...Starbucks: Ethics and Compliance FIN 370 August 7, 2012 Professor Tom Brady Starbucks: Ethics and Compliance Business Ethics and Compliance is a platform that undergirds Starbucks operation and assists to safeguard its philosophy and name by supplying ways that help associates make moral judgments at work (Starbucks Corporation, 2012). Starbucks has been on the scene since 1971 and has continued to grow at a minimum rate of 20 percent annually. Starbucks is known as the collegiate meeting place and the patrons are as diverse as its employees. Business professionals, students, stay at home mothers and dads alike find that Starbucks is one of the many places that are not biased in service or its beliefs. For the last 5 years Starbucks has been awarded as one of the most ethical companies in the world. The award recognizes companies that actually go past making statements about doing business "ethically" and transform those words into deeds that benefit all mankind (Ethisphere, 2012). As a company Starbucks believes that equal and fair treatment of every person is detrimental to making any business successful. In an effort to make sure that Starbucks remains a thriving business ethical compliance has been a major focus of the company from its beginning. Every employee is educated in what ethical policies are and the expected role he or she is to play once employed. Starbucks is known to embrace diversity and consider every employee a partner in changing the world one...
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...Starbucks’ Ethics and Compliance Paper Ethical behavior within a company is very important to its future and success. This type of behavior is not just important for the employees to follow, but for the entire company. In 2001, a failing company called Enron was involved in numerous unethical behaviors. For example, Enron’s Chief Financial Officer temporarily suspended their “code of ethics” not once, but twice in order to partake in personal financial gain. Enron’s actions eventually resulted in bankruptcy and assisted with the creation of a new set of guidelines for companies to follow. The so-called guidelines were called the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (Titman, S., Keown, A.J., & Martin, J.D. 2011). The SOX helped institute a set of rules for companies to follow, one being the creation and compliance of a code of ethics within every company. One company that seems to do a very good job with complying with the guidelines of SOX is Starbucks Corp. They have a strong program set in place to support their mission of making ethical decisions at work. The use of their program “Business Ethics and Compliance” might just be the very reason why their SEC filings show a relatively successful business. Financial Environment In regards to the finance environment, Starbucks plays an active role in ethics and compliance. Not only are their employees offered ways to voice concerns of unethical issues in the work place, but also Starbucks’ partners as well. Starbucks holds a meeting...
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...The role of ethics and compliance in Starbucks is set in place to ensure that all of Starbuck’s staff from the baristas working the front counter to the corporate staff are all abiding by federal laws and regulations. Ethics in financial practices are sometimes hard to believe. The agency problem is the result of conflict of interest between stockholders and the managers of a firm (Titman & Keown, p. 15, 2011). “A conflict of interest is a situation in which a person has a private or personal interest sufficient to appear to influence the objective exercise of his or her official duties (“Business Ethics”, n.d.). An example of a conflict of interest would be if the CFO attempted to acquire a property or investment from a friend or family member without acting in the best interest of Starbucks and it’s shareholders. Corporate advisors, in this case a CEO or CFO are legally required to make fair and ethical financial decisions. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act or SOX, passed by Congress in 2002 holds corporate advisors that have access to influence company decisions legally accountable for any instances of misconduct (Titman & Keown, p. 11, 2011). The SOX act is in effect in order to protect corporate shareholders against financial misconduct and accounting fraud. According to Starbuck’s Code of Ethics for CEO and Finance Leaders are required to follow the following seven duties: act with honesty and integreity, avoiding actual or apparent conflicts of interest, provide internal...
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...Ethics and Compliance Team A April, 16th 2013 FIN/370 University of Phoenix Starbucks is a globally known brand that has brought coffee lovers hundreds of products and services to satisfy their caffeine fix. This company has grown from a small coffee house based in Seattle, to a worldwide corporation who is a superior example of how hard work goes a long way. Because of its size and popularity, Starbucks has become an example to other corporations on how to properly to business ethics and comply with the regulations set into place throughout the world. Not only does this company comply with all the standards set into place, but they also go above and beyond in helping out within the communities they serve at home and abroad in efforts to give back. Starbucks truly is a prime example of an ethically grounded and financially stable organization that has given back to all those who have helped make this a globally recognized brand. Starbucks Business Ethics and Compliance After the fallout of Enron, business ethics and, compliance have become a standard business practice for companies in America. To ensure compliance practices across an organization, companies implement standards of business conduct for its employees and leadership to comply with. Starbucks is no different. According to "Starbucks Business Ethics And Compliance" (2013), Starbucks publishes its Standards of Business Conduct and states its commitment to conducting business ethically and...
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...Ethics and Compliance in Finance In present day, conducting business ethically and honestly becomes a vital factor in the success of an organization, and Starbucks’ has excelled with its standards. Starbucks strives to always do the right thing and facilitates legal compliance and ethics training for their employees. Their seriousness with the matter became reflected upon them in 2011 when they became ranked as one of 38 of the most ethical companies by Ethisphere magazine. Commitment to strong ethics in operations became distinguished as a positive pointer to financial performance. “The evaluation also considers companies’ legal compliance and litigation track record, reputation in the marketplace, concrete examples of local, national, industry or global initiatives, governance and corporate citizenship, including environmental stewardship, supply chain engagement and corporate philanthropy.” (Environmental Leader, 2011). Starbucks includes in their business, nationally and internationally, a high standard of honest transactions and representation for their products and stakeholders. Following legal guidelines becomes an important factor in their ethics and a Code of Ethics has become established for the CEO and financial leaders to acknowledge and sign. Responsibilities to include protect and preserve stakeholders’ interests and executing duties honestly, fully, accurately, timely, and in good faith with no misrepresentation. As it takes time for the market to grasp...
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...Week 2 Learning Team Ethics and Compliance Paper Rebecca Mouser Jose Baho Daniel Williams Natalie Sadler FIN/370 Finance for Business July 1, 2013 Instructor Brad Simon Week 2 Learning Team Ethics and Compliance Paper Introduction – Jose Baho What started as a store in Seattle, Washington’s Pike Place Market in 1971 has flourished into a gourmet coffee empire that is as recognizable worldwide as any of the major food industry giants known today. The current number of Starbucks stores is approximately 18,000, which has been achieved by following a strict recipe that has nothing to do with their coffee beans. Throughout history, Starbucks Corporation has followed a strict recipe of corporate business ethics that has helped build a trusted company for consumers and employees alike. Some areas of focus for Starbucks Corporation are strong ethics and compliance in their financial activities, which set the standards for ethical behavior companywide while complying with SEC regulations. Ethics and Compliance – Jose Baho Abiding by a strict level of ethics and compliance is paramount in the success and longevity of Starbucks Corporation. “Starbucks believes that conducting business ethically and striving to do the right things are vital to the success of the company. Business Ethics and Compliance is a program that supports Our Starbucks Mission and helps protect our culture and our reputation by providing resources that help...
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...Starbucks Corporation Ethics and Compliance Michelle Anderson, Deida Camacho, Michelle Garcia, Adam Orndorf FIN/370 May 28, 2012 Joseph Potts Ethics and Compliance Starbucks was established in Seattle, Washington, by Jerry Baldwin (English teacher), Zev Siegl (history teacher) and writer Gordon Bowker (Funding Universe, (n.d) Starbucks is famous for its distinctive roasted coffee flavor and its incomparable taste. Starbucks is known worldwide and based on its success more than 17,000 branches in over 55 countries (Starbucks Corporation, 2012). The following paper will review annual report data (2010 and 2011) and will also discuss the SEC filing for this corporation. This paper will also address the role of ethics and compliance for Starbuck financial environment. A description will be given on how financial markets work in the United States. This paper will also discuss the procedures the Starbucks has put in place to ensure ethical behavior and will also identify the process used to ensure that the business complies with the SEC regulations. Based on the 2010 and 2011 reporting, calculation on current ratio, debt ratio, return on equity ratio, and days receivable will be presented. Ratio movement/changes will provide business financial health information based on the two-year period. Business Ethics and Compliance Business ethics and compliance is important to Starbucks. Starbucks believes that conducting business ethically and striving to do right...
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...Business Ethics and Compliance Standards of Business Conduct Dear Fellow Partner: Starbucks is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world and has become a truly global brand. From the beginning, we have recognized that you, our partners, are critical to our continued success. Starbucks reputation for the finest coffee in the world, legendary customer service and the highest integrity is the direct result of our collective efforts. We are all caretakers of Starbucks reputation. How we conduct our business and how we treat others—our fellow partners, customers, communities, suppliers and shareholders—will continue to determine how the world views Starbucks. “ tarbucks reputation for the finest coffee S in the world, legendary customer service and the highest integrity is the direct result of our collective efforts.” Each of us is personally responsible for supporting our core values, which require compliance with the law as well as ethical conduct. We have issued the Standards of Business Conduct to restate our longstanding commitment to uphold that responsibility and to provide guidance to our partners. As we move forward, the Standards will help ensure that our values continue to be reflected in each Starbucks store and business activity. A commitment to integrity, acting honestly and ethically, and complying with the letter and intent of the law are critical to our continued success. Thank you for your partnership...
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...Business Ethics and Compliance Standards of Business Conduct Dear Fellow Partner: Starbucks is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world and has become a truly global brand. From the beginning, we have recognized that you, our partners, are critical to our continued success. Starbucks reputation for the finest coffee in the world, legendary customer service and the highest integrity is the direct result of our collective efforts. We are all caretakers of Starbucks reputation. How we conduct our business and how we treat others—our fellow partners, customers, communities, suppliers and shareholders—will continue to determine how the world views Starbucks. “ tarbucksreputationforthefinestcoffee S intheworld,legendarycustomerservice andthehighestintegrityisthedirectresult ofourcollectiveefforts.” Each of us is personally responsible for supporting our core values, which require compliance with the law as well as ethical conduct. We have issued the Standards of Business Conduct to restate our longstanding commitment to uphold that responsibility and to provide guidance to our partners. As we move forward, the Standards will help ensure that our values continue to be reflected in each Starbucks store and business activity. A commitment to integrity, acting honestly and ethically, and complying with the letter and intent of the law are critical to our continued success. Thank you for your partnership. Warm regards, Howard...
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...Evaluation of a business code of ethics Joshua McCoy PHL/323 March 21, 2012 Dr Sharon Thomas Evaluation of a business code of ethics There are many different types of ethics in the world today. The one that I will talk about will be the business code of ethics of Starbucks Coffee Company. In 1971 Starbucks opened its first store in Seattle’s Pike Place Market. In 2010 Starbucks has over 16,858 in both the United States and all over the world. Starbucks mission statement is “Our mission: to inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time. Here are the principles of how we live that every day: Our Coffee: It has always been, and will always be, about quality. We’re passionate about ethically sourcing the finest coffee beans, roasting them with great care, and improving the lives of people who grow them. We care deeply about all of this; our work is never done. Our Partners: We’re called partners, because it’s not just a job, it’s our passion. Together, we embrace diversity to create a place where each of us can be ourselves. We always treat each other with respect and dignity. And we hold each other to that standard. Our Customers: When we are fully engaged, we connect with, laugh with, and uplift the lives of our customers – even if just for a few moments. Sure, it starts with the promise of a perfectly made beverage, but our work goes far beyond that. It’s really about human connection. Our Stores: When our customers...
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...Fall 2009 Starbucks in Tiawan [pic] History of Starbucks The first Starbucks was opened in Seattle in 1970s by three partners: Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegel and Gordon Bowker. The name of Starbucks came from Herman Melville’s Moby Dick, a classic American novel about the 19th century whaling industry. The seafaring name seems appropriate for a store that imports the world’s finest coffees to the cold, thirsty people of Seattle. (Starbucks Coffee Company, 2009) Entrepreneur Howard Schultz joined the company in 1982. While taking a business trip in Italy, he visited Milan’s famous espresso bars. He was so impressed with their culture and popularity, he thought he could bring this idea to the United States, this idea would be successful. He was right, Seattle became coffee-crazy after trying lattes and mochas. (Starbucks Coffee Company, 2009) The development of Starbucks expanded beyond Seattle in 1990s. First, they expanded their stores to all states in the United States, and then extended to the world. The U.S. Starbucks stores around the world are based on different market conditions and different organizational structure. There are four kinds of structure which Starbucks uses to expand their stores around the world: own self-employed, joint venture, license agreement, authorized to operate. Moreover, they were the first firm which offered stock options to their part-time employees. Starbucks becomes a publicly traded company. (Starbucks Coffee Company...
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...Ethics and Compliance Paper FIN/370 July 14, 2011 Ethics and Compliance Paper Introduction Starbucks boasts that they serve the best coffee possible to meet their mission to inspire and nurture the human spirit, one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time. Starbucks has grown from one store in Seattle founded by two teachers and a writer in 1971 to more than 17,000 stores throughout the United States and overseas companies. Of these, 53% are directly owned by Starbucks and the rest in franchised contractor leases. This amazing feat brought three people together, each using $1,350, and borrowing $5,000 to make over a billion dollar per year successful business 40 years later. The name Starbucks was their original name in reference to the coffee-loving first mate in Moby Dick, and the design was from the two-tailed siren mermaid. Most recognize the Starbucks brand as a house-hold name and should also know that they are proud and committed to their coffee knowledge, customer service, and product expertise. They call their employees partners and offer Starbucks internal programs such as comprehensive health coverage and equity in the company. Every Starbuck’s employee knows he or she is a visual symbol of the company and needs to work as if each store was hid or her own. Starbucks also adheres to the requirements of the Security Exchange Commission (SEC), which is a publicly traded company known as SBUX. The aim of this paper is to discuss the roles of ethics...
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...Behavior and Communication Paper Starbucks has established itself as a worldwide powerhouse and is perhaps the most recognizable coffee company in existence. In order to achieve this status and maintain it as well as the company has it is no surprise that the emphasis from within is always on quality. Starbucks starts this commitment to quality with the raw materials of their products and the company also has well-outlined corporate governance materials to help form the structure on which the company is organized. It is impressive how orderly the structure at Starbucks, starting with its founders and board of directors. This structure and commitment seems to be communicated well within the Starbucks culture considering the company’s sustained dominance in its industry. One interesting detail of the Starbucks mission statement posted on their webpage is how brief and direct the message is in general. I feel this is a positive because the message from the core of the company is easy to understand and sounds very logical in principle which is appealing to potential employees and investors. A primary emphasis that is prevalent throughout the mission statement is unity and a family-like culture that Starbucks wants to generate. This family is not just to include the board of directors, suppliers, manufactures and other employees but is extended to the customers and communities of each location. The company even goes as far to call any stakeholder in the organization a “partner”...
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...work, but you need to decide where personal values lie. Organizations have values just like people. Organizational values include setting goals, hiring the right people, standards on work ethics, pay rates, and time off offered to employees. These values are set by the owners and managers of the company. They are not defined in one day but created over years. Just as important as setting and defining values, is finding the right employees share these values. Starbucks maintains a desirable position with approximately 18,000 stores worldwide of which nearly 13,000 are in the North America and 255 are in New York City. Following is an exploration of the many ways that Starbucks aligns the organization’s values in their plans and actions. Evolution of Personal and Workplace Values The origins of personal values start at home with family and culture. As individuals grow, their values may change to incorporate new ideas. Workplace values start with individual values and then integrate the organization’s values to accomplish their duties. In today’s business world, an organization’s values are important to the culture and success of the company. A few important values anyone should live by include treating others with respect, treating customers as most important, and doing what is right. Starbucks Coffee Company is one of the most recognizable names in coffee. Few companies have experienced success...
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...functions of management, it is much more than that. Diversity in Starbucks incorporates ethnic group, age, personality, thinking style, religion, job position, education, sexual orientation, and personal background. These are just some of the types of diversity that Starbucks faces on a daily bases and must deal with in to implement a successful management system. Diversity not only affects a Starbucks internally but also externally in the sense that it must protect its public image to customers and creates a higher standard of competition with other businesses. Leading in any business also can be considered as a practice for diversity management because it gives the understanding that in order to fix external diversity problems; it must start by working with the internal diversity problems. (Starbucks Blog, 2011) A perfect example of this is when allegations surfaced in June 14, 2011 of a Long Island Starbucks being anti-gay after a customer posted a blog on her personal website of a manager yelling at a gay employee that they are not interested in in his politics or beliefs and his thoughts were down right offensive to his co-workers and that they are not welcomed in Starbucks. (KIROTV, 2011) This caused thousands of customers to post angry comments on Starbucks Facebook wall and news media outlets to report the story. The next day, Starbucks issued a statement and apologized for the incident added that “Starbucks has supported the LGBT community for many years, and we have zero...
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