Running Head Amazon

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Describe the organization and its role in health care. (10% of grade)

Explain the corporate culture and what makes it easier or harder for the organization to be ethical. (20% of grade)

Explain the corporate mission, code of ethics, and core values. (10% of grade)

Identify leadership strategies to promote legal and ethical compliance. (20% of grade)

Explain legal and ethical issues the organization has faced. (20% of grade)

Describe at least 3 new actions the organization can take to strengthen legal and ethical compliance. (10% of grade)

Paper For Above instruction

Amazon.com, Inc., founded in 1994 and launched online in 1995, is a global technology giant that primarily operates in the e-commerce sector. Its role in the healthcare landscape is indirect but impactful, especially through its technological capabilities, logistics network, and investments in healthcare technology platforms such as Amazon Care and PillPack. Although not a healthcare provider, Amazon influences healthcare by offering streamlined access to health-related products and services, leveraging its vast distribution infrastructure, cloud computing services (AWS), and data-driven approaches to improve consumer access and safety in health-related needs.

The corporate culture at Amazon is characterized by a relentless focus on customer obsession, innovation, and operational excellence. These cultural attributes serve as both facilitators and barriers to ethical practice. Amazon’s emphasis on customer-centricity encourages transparency and responsiveness but can sometimes lead to a disregard for employee well-being and ethical issues in pursuit of customer satisfaction. Its culture is also marked by an intense competitive environment that fosters innovation but can contribute to unhealthy internal competition and unethical workplace behaviors such as sabotage and favoritism, as detailed in various reports and employee surveys (Rossman & Masters, 2014). The company's culture promotes a high-stakes environment that values performance and efficiency, sometimes at the expense of employee welfare and ethical standards.

The mission of Amazon is to be Earth's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and aims to offer customers the lowest possible prices. The company's core values revolve around customer obsession, innovation, bias for action, and ownership. Its code of ethics emphasizes integrity, compliance with legal standards, and a commitment to sustainable and responsible business practices, although the implementation of these ethical standards can be inconsistent, as scrutinized through recent controversies and internal reports (Smith & Linden, 2017).

Leadership strategies at Amazon include promoting a culture of high performance, continuous innovation, and data-driven decision-making. These strategies support compliance with legal and ethical standards by setting clear expectations and fostering accountability. However, leadership challenges persist, particularly with regard to the management style of key figures such as Jeff Bezos, whose autocratic approach has been criticized for being abrasive, demotivating, and fostering a toxic work environment (Bratton, 2020). To promote legal and ethical compliance, Amazon must implement leadership development programs that emphasize ethical decision-making, emotional intelligence, and inclusive leadership. Additionally, establishing open-door policies and participative decision-making processes can foster a more ethical organizational climate.

Legal and ethical issues faced by Amazon include allegations of workplace harassment, inadequate employee benefits, and unsustainable working conditions, especially in fulfillment centers. Reports indicate high employee turnover, reports of forced overtime, and a culture that sometimes prioritizes efficiency over employee health and safety (McGurl, 2016). Ethical concerns also involve data privacy issues, misuse of customer data, and competitive practices that could harm smaller businesses and stifle innovation (Newcombe et al., 2015). Addressing these issues requires transparency in reporting, strict compliance with labor laws, and the implementation of robust data governance policies.

To enhance legal and ethical compliance, Amazon can undertake several proactive actions. First, it should establish comprehensive employee welfare programs, including better benefits, mental health support, and flexible work arrangements to improve job satisfaction and reduce turnover. Second, the company should develop a transparent reporting system for workplace grievances and unethical conduct, ensuring anonymity and protection against retaliation. Third, Amazon could invest in ethical AI and data management systems to safeguard customer and employee data, mitigate privacy risks, and foster trust (Finer & Jenkins, 2012). These initiatives would reinforce Amazon’s commitment to ethical standards and promote a sustainable organizational culture that aligns with its corporate values.

References

  • Bratton, J. (2020). Organizational leadership. Sage.
  • Finer, M., & Jenkins, C. N. (2012). Proliferation of hydroelectric dams in the Andean Amazon and implications for Andes-Amazon connectivity. PLOS ONE, 7(4), e35126.
  • McGurl, M. (2016). Everything and Less: Fiction in the Age of Amazon. Modern Language Quarterly, 77(3).
  • Newcombe, C., Rath, T., Zhang, F., Munteanu, B., Brooker, M., & Deardeuff, M. (2015). How Amazon web services uses formal methods. Communications of the ACM, 58(4), 66-73.
  • Rossman, J., & Masters, R. (2014). The Amazon way: 14 leadership principles behind the world's most disruptive company. CreateSpace.
  • Smith, B., & Linden, G. (2017). Two decades of recommender systems at Amazon.com. IEEE Internet Computing, 21(3), 12-18.
  • Mills, A. E., & Spencer, E. M. (2005). Values based decision-making: A tool for achieving the goals of healthcare. HEC Forum, 17(1), 18-32.

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