This paper explores the nature of an ethical dilemma in corporate social responsibility and provides analysis, recommendations, and stakeholders involved. The decision-making process is based on various ethical approaches.
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Running head: CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY1 Corporate Social Responsibility Student’s (Name) Institution
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CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILY2 Introduction Ethics are moral guidelines, standards and behaviors that inform how we should act in situations that we are confronted with whether formal or informal (Ferrell & Fraedrich, 2015). These decisions in some cases are very difficult to make especially if they are differences in basis of ethical standards and their application (Lehnert, et al. 2016). An ethical dilemma is presented before Kirk an assistant controller in a manufacturing firm challenging his corporate social responsibility .This paper seeks to explore into the nature of this dilemma by providing all the relevant facts, the stakeholders , the ethical issues involved and finally the best practical solution to Kirks dilemma. The decision will be based on a combination of approaches to making ethical decision which are utilitarian approach, justice approach, rights approach, common good approach and virtue approach (Wittmer, 2016). Analysis and Recommendations Kirk, the assistant controller is in a dilemma on what to do next after the president, chemical engineer, controller and other managers have decided that the waste treatment system should not be upgraded despite the new manufacturing plant that the company has added to the current location. Their decision is based on the fact that the manufacturing plant does not violate the federal regulation though it will go against the industry standards which are more stringent than the government regulations, thus affecting the environment negatively. Kirk recognizes his need for environmental accountability according to corporate social responsibility but at the same time he recognizes the politics in play, this confusion has led to him thinking of leaving the company. The stakeholders in this case are Bob the president of the manufacturing company ,John the chemical engineer ,Henry the controller and other managers. These managers are set to
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILY3 benefit from the decision of failing to upgrade the waste treatment facility since it will reduce expenses. The decisions that Kirk can make are Leaving the company : Kirk may decide to leave the company without any complains. This meanhewould have lost his job and any aspirations he had of becoming the controller . When Kirk does this, he would have saved himself from the guilt of polluting the environment, but the situation of environmental polluting would continue since the facility will operate as usual earning its revenue , therefore ,either way untreated waste would continue dripping into the environment. Thisdecision would not have benefitted Kirk nor the environment equally (Grayson & Hodges, 2017). Ignoring the issue: Kirk may decide to ignore this issue of upgrading the waste treatment facility continuing with his work as the assistant controller. With this he would be waiting to be the controller which would mean more privileges. In doing this he would live with the guiltof ignoring the untreated waste from the new plant ,however, he could continue with his work hoping that there will reach a time when the industrial regulations would have been at per with the federal regulations in order for the firm to upgrade the waste treatment facility. Express his disapproval to the managers and the president: Kirk could decide to find a way to express his disapproval regarding the decision made by the managers and the president through a letter or other means such as rallying the other employees to demonstrate against that move. While this might help in temporarily stopping the new plant from operating it might lead to Kirk still losing his job and dreams of becoming the controller. Partnershipwithenvironmentalists:Kirkmaydecidetopartnerwithother environmentalists to pressure for better federal standards whilethe manufacturing company’s
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILY4 new plant operates. This decision will see him continuing to do his job while at the same time fighting for an upgrade in the company indirectly, the only problem with this approach will be if the environmentalist fail to succeed in their push for better regulations in the federal level. Most of the decisions available for Kirk affects his position and dreams within the company for the benefit of the community due to corporate social responsibility, yet, the best approach should result to benefit of Kirk and the environment (Wang & Calvano, 2015). The best approach therefore is to partner with environmentalist in championing for the federal regulations to be stringent. Conclusion In conclusion , Kirk does not have to quit his job as a result of guilt or failure to uphold corporate social responsibility since this will not solve the situation in question, instead he should join the environmentalists on championing for more stringent regulations. This decision will be for the common good of every stakeholder, enabling Kirk not to lose a sense of who he is eve in trying to make the best moral decision in his position (Crowther, & Seifi, (Eds.) (2018).
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CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILY5 Reference Crowther, D., & Seifi, S. (Eds.). (2018).Redefining Corporate Social Responsibility. Emerald Group Publishing. Ferrell, O. C., & Fraedrich, J. (2015).Business ethics: Ethical decision making & cases. Nelson Education. Grayson,D.,&Hodges,A.(2017).Corporatesocialopportunity!:Sevenstepstomake corporate social responsibility work for your business. Routledge. Lehnert, K., Craft, J., Singh, N., & Park, Y. H. (2016). The human experience of ethics: A review of a decade of qualitative ethical decision‐making research.Business ethics: A European review,25(4), 498-537. Wang, L. C., & Calvano, L. (2015). Is business ethics education effective? An analysis of gender,personalethicalperspectives,andmoraljudgment.JournalofBusiness Ethics,126(4), 591-602. Wittmer,D.P.(2016).Developingabehavioralmodelforethicaldecisionmakingin organizations: Conceptual and empirical research. InEthics in public management(pp. 57-77). Routledge.