...The Responsibility Project ETH 316 The Responsibility Project Searching the Responsibility Project website I found several videos of importance when it came down to ethical principles and organizational ethics. One video of an organization stood out from the rest. This video represented a company called Greyston Bakery. Greyston Bakery was founded in 1982 by a Zen Buddhist meditation group led by Bernard Tetsugen Glassman, a former aerospace engineer with an entrepreneurial spirit and a bold vision. The group borrowed money to open a storefront bakery in the Bronx, Their original goal- to produce quality, locally made products that would give the group sustainable, satisfying livelihood- soon inspired a socially responsible business extending opportunity to others. The where several key issues in this short film that caught my attention and ones I believe to be inspiring to any business. The first issue is Greyston Bakery has an open hiring mentality. Open hiring is about giving their local residents a second chance at life by hiring people who were or are down on their luck. These could be local residents that have had drug or criminal backgrounds and Greyston Bakery is an organization giving these people a second chance on their futures. By hiring these certain individual Greyston Bakery is giving back to the community in times when a community needs it the most. Greyston Bakery’s profits support their own foundation the Greyston Foundation this foundation is truly one...
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...The Responsibility Project: Lighthouse ETH/316 The short film I chose to discuss is titled “Lighthouse”. In this short film, a grumpy light house keeper is responsible for maintaining the functionality of the lighthouse. At the point in the time in the movie, the lighthouse keeper decides not to join in the town’s festivities and avoids socializing with the community. While the lighthouse keeper is working on paperwork, the light stops working and the lighthouse goes dark. The importance of the lighthouse is to avoid incoming ships hitting the shore rocks, causing possible loss of the ship, its cargo, and even the passengers on board. As the lighthouse keeper is attempting to fix the light, he further breaks the glass shell of the light beyond repair. A panic comes across the lighthouse keepers eyes as he sees an incoming ship headed straight towards the shore rocks. During this time, the town folk noticed the lighthouse stopped working. They all decided to stop partying and grab a lantern to head to the lighthouse. As the entire town quickly makes their way to the lighthouse with lanterns in hands, they make their way to the top of the lighthouse to provide enough light for the ship to see the rocks and steer clear of danger. Although, the film I chose isn’t a typical corporate organization, I believe it relays an important message. As it may be one person’s responsibility for a specific job duty, it is our social responsibility to help our friends and coworkers...
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...The Responsibility Project ETH/316 The Responsibility Project The short film that was reviewed on The Responsibility Project website is titled Selling to the “Cool Kids.” The ethical principles of a large organization, Abercrombie and Fitch will be reviewed. More specifically we will be reviewing comments the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Abercrombie and Fitch made and the ethical implications they caused for the large retailer. The short film Cool Kids gave insight into one of the more taboo social traits of some Americans, overweight is an automatic descriptor of unattractive. As previously stated, the issue that was uncovered was initiated by the CEO Mike Jeffries of Abercrombie and Fitch. He stated, “There are the cool and popular kids, and the not-so-cool kids. Candidly, we go after the cool kids […] A lot of people don’t belong [in our clothes], and they can’t below.” (Bennett, 2013) The Cool Kids provided an earlier statement citing “He doesn’t want larger people shopping in his store; he wants thin and beautiful people.” (Bennett, 2013) The comments made by Jeffries led to an outrage of controversy for the retailer. Business Insider wrote a follow up article regarding retailers not marketing or even making clothing extra large clothing. Feeling the pressure from Jeffries comments the Abercrombie and Fitch spokesperson has “no comment” for the article (Lutz, 2013). This reiterates not only the controversy but the rationalizing of a business leader...
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...The Responsibility Project The Responsibility Project 9/17/2012 ETH/316 The Responsibility Project The issues in this film are important because it shows how a typical shift may seem like everything goes wrong, and nothing could possibly make things worse. There are days when the typical worker wishes they did not get out of bed. Occurrences happen and people want to run off the job and give up, but people should not give up. Accidents happen, and when they do, people should evaluate what is happening at work. There are ways and options to fix broken lights, and equipment utilized on the job. At times it looks like there is no solution, but there are always options one may not view as available to them. The best option for an employee to choose is to not panic. The job looks dark at times, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel, or in this case, a light in the top of the lighthouse. The film teaches how equipment failures occur, but if people ban together and help each other the job will go smoothly and the organization of the company improves. The roles of external social pressures have a high amount of influence in organizational ethics. The news media, social networks, and word of mouth of customers affect the organizations publicity and reputation immensely. The employees of a company should always remember to help each other when they are able, and an extra hand makes light work. Social pressures influence organizations and companies to maintain...
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...University of Phoenix The Responsibility Project Student Ethics 316 Jun 4, 2012 Week 3 Dr. Been There Done That The Responsibility Project The following paper will examine the short film “Our World” from the Responsibility Project featuring singer John Legend. Specifically, the paper will provide insight into the organizational issue of education and how ethical principles, external social pressures, relevance of organizational, and personal decisions affect this societal problem. Why are the issues in the film important? The issues with this film center on our ailing educational systems in and around low income, poverty stricken inner cities throughout the United States. Ensuring each child receives a quality education regardless of ethnicity or social background is extremely important issue. John Legend is using his success and resources to address these exact concerns within the political arena in Washington. What role do external social pressures have in influencing organizational ethics? External social pressures can steer organizational ethics, both in negative and positive manner. For example, as John Legend highlights society (external social pressure) tends to have several pre-conceived notions on inner city education activities. One such negative notion is poor black, white or Hispanic children will not do well within the education system because of the influence of the geographical...
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...The Responsibility Project The Responsibility Project ETH 316 The Responsibility Project A short film was chosen to view on the Responsibility Project website. The film chosen was named Greyston Bakery. The ethical principles in the film is used to address organizational issues. The two biggest issues located in the film is given. The importance of the issues located in the film is explained. The role of external social pressures occurred on Greyston Bakery show how social pressures effects the organizational ethics. Three reasons why the issues are relevant to the organization and personal decisions is given as well. The relationship between legal and ethical issues located in the film is produced along with explanation of how domains can conflict and possible solutions to end the conflict. The short film is about Greyston Bakery in which shows how the bakery supports the community. The bakery gives back to the community from profits of the bakery goods sold (Liberty Mutual, 2010). The biggest item sold is the brownie they have that is used in the social enterprise in direction to reach social and profit mission (Liberty Mutual, 2010). The biggest issues in the film is open hiring and community development. Open hiring allows the business to hire people within the community to provide a opportunity to allow people employment regardless of past history (Liberty Mutual, 2010). Community development is developed by using profits...
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...The Responsibility Project Ethical principles can be used to address organizational issues in many ways. In recent years, the media spotlight has focused on serious ethical lapses in every type of organization. As workers, it is important that we care about ethics as most of us work for ethical organizations. Most important, we as individuals must care about ethics, regardless of what kind of job we hold. It is important that we feel good about ourselves and the work we do. Organizations must care about ethics because workers depend on them to help define the boundaries of acceptable and unacceptable behavior. Organizations may be interested in being ethical in order to avoid criminal liability or bad reputation, or they may be interested in being ethical because the human beings who run them believe it’s the right thing to do and want to be part of a fair and just environment. Ethical lapses can cost an organization dearly in shattered customer confidence, increased government regulation, and huge fines. In some industries, companies have joined together in voluntary efforts to promote ethical conduct among organizations in the industry (Trevino & Nelson , 2007). The short film that I have selected that addresses’ organizational issues is “Prodigy”, http://sharerp.com/73. This film is about a talented teen named Isaiah who must decide between a future as a rich athlete or happy musician. The issues in this film are important because this young man’s future and...
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...The Responsibility Project ETH/316 May 26, 2014 I’ve chosen a short film from The Responsibility Project to write my essay. The film I watched and felt connected to was titled The Entrepreneurial Spirit: Franklin barbecue. (2012) I chose this film because their passion for chasing the pipe dream is exactly what living out the American Dream is all about. Franklin barbecue is located in Austin Texas and run by a middle aged couple named Aaron and Stacy Franklin. Their passion for barbecue underlines some key ethical organizational challenges. People are always expecting perfection and today’s generation is impatient for perfection and desires instant gratification. Barbecue is a good representative of something subjective to each of us. The barbecue flavor I might think is good might not be as good to you and your taste buds. Not to mention, barbecue by nature is very inconsistent. Aaron grew up around barbecue as his parent’s had run a small barbecue restaurant. His passion was arguably instilled at a young age and would become his dream. As he aged, he hosted backyard barbecues where he discovered that his friends looked forward to his smoked meats. Many of those friends even encouraged Aaron to consider opening a restaurant. Together, they keep their doors open until they are sold out of their product. This means that they sacrifice time they could be investing on something else. They’ve learned that barbecue is a monstrosity of its own. Environment sustainability is...
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...The Responsibility Project ETH/316 The Responsibility Project Ethical principles are often used in the workplace to address organizational issues. Most commonly the workplace functions around ethical procedures that are taught through training and the effective implementation of ethical policies and procedures. Most companies function with ethical guidelines to avoid legal issues as well as maintain employee morale and help boost their company’s productivity and image. However, when you bring the details of your work home with you ad discuss with your family and significant other it can often be cause for conflict and misalignment of ethical principals. In the short film “Lawyers” (http://responsibility-project.libertymutual.com/films/lawyers) on the Responsibility Project website a man and woman discuss the ethical details of their work. Both the man and the woman are lawyers and they meet for dinner where the husband plans to propose. The Sushi restaurant that they are eating at has turntable that goes around the sushi bar rotating different plates of fresh fish. While the female is busy talking to a coworker the man puts an engagement ring on the turntable without her seeing. He is planning to proposing to the woman when the ring makes a full circle around the bar and back to their seat. While e is waiting, she keeps being interrupted by work phone calls and discussing a client. The client is a professional baseball player who has been accused of using steroids...
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...The Responsibility Project Earlene Espy ETH 316 December 10, 2013 Donna Craft The Responsibility Project At the top of discussion in various arenas such as schools, work, church, and casual fellowship; is how ethical principles are being used to address organizational issues. Ethical principles can be applied in numerous ways that will establish a strong organizational structure that employees on all levels of hierarchy will appreciate and value. This paper will discuss the short film, “Greyston Bakery” and focus on why are the issues in the film important. As well as what role do external social pressures have in influencing organizational ethics? Wrapping up the paper, a look at how these issues are relevant to organizational and personal decisions along with the relationship between legal and ethical issues as shown in film (UOP, 2013). Film: Greyston Bakery The Greyston Bakery located in Yonkers New York is known for their gourmet sweets that populate restaurants to the White House but this organization started a social experiment over two decades ago (CBS News, 2010). Julius Walls Jr., President and CEO of Greyston Bakery, states “there is more substance to the organization besides the famous brownie recipe” (Liberty Mutual, 2010). The organization conducts business with the use of a balance between a double bottom-line model. The use of this model allows Greyston Bakery profits to support Greyston Foundation, an organization with ethical principles...
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...The Responsibility Project Why are the issues in the film important? The film demonstrates how John Seigenthaler moderates a lively discussion on the state of political discourse among a panel of elected officials and leaders. The issues in the film are important due to strategies that are made by democrats and republicans so that situations go in a particular party’s favor. The film demonstrates how one may use pictures of someone, e-mails, blogs, and voicemails in order to gain the upper hand. What role do external social pressures have in influencing organizational ethics? External social pressures can be considered peer pressure and tend to be a result of society and its ability to conform to attitude changes in values and behavior for the good of all. Social pressures can change a brilliant and charming idea into a hopeless and dry one. However, the influences external social pressures have on organizational ethics can influence corporations to consider actions and behavior they may not otherwise take into account. These issues are important to the organization because the organization will be providing resources that address issue in the society. In some cases news stations like CNN, Fox News, and Local news stations only show and may manipulate the facts in order to boost ratings, socially individuals may use this method to boost their social status as well. How might these issues be relevant to organizational and personal decisions? These issues are...
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...3-4(a) A tabular analysis of the transactions made during August 2010 by Witten Company during its first month of operations is shown below. Each increase and decrease in stockholders' equity is explained. | ------------------------------------------------- Assets | = | ------------------------------------------------- Liabilities | + | ------------------------------------------------- Stockholders' Equity | | | ------------------------------------------------- Cash | + | ------------------------------------------------- Accounts Receivable | + | ------------------------------------------------- Supplies | + | ------------------------------------------------- Office Equipment | = | ------------------------------------------------- Accounts Payable | + | ------------------------------------------------- Common Stock | + | ------------------------------------------------- Retained Earnings | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ------------------------------------------------- Rev. | - | ------------------------------------------------- Exp. | - | ------------------------------------------------- Div. | | 1. | $20,000 | | | | | | | | | | $20,000 | | | | | | | Com. Stock | 2. | -1,000 | | | | | | $5,000 | | $4,000 | | | | | | | | | | 3. | -750 | | | | $750 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4. | 4,400 | | $5,400 | | | | | | | | | | $9,800 | | | | | Serv. Rev | 5. | -1,500 | | | | | |...
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...Ethics Essay Nancy Castro Ethics 316 Ruth Embleton March 7, 2012 Ethics Essay Comparing and contrasting ethical theories helps one to understand ones guidance system, which helps or aides one through their decision-making process. “Each theory emphasizes different points such as predicting the outcome and following one's duties to others in order to reach an ethically correct decision.” (2011) each theory has a familiar thread with a goal. In this paper each of the following three ethical theories utilitarianism, Virtue, and Deontological will be described relating to ethics and morality. Concluding with an example with which the relationship between virtue, values, and moral concepts as they relate to utilitarianism. Utilitarianism Utilitarianism ethics emphasize that action should be morally beneficial to a group. This course of ethics is often known as “the greatest good for the greatest number” or simply put, “the greater good” (Boylan, 2009). In other words, the consequence of any ethical action should be beneficial by mass appeal. This is a common underlying theme for ethics in capitalist economies and business as well as in democratic governments (Boylan, 2009). Virtue Theory The virtue theory, also known as virtue ethics, focuses more so on the character of a person rather than the rules and consequences of specific acts. What this essentially means is that the primary focus is whether or not the person acting ethically is a person who upholds...
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...Project Roles and Responsibilities This template can be used to define roles and responsibilities – Below is a few typical examples of the different types of roles involved in delivering a project and their respective responsibilities. Title Project Manager Role The person responsible for developing, in conjunction with the Project Sponsor, a definition of the project. The Project Manager then ensures that the project is delivered on time, to budget and to the required quality standard (within agreed specifications). He/she ensures the project is effectively resourced and manages relationships with a wide range of groups (including all project contributors). The Project Manager is also responsible for managing the work of consultants, allocating and utilising resources in an efficient manner and maintaining a co-operative, motivated and successful team. Responsibilities • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Managing and leading the project team. Recruiting project staff and consultants. Managing co-ordination of the partners and working groups engaged in project work. Detailed project planning and control including: Developing and maintaining a detailed project plan. Managing project deliverables in line with the project plan. Recording and managing project issues and escalating where necessary. Resolving cross-functional issues at project level. Managing project scope and change control and escalating issues where necessary. Monitoring project progress and performance....
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...The Responsibility Project Hot Seat ETH/316 Deborah Stevens June 25, 2014 The Responsibility Project Hot Seat http://responsibility-project.libertymutual.com/films/hot-seat How many times in the workplace have we passed the buck? No one wants to admit it but more times that often many of us have passed the blame or given the responsibility of something that we should have done to someone else. This paper will discuss the importance of the issues of the Hot Seat film. How the role of external social pressures influence organizational ethics. How the issues are relevant to organizational and personal decisions. The relationship between legal and ethical issues as shown in the film will be addressed. Lastly, I will describe how ethical principles can be used to address organizational issues. The issue in the Hot Seat film was “passing the buck”. Passing the buck is defined as a person who avoids responsibility by shifting it to another. In the film there is a broken chair that keeps getting switched out from one person to another, instead of simply fixing the chair. The chair is literally going from one person to another and each individual knows that the chair is going around. The employees will not leave his or her desk in fear of having their chair swapped out for the broken chair. In the end one person takes his perfectly working chair and swaps it for the broken chair; taking it to his desk and rigging it to work properly. This issue is important because...
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