Business Ethics And Organization Social Responsibility MGT 4 ✓ Solved

Business Ethics and Organization Social Responsibility MGT 422

This assignment is an individual assignment.

Critical Thinking Questions:

1. You are the Environmental Officer of the leather manufacturing company. One of your employees has dumped toxic waste in a nearby stream. As a CEO discuss in detail your reaction towards the situation. Create an implementation plan to solve the crisis. To avoid speculations and unnecessary fear discuss your proposal? (3 Marks)
2. Considering the above situation build value or a compliance approach that best suits the manufacturing company. Justify the established approach as a policy framework for the government. (2 Marks)

The critical thinking answers length should be between 700 to 750 words.

Paper For Above Instructions

In the realm of business ethics, the role of a leader facing crises is crucial. As the Environmental Officer of a leather manufacturing company, I am deeply concerned about the recent incident involving the dumping of toxic waste in a nearby stream by an employee. Such actions not only violate ethical standards but also pose significant risks to public health and environmental safety.

Immediate Response

My immediate reaction as the CEO would involve a triage approach focusing on addressing the environmental impact while protecting the company’s reputation. First, I would ensure that the toxic waste is contained to prevent further leakage into the water supply. This might require coordination with environmental authorities and mobilizing an emergency response team to clean the affected area. I would also initiate a thorough investigation to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident, including interviewing the employee involved and reviewing operational procedures.

Implementation Plan

Once the immediate response is underway, the next step is to implement a structured action plan. Key components of this plan would include:

• Internal Review: Conduct a comprehensive internal review of our waste disposal procedures and environmental compliance protocols to detect gaps and ensure strict adherence to regulations.
• Employee Training: Launch a company-wide training initiative focusing on environmental responsibility and legal compliance to ensure all employees understand their roles and the importance of ethical practices.
• Community Engagement: Foster transparency by communicating openly with the community and stakeholders about the situation, the steps being taken to rectify it, and measures to prevent future occurrences. This might involve town hall meetings or direct communication with local organizations.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Establish ongoing monitoring processes to evaluate the effectiveness of implemented changes and ensure compliance with environmental standards.

This implementation plan aims to address the crisis comprehensively and restore trust among stakeholders. It underscores a commitment to ethical practices and environmental stewardship, which is vital in today’s business environment.

Building a Value Compliance Approach

In analyzing the situation, I propose adopting a value-based approach that emphasizes ethical responsibility over mere compliance with laws and regulations. While compliance is essential, fostering a culture that values ethical decision-making can yield long-term benefits for the company.

Key aspects of this value compliance approach would include:

• Ethics Training Programs: Regular workshops that focus on ethics and compliance can embed a culture of accountability and integrity within the organization, making ethical considerations part of everyday decisions.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Actively engaging with all stakeholders (employees, customers, community members, suppliers) to understand their concerns and gather input can enhance our policies and strengthen our commitment to ethical practices.
• Ethical Leadership: Leadership should model ethical behavior, demonstrating the importance of corporate responsibility. Leaders must hold themselves accountable to the same standards they expect from their employees.

Justification of the Framework

The establishment of a value-based framework resonates not only within the confines of corporate responsibility but also aligns with governmental policies aimed at safeguarding environmental and public health. By prioritizing ethical conduct, the company not only mitigates risks associated with violations but also enhances its reputation and operational viability.

This approach supports regulatory frameworks that favor organizations promoting sustainable practices, as seen in increasing government incentives and public support for environmentally-friendly businesses. Thus, we can create a sustainable competitive advantage that also contributes positively to society.

Conclusion

In conclusion, facing ethical dilemmas such as the dumping of toxic waste requires decisive, thoughtful action that prioritizes ethical conduct and responsibility. Through an implementation plan that focuses on immediate resolution and a long-term commitment to a value compliance approach, our company can navigate crises effectively while fostering an ethical workplace culture. By integrating these principles into our operational framework, we can ensure that incidents like these do not occur in the future and uphold our reputation as a responsible business dedicated to ethical practices.

References

• Boatright, J. R. (2013). Ethics and the Conduct of Business. Pearson.
• Cano, A. (2016). Corporate Social Responsibility: A Case Study Approach. Journal of Business Ethics, 138(3), 505-521.
• Ferrell, O. C., & Fraedrich, J. (2015). Business Ethics: Ethical Decision Making & Cases. Cengage Learning.
• Harrison, J. S., & Wicks, A. C. (2013). Stakeholder Theory, Value, and Firm Performance. Business Ethics Quarterly, 23(1), 97-123.
• Heath, J. (2014). Morality, Competition, and the Firm. Journal of Business Ethics, 129(3), 475-490.
• Kaplan, R. S., & Norton, D. P. (2001). The Strategy-focused Organization: How Balanced Scorecard Companies Thrive in the New Business Environment. Harvard Business Review Press.
• Velasquez, M. (2012). Business Ethics: Concepts and Cases. Pearson.
• Wagner, B. H. (2013). The Ethics of Environmental Responsibility. Business and Society Review, 118(2), 217-252.
• Smith, N. C. (2003). Corporate Social Responsibility: Whether or How? California Management Review, 45(4), 52-76.
• Carroll, A. B., & Buchholtz, A. K. (2011). Business and Society: Ethics and Stakeholder Management. Cengage Learning.