Business Ethics and Responsible Management

Business Ethics and
Responsible Management

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
PART 1............................................................................................................................................3
a) Writing the Report..................................................................................................................3
Nature of ethical issue and role of business in society...........................................................3
Identification of key stakeholders and influence on them along with examples of the way
ethical choices have benefited other businesses.....................................................................5
Advice and recommendations for company emerging from analysis....................................6
b) Applying two ethical theories to the case study.....................................................................6
PART 2............................................................................................................................................7
The qualities recognised for ethical leadership and the creation of an ethical organisation.......7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Business ethics is defined as the application of suitable business practices and policies
with regards to some controversial subjects. Following business ethics helps an organisation in
maintaining harmonious relation with society and other institutions. Honesty, loyalty, integrity,
fairness, respect for others, law abiding etc. are some ethical principles that requires to be follow
by all the organisations in order to run business ethically and successfully (Boatright, 2013).
This report is based on the case study of EA Games: Fifa, Loot boxes and whales. It is a online
gaming business that provides free access to online games to people and direct them towards
purchases of it. The report intents to determine the value of business ethics within firm. This
report consist of two parts. The first part covers the nature of ethical issue presented in case study
and the role play by business in society. Apart from this, the analysis of issue, determination of
key stakeholders and the influence on them along with the examples of other businesses are
included. Moreover, recommendations are given for the company based on the analysis of issues
and ethical theories are applied to the case study. Second part of the report covers the qualities of
ethical leadership and qualities require for development of ethical organisation. At last, a brief
conclusion based on entire report is provided in project.
PART 1
a) Writing the Report
Nature of ethical issue and role of business in society
In this report, the selected case study for analysis is EA Games: Fifa, Loot boxes and
whales. This project intents to determine the ethical issues as well as the hidden dimensions that
influence the activities of business entity adversely which creates negative image of firm in the
eyes of customers regarding the products and services offered by it. The gaming business is
complex in nature (Burchell, Kennedy and Murray, 2015). The ‘freemium’ on-line games are
develop on such a model that allow access to games to players for free, but then direct them
towards purchase of game to enhance their gaming experience and accruing revenue through
advertising. In society, the image of gaming business is negative as it sometimes make the
people addicted towards it due to which they forget their social life.

Loot boxes is one among the online games aspect which was highlighted recently. In this,
in game purchasers are there, where customers doesn't have any knowledge regarding the content
of box. This nature of game was argued by people of society as it is a kind of gambling. This
game is designed in such a way that buyer gets addicted to it and loose large amount of money.
Due to access of such kind of online games, people are left with empty bank account. This
adversely impacts the online gaming market and decline its image in society (Coldwell, Joosub
and Papageorgiou, 2012). Online game increase the aggressive behaviour of people, cause
emotional outbursts as well as declines inhibitions, which encourage the anti social behaviour of
people. The role of online gaming business in society is to provide people with such games that
are valuable to them. Instead of thinking about the own benefit, firm requires to think about the
society too. So, it is very necessary for the organisations operate in online gaming industry to be
socially responsible for over addictive utilization of their products in order to avoid intervention
of government. Firms requires to identify the issues and adopt appropriate measures to overcome
them.
In the provided case study, the two issues identified includes provide players with
‘freemium’ games that allow them access of game for free and direct them indirectly towards
game purchases and accruing revenue from advertising. The another issue includes providing
players with vague information where purchasers doesn't have any knowledge regarding the box
content. In both these identified issue, the ethical dimensions included are mentioned below:
In first issue, people indirectly directs towards purchasing games for free and firm
increases their revenue through advertising. This ‘freemium’ games increases the demand of
people to join the game and they are getting addicted towards it due to which they face financial
loss. In this case, the ethical dimension arise when firm provide players with the option to
purchase the game to play its further stages. This activity of firm is unethical in nature as it
doesn't provide any information initially to players, till their interest will not develop in the game
(Dyllick, 2015). Each organisation has the duty to provide customers with all the informations
regarding game. But, the unethical conduct of EA Games creates misunderstanding in the minds
of people as the information is not presented clearly to them, which ultimately resulted in
negative market image of online games.
Regarding the second issue, people doesn't have any knowledge about the content of box.
While playing games, they are getting the option to purchase it and improve their gaming