Required Reading Download the Anglo-American and Primark case studies using the following links:
Primark:
http://businesscasestudies.co.uk/primark/providing-consumers-with-ethically-sourced-garments/introduction.html#axzz3FYNqQuTW
Anglo-American:
http://businesscasestudies.co.uk/anglo-american/business-ethics-and-corporate-social-responsibility/introduction.html#axzz3FYNqQuTW
Scan the following article by Svennson & Woods:
Svensson, G., & Wood, G. (2008). A model of business ethics. Journal Of Business Ethics, 77(3), 303-322. Accessed on November 19, 2012 from EBSCO.
AssignmentIn a well-written 5-7 page critical essay, respond to the following, using Anglo-American and Primark as examples:
Using the Svennson and Wood business ethics model, assess the ethics of the business practices of Anglo-American and Primark, discussing the costs and the benefits to organizations that act ethically.
Keys to the AssignmentDescribe what is meant by ethical business behavior;Describe how these two companies – Anglo-American and Primark – apply ethics in practice;Discuss the costs and benefits to an organization when that organization behaves ethically; andChoose one component of Svennson & Woods’ model (found in the journal article “A Model of Business Ethics”), and discuss how your chosen component is relevant for Anglo-American and/or Primark. For example, you might choose “external stakeholder relationships” (page 314), and discuss how Anglo-American benefits from its positive stakeholder relationships (see page 4 of the Anglo-American case study).Perform some additional research in the TUI Library, and use at least three or four additional sources to support your analysis. Be sure that you have properly cited all sources using APA style.Assignment ExpectationsYour paper will be evaluated using the following five (5) criteria:
Assignment-Driven Criteria (Precision and Breadth): Does the paper fully address all Keys to the Assignment? Are the concepts behind the Keys to the Assignment addressed accurately and precisely using sound logic? Does the paper meet minimum length requirements? Critical Thinking (Critical Thinking and Depth): Does the paper demonstrate graduate-level analysis, in which information derived from multiple sources, expert opinions, and assumptions has been critically evaluated and synthesized in the formulation of a logical set of conclusions? Does the paper address the topic with sufficient depth of discussion and analysis?Business Writing (Clarity and Organization): Is the paper well written (clear, developed logically, and well organized)? Are the grammar, spelling, and vocabulary appropriate for graduate-level work? Are section headings included in all papers? Are paraphrasing and synthesis of concepts the primary means of responding to the Keys to the Assignment, or is justification/support instead conveyed through excessive use of direct quotations? Effective Use of Information (Information Literacy and References): Does the paper demonstrate that the student has read, understood and can apply the background materials for the module? If required, has the student demonstrated effective research, as evidenced by student’s use of relevant and quality (library?) sources? Do additional sources used in paper provide strong support for conclusions drawn, and do they help in shaping the overall paper? Citing Sources: Does the student demonstrate understanding of APA Style of referencing, by inclusion of proper end references and in-text citations (for paraphrased text and direct quotations) as appropriate? Have all sources (e.g., references used from the Background page, the assignment readings, and outside research) been included, and are these properly cited? Have all end references been included within the body of the paper as in-text citations?
TO BE RE-WRITTEN FROM THE SCRATCH
Business ethics and corporate social responsibility are two related subjects that explain how businesses should act ethically and the responsibilities they have to the societies in which they exist. Primark and Anglo American are world’s leading companies though in different industries. The two companies have embraced ethical practices and have therefore applied business ethics and corporate social responsibility.
A research on business ethics and corporate social responsibility reveals the costs and benefits that an ethical company enjoys.
The paper should:
- Explain what business ethics and corporate social responsibility is all about.
- Discuss the costs and benefits that an ethical company enjoys
- Explain how the chosen companies apply ethics in practice
A business is started with the aim of making profit but in the location where its premises are, the business has a role to play in ensuring that it maintains a good public image since this brings about benefits to the company. The benefits are many and customers, employees, and investors bring them about.
Ethical business behavior entails how a company carries out its business activities while taking into concern those who are part of the business and those that will be affected by either the products or the services that the company provides. Customers, employees and investors all carry about business activities in relevance to the business’s culture. There are a number of factors that a business has to consider in the view of being an ethical organization. First of all it has to have respect, from the entrepreneur, since the organization has to hire people with respect in order to build good relations with other organizations and also have a peaceful working internal business environment. An organization should also have a customer focus since without them the business is nothing. The organization should, therefore hire personnel with integrity, persistence and passion for the company in order to maintain the existing customers and also attract more hence attaining a thriving ethical organization. The group should also focus on employees and this is by ensuring they have a healthy business working environment where they participate in decision-making and also have a good business culture to embrace. If the organization does this it will get extra benefits from the employees by being ethical.
Primark is part of an international retail group and it deals with selling clothes while Anglo American is a leading mining company based in UK. These two companies have both taken the role of social responsibility and have put an effort in being ethical organizations. The following are some of the ways in which the two companies have used to become ethical organizations respectively.
Primark has a number of ways that aid it in its view of being an ethical organization. The first way is holding on to its values. Primark has values which it shares with its parent ABF, the company under which Primark operates. These values are beneficial to Primark in that they aid in building good relationships with stakeholders. Stakeholders include shareholders, employees, the government and the community. Primark has set guidelines for proper conditions of employment in its suppliers’ factories and the organization also highly respects human rights. The organization also hires employees globally which all shows how the organization is ethical in all activities it runs.
Economies of scale is another way Primark uses to ensure ethics is applied in the organization. Through economies of scale Primark becomes…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….