy to identify that social responsibility and therefor ethical behavior, are secondary to fiscal directives. Company Q has survived as a small player in a large market because it is exactly that, a small player with an identifiable brand with community roots. These circumstances could provide Company Q with an advantage over its 'big box' competitors. But what Q has not done is seized upon its ability to relate to its local consumers. Instead it has chosen to be socially irresponsible and to fail in its ability to understand customer demand. It's failure to act with a responsibility towards these consumers has left Q with a public relations concern and a fiscal uncertainty. It is my opinion that with some simple adjustments and a business acumen that includes a social responsibility ethic, Company Q can adjust its current trend of store closures. Currently Q seems to be heavily focused on supplying bottom line profitability without any sense of responsibility to two of its major stakeholders: its employees and its local consumers. By doing so they creating damage, not only to the stakeholders mentioned, but also to all other stakeholders. To its employees Q is failing to create any kind of moral buy in by its employees. By demonstrating a lack of responsibility I believe that it is possible that its employees may well be left feeling alienated from the corporation goal and subsequently, as front line employees,...
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...Social Responsibility is a concept that lends the idea to companies and corporations that they should have practices and act upon things that have a positive outcome or repercussion is society, rather than be solely focused on maximizing profits (Investopedia, 2015). Company Q is facing an ethical dilemma by not wanting to donate left over food, specifically the higher-priced health foods, to food shelters because they believe their employees may lie about donating it. Company Q is demonstrating a negative social responsibility. They are demonstrating this in two ways. First, by closing their branches in high-crime areas, they are leaving a void for the public. Higher-crimes areas are typically littered with low-income areas and families. When Company Q sells their healthier items at a higher-price in high-crime/low-income areas, there will be a need that people cannot have met which may result in theft, which could explain Company Q’s loss of profit. Secondly, by refusing to donate excess food to food shelters, Company Q gives off the impression that a profit of any kind is better than helping a neighbor in need. Company Q does not demonstrate compassion in the act of throwing out the food, which is still edible, because this action will result in the food not being used by anyone. Company Q can implement three strategies of thinking to help improve their social responsibility, reduce employee theft, and better their reputation for their brand; those strategies are nurturing...
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...Western Governors University A: Evaluation of Company Q Social responsibility is a vital part any business or organization. Company Q does not display social responsibility as an important part of their company. Social responsibility shows the attitude actions and activities of a business which contributes a major impact on the image of that business. Company Q is a small local grocery store located in a major metropolitan area. This local area has a food bank that has requested assistance from company Q. The Food Bank asked that company Q donate day old products that they no longer need so that they may contribute them to their community. Company Q’s management team has declined the request and instead have decided to throw the food away. Company Q declining the donation request to the food bank shows a lack of interest in the community, which will reflect poorly on the business. Social responsibility is all about having a positive effect on our society. Company Q lacks social responsibility simply because they have denied to assist their community by donating day old foods to the food bank due to concerns of fraud by their employees. The choice that company Q has made will reflect negatively on the company. Shoppers may even choose to shop at other locations and the reputation of the company may decline. Businesses should be socially responsible and demonstrate ethical practices in their organization. Social responsibility within an organization should not be focused...
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...Social Responsibility In today’s world many companies deal with social responsibilities on a daily basis. In my term, social responsibility is the way a company positively impacts its employees, customers, community and investors while minimizing negative impacts on them. In this scenario Company Q would seem to think they have ethical issues. My time in business I have learned that ethics drive culture, culture drive behaviors, and together they drive great results. Having an ethical practice is critical in bringing a business to becoming and staying successful. Knowing Company Q’s scenario, there are many areas in which they are associated with business ethics and social responsibility. Here are a few of the areas that will be discussed about Company Q and its social responsibility. Each area will be discussed more in depth. First off, Company Q’s decision of closing down various stores in high crime areas due to these stores consistently losing money. Second, after years of requests from customers, Company Q began to promote healthy and organic foods at higher margins. Third, Company Q has decided not to contribute its day old products to local shelters and food banks. The three actions mentioned above may cause consumers to believe that Company Q’s social responsibility is not very satisfying. Many may see these as areas of opportunity from opinion basis and personal feeling reactions as appose to seeing the facts in why Company Q has made these decisions. Even...
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...EST1 Task 310.2.1-05 In the business world, social responsibility and profitability often are dependent upon one another. Many companies view social responsibility as being just as important, if not moreso, as making a profit. May times, the community relies upon local businesses upholding a certain level of social responsibility. Company Q is one company that is not setting, or meeting, a standard of social responsibility. Company Q’s actions show that the company places profitability at a higher level of importance than social responsibility. Company Q is not making an effort to be socially responsible, which may have played a part in the lack of profit of the closed stores. Many people in the community are unable to provide basics, such as food and water, for their families. In an effort to assist these people, food banks reach out for help from the community, in the form of monetary and food donations. One of the more common donation sources is grocery stores. Some grocery stores donate their day old and damaged food items to food banks. This gives the food to the local food banks, which is then given to the needy people in the community. This is a relatively easy thing to do, and something which utilizes a product which would likely be disposed of anyway. Company Q has failed to take this important, and much appreciated, step towards showing that it is socially responsible. The company’s choice to not donate the day old food is telling the community...
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...Company Q’s attitude toward social responsibility is negative and could use development. Their actions leave the perception to stakeholders that the company is only interested in profitability. In order for Company Q to improve their attitude towards social responsibility, they need to take into consideration their stakeholders, namely the customers, employees and the community. In my opinion, if the company were to make changes in their attitudes towards social responsibility, they could likely see an increase in revenue and a boost in consumer confidence. I believe that consumers will want to support a business with a good attitude towards social responsibility. An area that could be improved regarding the company’s attitude towards social responsibility is in the matter of the store closings in high crime rate areas. One could argue that closing the stores because of the high crime rate could be a valid business decision, but when the company reported that the closings were due to losing money, it leaves the perception that the company is only interested in generating revenue. It is likely that since these stores were located in high crime rate areas, they were most likely located in low income areas as well. A first step in changing the company’s attitude toward social responsibility would be to re-open the stores. This would show the community and employees that Company Q is concerned with the community and its employees by creating jobs and opportunities in these areas...
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...ETHICAL ISSUES IN BUSINESS 2 Abstract This paper examines social responsibility issues within Company Q and offers ideas for areas of improvement. ETHICAL ISSUES IN BUSINESS 3 Corporate social responsibility is a double edged sward. On one edge is the corporation’s social responsibility to its shareholders, employees and suppliers to avoid business activities that reduce the financial success of the company. On the other edge is the public good. (Duff) Companies are often torn between the need to be competitive and successful and the expectation to be socially responsible. A company that is socially responsible conducts business ethically and is philanthropic while remaining profitable. Economic responsibilities include producing desired, quality goods and services at a reasonable price, while providing profits for shareholders. Companies also have legal responsibilities to comply with all laws and regulations. Lastly, successful companies support philanthropic activities and organizations that promote human welfare and goodwill in the communities they serve. Company Q is making business decisions based solely on profit. Their current attitude toward social responsibility is affecting their profitability and damaging the community’s perception of their business. Company Q is attempting to reduce profit losses by closing stores that are losing money. Company Q’s management needs to find ways to increase revenues and profit...
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