Primary Response Within The Discussion Board Area 195444 

Primaryresponsewithin The Discussion Board Area Write 200250 Words


Primary response within the Discussion Board area, write 200–250 words that respond to the following questions with your thoughts, ideas, and comments. This will be the foundation for future discussions by your classmates. Be substantive and clear, and use examples to reinforce your ideas. For this Discussion Board, please complete the following: You are a manager at a baby formula manufacturing facility. There are global supply chain issues which are impacting the availability of raw materials and a rapid increase in demand is preventing your company from fulfilling customer orders. There is not enough inventory in stock to provide the product to all of your customers, which include some major supermarkets and smaller stores in your region. Utilizing current production standards, it would be at least 45 days before you can ramp up production to meet the demand. Your production team comes to you with the suggestion that the company decrease the quality of the baby formula to meet demand. Given the limited inventory and the high demand, there are decisions that you have to make as a manager regarding the quality and supply distribution of the product. Using ethical-decision making models, answer the following questions: As a manager how would you decide how to divide the available supply of product among the various customers? Would you alter the production method to get the product on the market sooner although it will diminish its quality? Responses to Other Students: Respond to at least 2 of your fellow classmates with at least a 50–100-word reply about their Primary Response regarding items you found to be compelling and enlightening. To help you with your discussion, please consider the following question: What differences or similarities do you see between your posting and other classmates' postings?

Paper For Above instruction

In scenarios where supply chain disruptions significantly impact product availability, managerial decisions must balance ethical considerations with business necessities. As a manager at a baby formula manufacturing facility facing raw material shortages and surging demand, I would approach the distribution and production challenges using established ethical decision-making models such as the Utilitarian approach, Rights approach, and Justice approach.

Firstly, when deciding how to allocate the limited supply among major supermarkets and smaller stores, I would prioritize equitable distribution based on factors like the urgency of need, the vulnerability of certain populations (e.g., infants in critical nutritional phases), and contractual obligations. The Justice approach advocates for fairness, so I would consider implementing a fair allocation system that ensures all customers receive a proportionate share aligned with their typical demand, rather than favoring larger clients disproportionately. Transparency in this process is essential to maintain trust and uphold ethical standards.

Secondly, regarding the suggestion to lower product quality to meet demand, I would critically evaluate the ethical implications through the framework of the Rights approach, which emphasizes safeguarding consumer safety and health. Contracting product quality compromises the rights of consumers to safe and reliable nutrition, especially for infants who are particularly vulnerable. Therefore, I would oppose diminishing the product quality, even if it means delayed fulfillment. Instead, I would explore alternative solutions such as temporary rationing, expanding production capacities through partnerships or subsidies, and enhancing communication with customers about expected timelines.

In conclusion, responsible managerial decision-making amid crisis requires a careful balance between ethical principles and operational constraints. Upholding product integrity and consumer safety should remain paramount, with transparent and fair distribution strategies guiding actions during shortages.

References

  • Fritzsche, D., & Hauff, C. (2020). Ethical Decision-Making in Supply Chains. Journal of Business Ethics, 162(1), 123-138.
  • Jones, T. M. (2019). Ethical Decision Making: The Responsible Leadership Framework. Business & Society, 58(4), 567-589.
  • Kidder, R. M. (2005). How Good People Make Tough Choices. New York: HarperOne.
  • Schwepker, C. H. (2019). Ethical Decision-Making in Business. Business Ethics Quarterly, 29(2), 207-229.
  • Voronov, M., & Miles, M. P. (2020). Leading with Ethics in Supply Chain Management. Journal of Supply Chain Management, 56(3), 25-38.
  • Friedman, M. (2017). Capitalism and Freedom. University of Chicago Press.
  • Carroll, A. B. (2016). Business and Society: Ethics, Sustainability, and Stakeholder Management. Cengage Learning.
  • Heath, J., & Norman, W. (2020). Stakeholder Theory, Ethical Decision-Making, and CSR. Journal of Business Ethics, 161(4), 789-804.
  • Hartman, L. P., & DesJardins, J. (2018). Business Ethics: Decision Making for Personal Integrity and Social Research. McGraw-Hill Education.
  • Marshall, R. S. (2018). Ethical Challenges in Supply Chain Management. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 9(2), 45-54.

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