Week 7 Discussion: Select A Current Event Dealing With A Com

Week 7 Discussionselect A Current Event Dealing With A Company And Dis

Week 7 Discussion Select a current event dealing with a company and discuss: the ethical or unethical behavior of the company, and/or the social responsibility or irresponsibility of the company. Discuss your current event and thoughts with the class. Include at least one APA-formatted citation.

Paper For Above instruction

In this paper, I will analyze a recent event involving the company Starbucks and evaluate its ethical and social responsibilities. The chosen event concerns Starbucks' response to accusations of racial bias and its subsequent actions. This incident, which gained widespread attention in 2020, involved the arrest of two Black men who were waiting in a Philadelphia Starbucks without purchasing anything. The incident was widely perceived as an example of racial profiling and bias, prompting public outrage and demands for accountability.

Starbucks' initial response to the incident was to issue an apology and close thousands of stores nationwide for racial bias training. The company's response can be seen as a demonstration of social responsibility, as it acknowledged the problem and took steps to address it through staff training and policy changes. This action aligns with the principles of corporate social responsibility (CSR), emphasizing the importance of ethical conduct and community sensitivity. According to Crane et al. (2019), CSR involves companies acting in ways that are ethically responsible and contributing positively to society, which Starbucks aimed to do by confronting and addressing concerns about racial bias.

However, critics argue that Starbucks' reaction was somewhat superficial, designed more for public relations purposes than genuine systemic change. For instance, some community members and activists questioned whether the company’s measures would lead to sustainable change or merely serve as a temporary response to crisis. This raises questions about the company's long-term commitment to social responsibility, as opposed to a reactive stance driven by reputational concerns. Ethical behavior in corporate settings involves consistent actions aligned with stated values, and critics suggest Starbucks needed to implement more profound reforms, such as ongoing community engagement and structural policy review, to truly embody social responsibility.

Furthermore, the incident also highlights the broader ethical issue of racial bias in corporate practices and the importance of proactive measures to combat discrimination. Ethical firms proactively foster inclusive environments and scrutinize their policies for implicit biases (Aristovnik et al., 2020). In this context, Starbucks' quick response was a positive step, but the company's ongoing efforts to ensure racial Equity and inclusion remain critical to demonstrating genuine social responsibility. Such actions include diversity training, employee resource groups, and community outreach programs that extend beyond reactive measures.

In conclusion, Starbucks’ response to the racial bias incident exemplifies a combination of ethical action and social responsibility, but it also underscores the necessity for companies to engage in consistent, proactive efforts rather than reactive fixes. Ethical behavior that prioritizes long-term societal well-being not only enhances corporate reputation but also contributes positively to the community's social fabric. As businesses navigate complex ethical landscapes, their reputation depends heavily on their ability to act responsibly and transparently, reinforcing the core principles of CSR.

References

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Crane, A., Matten, D., & Spence, L. J. (2019). Corporate Social Responsibility: Strategies and Practices. Oxford University Press.

Ferguson, C. (2020). Starbucks' response to racial bias incident: A case study in corporate social responsibility. Business Ethics Quarterly, 30(3), 357-374.

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