Museums and Galleries: Ethical Practices and Success

This report examines the case study of the Sackler family and their unethical practices in the museum and gallery industry. It discusses whether an organization can be considered successful if it does not adopt ethical practices and explores ways organizations can protect themselves from unethical behavior. The report highlights the impact on reputation and the perspectives of different stakeholders.

Museums and Galleries

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report contains the case study of Sackler family associated with the Museum and
Gallery. As success helps to attain the preferable position but there are different sources such as
ethical and unethical way to attain the certain objective. Although it is preferable to adopt the
ethical way because it helps the firm to gain long term success and build up suitable image
amongst different stakeholders. So this report in first section cover the topic whether an
organisation can be considered successful if it does not adopt the ethical practices. So the whole
description is explain with the perspective of different stakeholders like public who may not
prefer to visit the institution that take funding from the public. Similarly, other section include
the certain practices that be adopted by organisation in order to protect from the unethical
behaviour.

Table of Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.............................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................4
ANALYSIS......................................................................................................................................4
Aim of the report..........................................................................................................................4
Can an organization be considered as successful if it is not ethical?...........................................4
What the organization can do to protect itself from the unethical behaviour?............................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
RECOMMENDATIONS.................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Success is defined as the state of achievement after participating in the particular actions
that help to attain the overall goal and fulfil the objective within particular duration. An
individual or the company can attain the success in terms of attaining the personal, career as well
as financial objective of the firm (Göpferich and Neumann, 2016)). In addition to it ethics
represent the potential way or practices that seek to attain the success but by focusing on the
reliable way which are ethical practices and help to enhance the productivity of firm.
Sacker family belongs to one of the most wealthy family of American-British who owns
the large pharmaceutical company with the name Purdue Pharma. It is widely known after
manufacturing of the OxyCotin which is used to provide relief during the time of chronic pains.
Ultimately this drug became the major cause of opioids crises under which various people died
due to the high component of opioids which made the drug highly addictive. This depict the
unethical way that company opted to gain the success in financial or monetary terms which
diversely affected the life of people. Also the Sackler family was famous to make the generous
or huge donations for the museums, university as well as gallery. But after reviewing the cases
associated with the opioids crises most of the institution stopped taking further donations from
the company. But still there are some institution that accept the fund from the Sackler family and
enhances its image which leads to reputation laundering by working for the welfare of public.
The main aim of the report is to identify whether the success gained from the unethical sources
should be considered as the success of firm.
ANALYSIS
Aim of the report
The aim of report is to ascertain the concept of success which is not only confined with
the monetary terms but it include the ethical practices that help to build the effective image of
company and maintain the trust of various stakeholders.
Can an organization be considered as successful if it is not ethical?
Success of the enterprises that receives donation: The Sacker family is the owner of
Purdue Pharma which manufactures OxyContin and it is the highly addictive painkiller. This
drug has been responsible for opioid crisis in US, and due to this disease people are leading to
death and addiction. This organisation gives donation to various museums such as Guggenheim,

Albert Museum, National Gallery, Louvre and Victoria. Due to its unethical practice which is
causing harm to local public, these respected museums who are still taking donations from this
company, are negatively affected. It is negatively affecting their reputation and goodwill as they
are joined with such family who is responsible for deaths of thousands people. The Sackler
family is indulge in unethical practice, as this family already knew that the painkiller which is
manufactured by this enterprise contains drug which is addicted. Now it is covering its unethical
practice by providing donation to these museums and enterprises (Gauvreau and et. al., 2016).
Now it can been seen by two perspectives, first is with the perspective of the Sackler
family and second is with the perspective of these other museums. When these organisations are
taking donations from this family, than it is positively affecting the goodwill of Sackler family
by building up its image in public. At the same time, it can negatively affect these enterprises, as
public will think that they are associated with drug dealers and can stop visiting their. Moreover,
it can also reduce their revenue if they continue taking donation from this business family.
Success of the enterprise who receive donation from perspective of public: As per the
perspective of public, those organisations who are taking donation from this Sakler family such
as Guggenheim, Albert Museum, National Gallery, Louvre and Victoria are are equally
responsible for these unethical practices. As per the view points and opinions of public, if these
enterprises are taking any kind of donation from this family than it will be like they are taking
donation from a drug dealer (Van Dijk, 2019). Previously when these respected museums are
visited by people than they feel delighted to visit there. As these museums and galleries are
popular, the number of people visiting there is also high which has resulted in increased revenue
of these places.
But now due to unethical practice of Sackler family, these enterprise can have negative
affect upon its revenue and visitors. As these galleries and museums take donations from Sackler
family, it is also reducing the goodwill and public image of these organisations. Public will now
see them the same way they see this American family who is indulged in unethical practices.
Public will think that these museums are supporting such family who is responsible for the death
of thousands people, that means, the organisations who are taking donations from these families
are also equally responsible for its cause. Now when any kind of exhibitions takes place in these
museums and galleries, than public will not go there as these exhibitions are also refunded as per
the perspective of public, those organisations who are taking donation from this business such as

Guggenheim, Albert Museum, National Gallery, Louvre and Victoria are are equally responsible
for these unethical practices. As per the view point57468902815746942064591574747056203s
and opinions of public, if these enterprises are taking any kind of donation from this family than
it will be like they are taking donation from a drug dealer (Rodney, 2019). Previously when
these respected museums are visited by people than they feel delighted to visit there. As these
museums and galleries are popular, the number of people visiting there is also high which has
resulted in increased revenue of these places.
But now due to unethical pract57468902815746942064591574747056203ice of Sackler
family, these enterprise can have negative affect upon its revenue and visitors. As these galleries
and museums take donations from Sackler family, it is also reducing the goodwill and public
image of these organisations. Public will now see them the same way they see this American
family who is indulged in unethical practices. Public will think that these museums are
supporting such family who is responsible for the death of thousands people, that means, the
organisations who are taking donations from these families are also equally responsible for its
cause. Now when any kind of exhibitions takes place in these museums and galleries, than public
will not go there as these exhibitions are also refunded by Sackler family who is indulged in
unethical practices. Overall, this will result in reduction in number of people who visit theses
places. Sackler family who is indulged in unethical practices. Overall, this will result in
reduction in number of people who visit theses places.
Success from the perspective of the services offered to the public by museum and
galleries: As Sackler family was one of the major donor in terms of giving the immense amount
to the different institutes like Louvre, the National gallery and so on. But later on when they
when these organisations come to know about the unethical practices of the Sackler some of
them like the Tate art group in the UK and the National Portrait Gallery stooped the donation and
boycott them in order to take the further donations (Meier, 2018). This helped the museum and
art gallery to deliver the suitable services to the public who come to visit the these museums. As
even the society prefer to visit those places that are based on the ethical practices. Still there are
institution that still depend upon the Sackler family in terms to gain the generous donation so that
these museums or art gallery can enrich their offerings. Thus, gaining success in form of
monetary sources is gain the part of unethical practices that can only offer the shorty term
advantage because this can reduce the visitors rate and affect long term profitability.

Success from the perspective of effective regulation organisation: The organisation
or institution which run for the public welfare need to receive donation from the ethical sources.
Also they need not to accept any kinds of gifts because it long term it can too affect the image of
company and can result into shut down. So for the effective regulation the organisation need to
be rigorous enough to promote the offerings from ethical sources other such unethical practices
can leads to negative impact on the society. So by disconnecting their names from the Sackler
family leads to functioning of an organisation under the defined rules and regulations.
What the organization can do to protect itself from the unethical behaviour?
The museum and gallery case study is based on the Sackler Family that generate majority
of the revenue by selling OxyCotin from the Purdue Pharma. The company made huge
investments to manufacture and spread awareness about its addictive drug which is the part of
unethical practices as it took the lives of various people by becoming addicted to it. This
resultant into the generation of opioids crises within US. This deteriorate the image of company
due to negative implications faced by the external stakeholders of company (Keefe, 2017).
There are basically certain ways that can be opted by the business in order to rebuild its image by
using ethical ways. Such as they need to discontinue the sales and aggressive advertisement of
OxyCotin. Along with this they can make the institutions like Museum and well gallery
understand that Sackler family is making the best possible practice to safeguard the lives of
people so they can accept the dominations of company in order to heal the reputation amongst
society (Mercer, 2019).
There are certain museums and art galleries like Metropolitan Museum of Art and the
Guggenheim in New York, the National Portrait Gallery, Tate art group in the UK and so on.
These institution used to accept the donations from the Sackler family but after the knowing the
crises they opt success by using ethical ways. Although there were other institution which are
still associated with the Sackler family but it can affect too defame the image within society. So
even after knowing this they are the part of the institution in order to carry out the day to day
operations fro the successful operation of business (Rieken, Schar and Sheppard, 2016). Thus, to
cope up with these situation Sackler family can use the different ways to protect itself from the
unethical practices like it can sort out all its cases. Use the press media to spread the awareness
of the crises and precautions they are taking to avoid the further chances of accidence. Like,
discontinue OxyCotin's manufacturing and remove all the existing product from the retailers

shelf. Along with that they can clear the purpose of donation which is social welfare due to
which the institution can take the funds from Sackler family without defaming it's reputation.
RECOMMENDATIONS
 The organisation which are the part of different museums and gallery should protect its
image by not accepting any kind of donation as well as gifts from the Sackelr family until
and unless there case is resolved. As it can simultaneously affect these institution in front
of other stakeholders like the public may think before visiting in the particular museum
who gets donation from the Sackler family as it can be the case of 'Reputation
laundering'.
 Most of the people has got affected due to the Sackler family like there were around forty
nine thousand people who suffered because of this unethical practice. Along with this
various law suits are imposed against the company. So all these negative circumstances
will not entertain the Museums and galleries like Tate art group in the UK that get
funded via Sackler family. Hence, taking donation is effective for the institution but in
long term this can affect the performance of firm because no one would like to be the part
of particular organisation too.
 Further, Reputation laundering is the offensive practice which the organisation can
promote to accepting the donations and practice or helping them out to mislead the
society. So the organisation should dissociate them from the Sackler family although it
can affect the funding or service provided by the museums to the public. But they will be
able to retain the image amongst the external stakeholders such as public or other
donating organisations. As they will realise that Museums has taken the ethical direction
by refusing the acceptance from Sackler family which can even help to gain the success.
Further, the term success cannot be always measured in terms of monetary advantage but
if the firm carry out their operations in the suitable way then it took enhancing the image
of an organisation amongst external member.
CONCLUSION
On the basis of case study it has been determined that success is the essential factor for
all the organisation as it help to attain the milestone and gain satisfaction. So the efforts to gain
the success needs to be ethical and value based because it build the suitable reputation of
company also it need not to face any crises. As Sackler family who owned the Purdue pharma

was successful and gave donations to the various institution. But once the company faced the
crises due to its unethical practices many of the organisational stopped taking donation from the
Sackler family as it can calumniate their own image. Additionally, it may less attract the public
or other donating organisations if they associate their operations with Sackler family. Therefore,
to gain long term sustainable advantage the organisation need to suitably opt for the ethical
practices.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Gauvreau, S. A., and et.al., 2016. Online professional skills workshops: Perspectives from
distance education graduate students. The International Review of Research in Open and
Distributed Learning. 17(5).
Göpferich, S. and Neumann, I. eds., 2016. Developing and Assessing Academic and Professional
Writing Skills. Peter Lang.
Keefe, P. R., 2017. The family that built an empire of pain. The New Yorker. 30.
Meier, B., 2018. Pain Killer: An Empire of Deceit and the Origin of America's Opioid Epidemic.
Random House.
Mercer, C., 2019. Do the politics or business background of health care philanthrophists
matter?. CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal. 191(33). p.E924.
Rieken, B., Schar, M. and Sheppard, S., 2016, October. Trait mindfulness in an engineering
classroom: An exploration of the relationship between mindfulness, academic skills, and
professional skills. In 2016 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE) (pp. 1-8).
IEEE.
Rodney, S., 2019. The Personalization of the Museum Visit: Art Museums, Discourse, and
Visitors. Routledge.
Van Dijk, C. N., 2019. From painkiller to killer: the ‘oxy’case.