Analysis of WM Morrison Supermarkets PLC Code of Ethics Policies

This essay provides an in-depth analysis of the code of ethics at WM Morrison Supermarkets PLC, examining its alignment with sustainable development goals and ethical frameworks. It compares and contrasts the company's approach with deontological and utilitarian ethics, exploring its commitment to corporate social responsibility, particularly in areas of climate change and sustainable consumption. The essay evaluates ethical leadership, the '4 Ps' framework (people, purpose, planet, probity), and ethical decision-making processes within the organization. It then offers recommendations for improvements, including integrating CSR policies, addressing cognitive biases, and emphasizing deontological ethics. The conclusion reiterates the importance of a strong code of ethics for all employees, ensuring ethical conduct and contributing positively to the community. The document utilizes figures and references from the UN, corporate reports, and ethical decision-making resources to support its arguments.

CODE OF ETHICS

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................1
1. Comparing and contrasting code of ethics...............................................................................1
2. Determining changes that are recommended providing support with reasons........................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Code of ethics is supposed to be that document which gives clear outline to all
employees, staff and member of organisation in helping them to conduct their action. This is
containing vision and mission of company about how the problems need to be solved based on
ethical principles and core value of organisation. This following essay is based on WM
MORRISON SUPERMARKETS PLC its code of ethics policies related to sustainable
development goals and ethical framework.
MAIN BODY
1. Comparing and contrasting code of ethics
WM MORRISON SUPERMARKETS PLC is the public company founded in 1899 by
William Morrison and now is having about 500+ stores operating all around world. This is the 4th
largest store in UK of supermarket selling all type of grocery food items, clothing, magazine and
books. It is duty of each and every company which is operating within market to ensure safety
and security of people working with it that is suppliers and workers; that of environment; cultural
and ethical value of society and community.
The UN's Sustainable Development Goals which is also known to as Global goals these
includes objective of saving world from poverty, protecting planet earth and ensuring that all
people of world are enjoying their own peace and prosperity (Davies, 2016). In total there are 17
international or global goals which is set up by UN including areas like that of innovation, peace,
climate change, sustainable consumption, economic inequality and justice are all priorities.
Figure 1: UN's Sustainable Development Goals
[Source: United Nations Development Programme, 2018]
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As per the Corporate Responsibility Report of Morrison of year 2017-2018 which also
includes the future plan of company they are mostly concerned with climate change, sustainable
consumption and economic equality. This is also based on Deontological ethics which is based
on morality of action that is done by person deciding what is wrong and right under the series of
rules. This rule is mainly based on duty or obligation of the person as they are all bind with their
duty. It is included that there are some actions which are based on or taken due to matter of
principle that could overshadow other considerations. Like the rules and regulations that are
followed even it could harm other person from its results in case of medical history.
While in case of Utilitarianism ethics it could be said that all actions will be majorly
based on wrong and right on the result or outcome of choosing on action over the other
(Madeley, 2015). So under this the best action of person doing any action or reaction is that
which is maximising their utility which is termed to as ways of deriving well-being. This would
generally not be including any sort of suffering of anyone involved into that particular action it
could also termed as egoism. It is worth noticing that if any organisation is following
utilitarianism ethics then its action may cause harm to other person. Morrison always ensures
that they must be operating in correct manner with their customers, suppliers and partners as well
so that they could make positive contribution for society.
There is specified process for ethical decision making which everyone need to go through
so that they could decide over what is right and wrong or what could be the outcome for their
action. This process will including gathering of information and facts which is based on ethical
issues and ethical principle, consulting with any law or legislation and with the stakeholders
involved. The consequence or results will be judged so those obligations are also identified based
on rights, justice and principles. Under this it is also defined about the Ethical leadership which
is directed with ethical belief and values for dignity and rights of others related to fairness,
consideration, trust and honesty as well.
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Figure 2: Ethical leadership
[Source: Nilsson, Griggs and Visbeck, 2016]
This is mainly based on ethical corporate culture of company guiding with the ethics
programme and core values as well. the ethics value involve like that of responsibility within
organisation of all work done, caring or not harming anyone other, respecting each one, obeying
laws, protecting environment and transparency or loyalty as well (Nilsson, Griggs and Visbeck,
2016). Ethical programme is the legal constraints for organisation such as Morrison like
following UN's Sustainable Development Goals. There could be certain policies and programs
which company is following so that they are practicing ethics in field and giving training to their
employees for this. While ethical leadership is something which involves a moral manager or
leader who is moral human being as well. They are following the 17 goals of sustainability
taking care of climate and planet with the people or community who could be harmed by action
of organisation.
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Figure 3: The (other) 4 ‘P’s
[Source: Withers and Ebrahimpour, 2018]
Whereas there are 4P’s which is different from that of marketing mix and is concerned
with people, purpose, planet and probity. All of these are very much necessary to be followed
having moral staff who are concerned about their consumer and community. The values and
goals of company must be linked with that of sustainability goal which will be working for safety
and security of earth as well. Morrison is planning to reduce packaging of its goods with use of
plastic to 25% till 2025 which also includes that their plastic packaging will be reusable,
recyclable and compostable (Morrison Corporate Responsibility Report, 2017/18). Thus this is
by keeping in mind the society and planet within Morrison they are committed toward reducing
the plastic wastage and ensuring that all their packaging is recyclable and could be reused.
Beside this planet of 4P’s will include environment, ecological footprints and carbon footprint
and circular economy. This means that it is very much necessary that organisation is working
towards betterment of planet in all its possible way or actions that they are taking. Then the last
one will be probity which means having stronger moral principles like that of honesty and
decency towards work and operations of firm which includes like that of governance,
transparency and law abiding as well.
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Figure 4: Decisional framework
[Source: Ethical decision making process, 2018]
The ethical dilemmas will be effecting the decision making framework of people on
much larger extent especially that of leader or manager (Withers and Ebrahimpour, 2018). The
decision framework would be impacting the time when leaders or manager will be taking any
sort of decision regarding people, purpose, planet and probity that could affect other person or
community. It is very much essential that organisation is taking decisions as per the laws and
culture or value so that they are not facing any type of ethical issue in future.
Bases Morrison Resource 1&2
The (other) 4 ‘P’s This is not been followed by
Morrison so it must be done by
keeping in mind people,
purpose, probity and planet in
mind
This is been mentioned in article
or resource 1
Principle-Based
(Deontological) Ethics
This also is not been followed
by Morrison so it is advised to
be followed
This is been mentioned in article
or resource 2.
UN’s Sustainable This is followed by Morrison as This is been mentioned in article
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Development Goals they are very much concern
with concern of climate change.
or resource 2.
2. Determining changes that are recommended providing support with reasons
Considering the above comparison and contrast it could be included that there are certain
recommendations that need to be made by giving logical reasoning for the following.
CSR policy:
WM MORRISON SUPERMARKETS PLC is following the CSR policy under which
they are very much concern with environment, the harmful impact which plastic or other non-
recyclable products are causing to environment and innovation. These are the priorities which
company is having above all its other departments and functions so that they could make certain
efforts in preserving and protecting nature (Wood, 2015). As among the 17 UN sustainable goals
one is that of resolving the issue of climate change so that they could contribute within taking of
urgent action to combat climate change and its impact as well. So company should be making
proper policies and framework for their planning of 2025 which is to reduce use of plastic in
product’s packaging to 25%.
25 cognitive biases:
The ethical issue will also be regarding 25 cognitive biases which are given by Charlie
Munger who is the billionaire investor (25 cognitive biases, 2018). These also need to be
regarded by company so that they could prepare their action plan by not being bias with anyone
into company. Morrison must be introducing the reward system which means that providing
incentive to those who are performing well in their respected field. It is important that while
working within company staff and managers are having liking and loving tendency by ignoring
all flaws and faults of other people.
Deontological Ethics:
Morrison must be following this principle which will be impacting their decision and
actions so that they are not harming any one by only based on results. This is based on whether
action itself is right or wrong under the series of rules rather than consequence of actions. While
they should not be following utilitarianism theory which is only concerns with gaining highest or
maximum utility from actions.
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CONCLUSION
From the above essay on code of ethics it could be concluded that Morrison must be
following or undertaking the CSR policy. It is very important that company are having certain
code of ethics been followed by all employees of organisation which will allow them to work
within community.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Davies, P.W., 2016. Current issues in business ethics. Routledge.
Madeley, J., 2015. Sustainable development goals. Appropriate Technology, 42(4), p.32.
Nilsson, M., Griggs, D. and Visbeck, M., 2016. Policy: map the interactions between Sustainable
Development Goals. Nature News, 534(7607), p.320.
Withers, B. and Ebrahimpour, M., 2018. The effects of codes of ethics on the supply chain: A
comparison of LEs and SMEs. Journal of Business and Economic Studies, 19(1), p.3766.
Wood, G.W., 2015. Communicating the ethos of codes of ethics in Australia's largest
organizations: a reliance on osmosis. In Proceedings of the 2000 Academy of Marketing
Science (AMS) Annual Conference (pp. 425-429). Springer, Cham.
Online:
25 cognitive biases. 2018. [Online]. Accessed through: <http://25cognitivebiases.com/>.
Ethical decision making process. 2018. [Online]. Accessed through:
<https://research.ku.edu/sites/research.ku.edu/files/docs/EESE_EthicalDecisionmakingFra
mework.pdf>.
Morrison Corporate Responsibility Report. 2017/18. [Online]. Accessed through:
<https://www.morrisons-corporate.com/cr/>.
United Nations Development Programme. 2018. [Online]. Accessed through:
<http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/sustainable-development-goals.html>.
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