The Concept of Ethics in Sustainability

This project report delves into the concept of ethics in sustainable development, exploring various theories such as virtue, Kantian, and popular sustainability. It discusses how these theories help individuals make decisions that contribute to long-term sustainability and achieve post-residency goals.

Tackling Global - Local
Challenges in Ethics,
Responsibility and
Sustainability

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
1. Analysis of key concepts....................................................................................................3
2. Application of key theories................................................................................................5
3. Reflection from residency week.........................................................................................9
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Ethics, responsibilities and sustainability are three essential elements that are important to
understand and vital to be linked with the economy, society and environment. Economic crisis
has challenged societies and educational institutes. There are various issues that have taken place
and continuously affecting organisation's performance (Blowfield, Karam and Jamali, 2017). It is
very important to tackle such types of challenges that can leave a negative impact on an
organisation. Companies are responsible and they also have opportunities to contribute in the
solution of global issues. Organisation chosen for this report is Tesco which is a retail company
and is based in United Kingdom. Main objective of this report is to identify the way in which all
the global and local challenges in ethics, responsibility and sustainability are tackled by
individuals and organisations.
This project report consists of concept and application of key theories of ethics,
responsibilities, sustainability, leadership of place or partnership and reflection from residency
week, deconstruction of the experiential theory.
MAIN BODY
1. Analysis of key concepts
Ethics: These are the set of norms and values that are followed by a person while
interacting with society. Ethics helps to find solutions of such issues that are related to human
morality by elaborating concept of right and wrong, justice and crime, good or evil etc. It
describes different universal values that should be fulfilled by humans. These values are equality,
human rights, obedience of law and natural environment (Boström and et. al., 2015). In Tesco,
ethics are followed positively and every employee is treated equally and with respect. It is
majorly concerned with nature of ultimate value and norms that can help to judge behaviour and
action of human whether it is right and wrong.
Challenges: There are various global and local challenges in ethics such as technological
imbalances, differentiation existing across the world, socio economic considerations, religious
beliefs, corruption, moral obligation and unequal educational standards. All these ethical
challenges are analysed by investigators that are being faced by employees locally and globally.
It is very important to tackle all of them because these challenges can influence productivities of
an organisation. Corruption is major challenge which needs to be tackled because it can

negatively affect an individual or a whole country. Every individual of a nation is liable to deal
with every type of ethical problems.
Responsibility: It is a concept of having liabilities to deal with a problem or fulfilling
duties or taking control over different activities that are performed by individuals. All the
responsibilities are distributed to employees and other higher authorities of an organisation. For
example: manager of company needs to analyse that every employee should be performing the
task which has been distributed or allotted to them (Çalişkan and Dedeoglu, 2018). In Tesco,
workers have been provided with certain responsibilities that needs to be fulfilled by them on
regular basis. An individual also have various duties toward society such as cooperation,
participation and respect. People who are living in a society are the part of community and they
are responsible to fulfil all their duties toward society.
Challenges: There are various global and local challenges like individuals are not
fulfilling their responsibilities toward society, cultural barriers, organisations are not providing
appropriate wages to the employees according to their performance etc. It is very important for
an individual or a society to tackle all the responsibility related challenges that may occur on
global or local basis. If a person try to fulfil all its liabilities and all duties toward society than it
can help to deal with all the challenges that are affecting economy of a country. Solution for
these issues can be generated with the help of the concept of citizenship in which public can find
ways together for any type of problem.
Sustainability: It is a procedure of maintaining change in a balances fashion, in which all
the available resources are used properly. It also includes technology development in order to
facilitate the society. It enhances harmony to identify current and future needs of an individual
(Dredge, 2015). It can also be defined with the help of three elements that are environment,
economic and social. All three factors can help to maintain a long term sustainability for a
company. It can also be submissive by cultural, technological and political factors. In other
words, it is defined as socio ecological process which is defined by the movement of a common
ideal. In Tesco various plans are formulated to achieve higher level and long term sustainability.
Major goals of sustainability is to remove hunger and poverty, increase the level of education
and healthcare knowledge globally, to achieve gender equality which is not easy to get, promote
jobs and stronger economies which helps to identify growth opportunities for economic growth.

Challenges: There are various challenges that are faced by individuals and companies
while trying to achieve sustainability. These issues are negative effect of climate change,
pollutions, various environmental factors that can harm people or overall society. All of the
challenges can be tackled with the help of individuals as well as society by continuously finding
solutions for such type of problems. It is a liability of the government to make different plan to
achieve increased sustainability level which can contribute in economic growth.
2. Application of key theories
Theories of ethics: These theories are very important to implement while finding ways to
tackle different ethical challenges (Flynn, Tan and Gudić, 2017). It is duty of individuals as well
as society to discover solutions that can help to ignore all the issues. There are two different
theories of ethics, both are explained below:
 Virtue theory: It is a theory of ethics that reflects character of an individual which is
considered as a key element of ethical thinking. It is mainly based on three major
standards that are eudaimonism, ethics of care, agent based theory. Eudaimonism is a
classical formulation of virtue ethics which holds the proper aim of life of a human which
can be achieved by lifetime practice. It is a quality that motivates an individual or
organisations to reach set goals of life. In Tesco virtue theory is used to attain
organisational goals and objectives by motivating employees. Ethics of care was
developed by feminist writers in the half of 20th century. It is mainly based on gender
equality (Gough and Scott, 2014). Men think that masculine term is related with justice
and women think that feminine term is related with care. It explains importance of
community and relationship rather than focusing on universal standards. Agent based
theory which is based on common sense intuitions, which can be identified by looking at
the people to are eligible to be admired.
 Kantian theory: It is developed as the result of blessedness philosophy, which is based
on the concept of internal good things are the good will. According to this concept an
action can be good if it is maxim which is a principle behind this theory. It was developed
by German Philosopher Immanuel Kant. This theory is used to elaborate contemporary
positions in philosophy of mind and ethics. It guides that a person should act in such a
way which is considered as humanity by the same person. Kantian theory is implement in
Tesco to enhance the harmony among its employees.

Both the above mentioned theories of ethics are used in Tesco to tackle ethical challenges
and all of them can be dealt with the help of each individual. Virtue theory can guide a person to
to think ethical and to work on the concept that every one is equal and they should be treated
equally. Kantian theory can help an individual to keep a positive element in the mind while
taking any action. According to this theory persona should act according to the humanity level of
themselves.
Theories of responsibilities: Such theories can guide a person find solutions regarding
ethical issues and the way that can help to tackle all the challenges in responsibilities whether
they are global or local. There are two different types of responsibility theories, both are
explained below:
 Reorienting theory: It is mainly based on the interpersonal moral responsibility.
According to this theory, if individuals are responsible than it is essential that they are
following and holding all the norms (Lamrad, 2013). It reflects that responsibilities needs
to be understood by individuals with the help of morally reactive attitudes, that are the
collection of human emotions that are induced in outcome to the detected quality. It is
more fundamental and basic as compare to being responsible. It is used by the managers
of Tesco to aware individuals about their liabilities. These features of the theory can
motivate individuals to perform their duties effectively and efficient which will guide
them to tackle all the challenges related to responsibilities. Being responsible is a simple
matter but it is not easy for every person to be responsible, they ignore their moral
obligation to fulfil their duties in less time.
 Hegel's theory: This theory reflects that a problem can be solved and taken actions can
be satisfactory but only in the situation of proper formulation of solutions. It is possible
with the help of detailed study of problem or issue which needs to be removed from
society or community. According to this theory, responsible action should not be
considered as the subclass of a broader field of action (Li, 2017). It is concerned with the
concept of understanding the action which is taken by a company or an individual to face
challenges. This theory help an individual to find that what are the liabilities toward
society that needs to be fulfilled in present and future. In Tesco it has been adopted by the

senior managers to provide guidance to their employees regarding their responsibility
toward social welfare.
Both the above mentioned responsibility theories can help an individual to tackle all the
challenges by providing various ways in which all the issues can be resolved. Reorienting theory
can help to remind all the moral responsibilities of individuals that needs to be fulfilled. It also
guides persons while they are trying to face all the challenges by supplying them instructions to
figure out solutions. Hegel theory can help a person to tackle challenges by identifying solutions
according to the situation. If condition is very critical then it will be resolved with higher
involvement and if problem is not critical than it will be resolved calmly and not with full
participation.
Theories of sustainability: Such theories can help an individual to find solution for social
issues that are affecting the economy of a country. There are two different types of sustainability
theories, both are explained below:
 Early community development theory: This theory depicts that there are various
liabilities of an individual toward society which needs to be fulfilled. Community
development is possible with the help of community members who sits together and find
solution for various issue that are affecting their daily routine or leaving negative impact
on society. This theory is used in Tesco to help employees by providing them training
about the action which needs to be taken at the time of problem. According to the theory
an individual should try to find solution for challenges that are faced by society (Mensah
and Okyere, 2014). It can facilitate an individual while forming plan to tackle various
sustainability related issues that are poverty reduction, enhancing education level of
society. This theory is very helpful for the society as it can guide various individuals and
organisation to face various problems effectively and overcome the same. It results
positively when it comes to the growth of society.
 Popular sustainability theory: It is a theory which is used by government of a country
to deal with various social issues that needs to be resolved. Legal authorities of a nation
make plans to tackle various challenges that are faced by their public. In this theory it is
mentioned that all the issues can be resolved with the help of individuals they have to try
to achieve sustainability for future period (Mohrman, Shani and McCracken, 2012). This

theory is implemented in Tesco to resolve social challenges that may be faced by the
organisation.
Both theories help individuals as well as other authorities who are liable to attain
sustainability for a country. Every citizen is liable to work hard to achieve higher growth
opportunities. In Early community development theory, it is defined that development of society
is possible with the help of society members when they sit together and find solution for various
problems that a society is deal with. According to Popular sustainability theory, an individual
have to help government to implement various policies which can help to achieve long term
sustainability for a country. Every member of the society have to contribute toward sustainability
which neds to be achieved for future perspective.
Theory of leadership of partnership: This theory is used to improve leadership in
partnership. There is one type of such theory which is explained below:
 Game theory: It is mainly concerned with mathematical models which is used to make
strategic decisions. It is implement in every field such as social science, logical fields and
computer science (Game theory, 2018). It helps to make solution for different issues that
are faced by a country. When a nation is willing to increase its economic growth, in this
situation this theory is very helpful because it is applied on wide range of behavioural
relations. It enhance the ability of logical thinking in humans which is very important for
an individual to contribute toward society. Game theory is used by Tesco to make
strategic decision in critical situations. It also defines framework for social situations
among competitive players who are competing in real world to enhance economy of their
country.

Source: Game theory, 2018
This theory is very helpful while tackling challenges that are faced by a country whether
it is global or local issue.
All the above mentioned theories help to resolve various issues that are faced by
individuals as well as organisations globally or locally by providing them various ways in which
they can generate solution for the issues. Such theories enhance decision making skills which
helps to make right decision at the time problems. These theories also help people to identify
their responsibility toward society and if these responsibilities are fulfilled by them than it will
be easy to tackle all the challenges.
3. Reflection from residency week
From this report I have analysed that it is very important for an individual, society and
organisations to contribute toward society. I have also identified that various countries are facing
different challenges that are related to ethics, responsibilities and sustainability. These issues are
corruptions, socio economic cultures, religious beliefs, moral obligation, unequal educational
standards, cultural barriers, negative effect of climate change, pollutions, various environmental
factors that can harm people or overall society etc. These challenges can be ignored if every
individual follow a proper framework for ethics, responsibilities and sustainability.
Illustration 1: Game Theory, 2018

I have learned that I am also liable to behave ethically, fulfil all my responsibilities and I
am also liable to contribute toward social welfare so that a higher level of sustainability can be
achieved by my country. I have applied various theories in this report that can help to resolve
various issues that are faced by individuals as well a nation. These theories are Virtue, Kantian,
Reorienting, Hegel's, Early community development, Popular sustainability, and Game theory.
All these theories have provided me guidance that how can I fulfil all my duties that needs to
performed by me as I am a member of community. All these theories have helped me to enhance
my decision making skills, solution finding ability and guided me while I was looking out for my
personal liabilities toward my community or organisation (Raynolds, 2014).
From this report I have also learned that there are various roles and responsibilities that
needs to be performed by me as I am a society member. It is my duty to work hard and be ethical
while communicating or interacting with someone. As I am an individual and living in the group
of various types of people than I am also responsible to work for them as they are working and
behaving ethically. I am responsible for community development and long term sustainability for
my social group. I have analysed that most of the members of society are not taking part in
development because they are focusing on their own development rather than whole country.
All the members of a country should contribute in its growth and welfare because it is not
possible to develop individuals while country is stagnating continuously. Hence it is very
important to enlarge whole nation if you are willing to develop individuals. I have analysed that
decision making skills of an individuals can be enhanced with the help of various theories that
are implement in this report. I have gained knowledge of my responsibilities toward society and
the way in which I can contribute toward achievement of long term sustainability. I have
observed and learned various other things that how legal authorities of a country implement
various policies for welfare of their public, but it is not possible that all the policies respond
positively. Many policies respond negatively because all the members of community do not
accept all the strategies. This is a reason of weak economy of a country (Welford, 2016).
According to me all the individuals should behave ethically and fulfil all their
responsibilities to contribute in social welfare. It is important because sustainability is possible
with the helps of every citizen of the nation and if one of them is not working good than may be
the nation is not able to be sustain for a long period. The major challenge which has been
observed by me is corruption which is continuously increasing and should be removed. I will

contribute to tackle this challenge by reducing corruption and not taking part in any type of
illegal activity that can harm the economy of country.
CONCLUSION
In this project report it has been concluded that ethics, responsibilities and sustainability
are important for development and growth of an organisation or an individual. There are certain
key concept of ethics that are helpful for developing an understanding among an individual that
improve the responsibility of their to contribute towards the long term sustainability in the
present economy. This project report also show the different application of key theories that
guide various individuals to behave ethicality, improve and fulfil of their responsibility of post
residency and achieve sustainability in the long run. Different theories such as virtue, Kantian,
popular sustainability that help to increase the decision making ability of individual in different
situations.

REFERENCES
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Game theory. 2018.[Online]. Available through:
<https://www.iep.utm.edu/game-th/>.