Business Ethics, Responsibility, and Sustainability in Technology

This report delves into the critical aspects of business ethics, corporate responsibility, and sustainability within the technology sector, using Amazon as a case study. It begins by highlighting the importance of these concepts in the rapidly evolving technological landscape, emphasizing their role in achieving business goals. The main body discusses key challenges such as lack of transparency and community participation in CSR activities, and the difficulty of sustaining sustainability programs. It analyzes best practices, focusing on ethical and moral issues, including ethical dilemmas, health and human impacts, and privacy concerns. The report also provides recommendations for businesses in the sector to enhance their responsibility, considering global implications. It concludes with a summary of the findings and a list of references. The report aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the ethical considerations and sustainable practices essential for success in the technology industry.

Business Ethics,
Responsibility and
Sustainability

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY ......................................................................................................................................3
Discuss key challenges related with corporate responsibility & sustainability relating to selected
sector ...............................................................................................................................................3
Analyse and explain what is consider to be 'best practice' within the sector, making references to
ethical and moral issues...................................................................................................................5
Recommendations for businesses in the sector to show they are being more responsible by taking
into account global considerations...................................................................................................8
CONCLUSION....................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES...................................................................................................................................10
Books & Journal:...........................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Business sector is wider and broader & it is becoming important to focus on changes so that
goals and objectives are achieved. Business ethics, responsibilities and sustainability are important
for business as they help in carrying out business activities. (Advantage, 2020) In this competitive
era, it is essential to have knowledge about these so that proper decisions are being adopted.
Technological sector is a developing field, using it for business is beneficial way of achieving
growth. Further, each business uses software, tools within firm functions, operations & activities.
Main aim of this report is to examine the concept of ethics, responsibility and sustainability in
organisation perspectives. Amazon, an multinational company technology firm, headquartered in
U.S. Firm deals in e-commerce, cloud computing, digital streaming & artificial intelligence. This
report comprises focuses on technology industry and comprises of key challenges to corporate
responsibility, sustainability, best practice within sector, and recommendation.
MAIN BODY
Discuss key challenges related with corporate responsibility & sustainability relating to selected
sector
Technology industry is changing at rapid scale and it is crucial to focus on these changes so
that decisions are being taken in proper manner. With wide use of internet and information, every
business is connected with technology. This industry basically includes social media, artificial
intelligence, machine learning, business analytics & data etc. It focuses on products & services to
both customers & businesses. In business, it is essential to focus on different application, software,
tools, techniques on basis of which they are able to enhance their access to competitive advantage.
In relevance of Amazon, they are known for their corporate culture, ethics and responsibility as they
are focused towards customer centric. In technology industry, they invest in education sector,
technology and applications to increase brand name within society or community. Due to changing
period of time, Amazon has also introduced many software, applications and technologies like
Alexa, AWS, etc. (Aragon-Correa, 2017). It is necessary for manager of firm to be aware of
challenges so that correct type of practises are being adopted.
Business ethics
Business ethics are to be defined as code of conduct which consists of rules and regulations
which are required to be followed by entity. It is critically important to follow business ethics so
that it is easy to avoid legal or financial issues. In reference of selected firm, HR manager make
assures all rules as well as regulations are being followed properly. By properly following ethics, it
is easy to enhance goodwill within firm. In technology industry, ethics has direct impact on brand

goodwill so these are essential to be focused. Ignoring business ethics might leads to many
problems like high turnover period, management issues, etc.
Corporate responsibility
According to CIPD, CR refers to effect on firm makes on society, environment and
economy. Focusing on concept of CR helps in contributing to business & adding value to goodwill
of firm. Amazon too focuses on CSR as they give higher priority to customers because stakeholders
have deep impact on firm profit ratio. It is a wider & broader concept which is to be understood
with proper considerations. Adapting this concept is beneficial for development of business
goodwill & applications (Bice, 2017).
Sustainability-
Business sustainability is defined as corporate sustainability which includes cooperation &
coordination of social, environmental, financial to assure ongoing success. Business is able to
improve sustainability period by implementation of strategy and tactics. In relation of selected firm,
they are viewed as sustainable company because they are investing in new renewable projects at
global scale (Borgersen, 2017). It is critically essential to enhance the sustainability period so that
vision & mission are achieved effectively. The level of competition in technology sector has
increased which hakes it crucial for companies to
Key challenges to corporate social responsibility and sustainability
CSR Challenges-
 Lack of transparency- It is a major challenge which is business while carrying out
corporate social responsibility. Businesses that focuses on CSR are unable to access to
information properly and sources does not provide relevant information. Due to this, it
become difficult to focus on concept. In relevance of Amazon, they do not discloses
complete information regarding CSR. It is necessary to be aware about information so that
activities related to concept is being undertaken in proper manner (Gunasekaran, 2017).
 Lack of community participation in CSR activities- It is another challenge which is faced
in corporate social responsibility. Businesses are unable to implement strategies and
campaigns within society due to lack of participation by public or customers. Due to lack of
participation, implementing & following corporate social responsibility is not easy. A survey
is being carried so that it is determined how many people are actually taking part in
corporate social responsibility activities.
Sustainability challenges
 Sustaining sustainability programs- It is major issue faced in business sustainability
because establishing strategy for sustainability is not enough and it is crucial to carry out
programs of sustainability in consistent and sustainable manner. In technology industry,

sustaining programs are difficult implement continuously as they are cost expensive. For
example- Amazon focuses on initiating of sustainable programs periodically. It is critical
challenge which is needed to be focused as it help in survival period of business.
 Long Term Orientation- It is another challenge to CSR as because due to changing pattern
behaviour, uncertain marketing situations, global environment makes it difficult for
technology industry to establish sustainability for longer term period. To do this, high level
of skilled employees, knowledge and expertise is needed at all level (Morley, 2019).
Carrying out sustainability for long term leads to accessing to higher growth &
development.
From above discussed matter, it has been examined that it is essential for businesses to
focus and overcome to such challenges so that objectives & opportunities are accessed. Through
implementation of strategy, it is easy to face these issues in appropriate manner. Moreover, manager
of Amazon uses strategical approaches to provide solutions to issues. Dealing with issues results in
Analyse and explain what is consider to be 'best practice' within the sector, making references to
ethical and moral issues
Market is flexible and different situations tends to arise frequently. In business
perspectives, it is crucial to focus on strategies and tactics with aim of achieving competitive
advantage. Best practice is being defined as acceptance of company of a way doing business that
actually works. Also, it is too analysed that best practice in technological industry are crucial to be
focused so that objectives are achieved within period of time. Information Technology
specifies to the components that are used to store, gather & manipulate the information at
the minimum level with the server having an operating system. Information Technology
have a wide area of applications in education, business, health, industries, banking sector
and scientific research at a large level (Mili, 2019). With the leading advancement in
information technology, it is crucial to have knowledge of security issues, privacy issues and
main negative impacts of IT. To deal with these issues in IT society it is important to
examine ethical issues.
Furthermore, manager need to make ensure that effective best practices are adopted on basis
of which positive results are obtained. Different types of issues faced within technology sector such
as moral or ethical and many more. The field of technology changes frequently and it is become
essential to adapt best practices to deal with these changes in effective manner. The moral & ethical
issues in technology industry are crucial to be examined so that information is used in appropriate
manner. Best practices are beneficial for firm growth and development. This is because they help in

accessing to new opportunities, solution in easier manner.
Moral issues
Moral issues are those which refers to which are basically concerned with right or wrong.
These issues are important as they help in examining of situation within business in correct way.
Technology industry has deeply affected by these moral issues. Morals are critically to be analysed
so that appropriate actions are being taken. It is necessary to identify these moral issues so that
appropriate or relevant activities are carried out. Identifying moral problems makes it is easy for
firm to use technology efficiently & in effective manner (Oláh, 2018). Tech workers are building
the future. With that power comes a responsibility to build a future that is more free, just, and more
prosperous than the present. Many tech workers are taking that responsibility in efficient way.
Types of moral issues in technological industry are discussed below-
Ethical dilemmas-
It is an emerging issue which is encountered because ethical dilemmas arises when there is
high degree of competition between good or evil and it is crucial to examine whether actions in
business are right or wrong. In business, examining of situation is essential as it help in carrying out
strategies appropriately. Many of the organisations uses information at larger scale without
considering morality of a person (Panda,, 2018). Through accessing to information systems, records
are easily manipulated. Accessing of technology is easier as individuals gain information from
large source of data. Determining what is right and wrong helps in making decisions effectively.
Examining of ethical dilemmas is beneficial as reduces problematic situation in future period of
time.
Best practice-
To overcome with this moral issue, Amazon has a strong and safe data centre through which
they are able to ensure the safety of customers. Moreover, it is examined technical team of firm uses
advanced tools to secure credentials of customer. Through this best practice, it is easy for them to
develop strategies effectively. Focusing on best practices leads to positive results within
organisations. Right or wrong situations can be determined through using critical thinking skills
appropriately.
Ethical issues-
Ethics refers to code of conduct which includes rules and regulations. It is necessary to focus
on these ethical issues which occur in technology industry. The use of internet, technology can
impact on individual in both negative or positive way. Society as well as communities criticises
technology for negatively impacting on health & safety of person. By properly following ethics it is
easy to engage with society, community & people. Many organisations implement strategy to carry
out their ethical thinking with practice of concern of technologies.

Health and human impacts
In technological field and industry, the way it is changing lives of people also affect upon
health & safety at wider approach. For example- the crime rate of cyber and internet has affected
resources within industry in U.K, U.S, Australia etc. Through showing concern towards human
health & impact of technology, business contributes at larger level towards society and community.
There are various types of threats to human health & well being like it increases level of stress,
access to information overload, distraction from friends or family etc. So, technology has deeper
effect on health of humans at larger scale.
Best practice
To overcome with this issue, Amazon has privacy concern for individuals and also many
other technology companies have blocked the websites which are not safe. Moreover, to provide
safety to practices of health of people, selected firm is adding machine learning services such as
Amazon Lex, Amazon Polly, Amazon Translate etc. By adopting of this practice, they are able to
provide effective services to customers. They uses effective way of strategies which helps them in
overcoming with such issues (Ross, 2019).
Privacy
In this ethical issue, it depicts about accessing to person privacy without taking their
permission. Privacy is important to every individual as wide range of information is saved via
online transactions & activities (Schwartz, 2017). Due to distribution of networks on a large
scale, data or information transfer in a big amount takes place which leads to hidden
chances of disclosing information and violating the privacy of any individuals or a group. It
is a major challenge for IT society as well as organizations to maintain the privacy and
integrity of data. In relevance of selected entity, they ensure the privacy of data of every user
through their high end security system. Also, they ensures that users can freely share their data
without any fear of misuse. Besides this, hackers have numerous ways to access to privacy of users.
This makes it is difficult for individuals to share their data with others.
Best practice-
To deal with this problem, technology industry can adopt artificial intelligence so that new
applications & software are developed which will help in overcoming to these issues in most
effective manner. In context of Amazon, they assure that privacy is safe & AI is used to secure data.
It is responsibility of a firm to safe guard the interest of users who share credentials.
Socio-economic inequality
It is another issue which is faced within technological field because this field includes rise
of economic dislocation, potential of mass automation, hiring biases, certain of two class job
market, job displacement, etc. Most of business organisational comes into faces this issue of socio-

economic inequality.
Best practice-
To deal with issue, technological sector is being using new strategies to remove inequality
within business. For example- using of AI without any biasses and making decisions through
participating equal decision-making process (Sila, 2017).
It has been analysed that moral as well as ethical issues are crucial to be examined which
help in accessing of appropriate type of results within business (Advantage, 2020). It is necessary to
focus on these practices so that future risks are determined faced in appropriate manner. Further, it
is seen that HR of company need to aware about such practices so that positive decisions are
undertaken.
Recommendations for businesses in the sector to show they are being more responsible by taking
into account global considerations.
The field of technology has deep impact on global business as every firm is interconnected
with software, tools, techniques etc. It is difficult for an organisation to achieve goals appropriately
without using technologies into business activities. The growth of IT sector is rising at rapid scale
and it is necessary for firm to be responsible towards social responsibility, ethics so that they are
able to achieve competitive advantage. Digital technologies have risen to prominence as a critical
determinant of economic growth, national security, and international competitiveness. The digital
economy has a profound influence on the global activities and the societal well-being of ordinary
citizens. It affects everything from resource allocation to income distribution and growth. Market is
dynamic & businesses should be aware regarding their duties as well as responsibilities. At global
level, correct tactics are required to be implemented will assist company in making decisions. From
above discussed matter, is stated that improvements are needed to be focused to identify
responsibility into global considerations & are explained as follows-
 It is recommended that it is crucial for organisations which are in field of IT to scan
environment in both externally and internally so that issues that impact on business are
determined properly. Also, through this strategies are too implemented in most efficient
way.
 Another recommendation is that the IT sector is changing frequently, so organisations
should be ready to adopt new changes as it will them in reducing of uncertain risks in
effective way. Moreover, new ideas are needed to be used so that competitive advantage is
achieved.
 Further, major responsibility of business is to use applications, technologies, systems in
such a manner that positive outcomes are achieved. With global considerations, proper

moral and ethics are necessary to be adopted so that issues are determined easily.
 Technological sector focuses on innovation and creation, so when carrying out business
activities everything is to be carried out in systematic manner. For example- what situations
can occur in new markets, CSR which are to be followed and many more.
 To fulfil responsibility in effective manner, environmental practitioners & expertise are
required to be hired so that it is easier to access to new opportunities.
Therefore, it is analysed business organisations are required to be well aware about their
responsibilities globally so that strategies are implemented accordingly. Also, above
recommendations are crucial to be adopted so that it is easy for firm to access to

CONCLUSION
After a brief analysis of above report, it has been concluded that it is important to adopt &
carry out business ethics, responsibility & sustainable in such a way that brand goodwill increases
for longer time interval. Furthermore, it is too analysed that discussions have been made about
challenges to CSR and sustainability, best practice in technology industry & recommendations.
Therefore, it has been evaluated that the sector of technology which comprises of social media,
artificial intelligence etc. is growing and developing at rapid scale. Also, competition level in sector
is impacting upon digital business widely. So, it is necessary to be aware about changes in
technology sector to achieve competitive advantage. CSR, ethics and sustainability improves the
image of firm at wider scale. Globally, technology sector is widening & it enhances the importance
of business which properly fulfil needs and demand of society or individuals.

REFERENCES
Books & Journal:
Advantage, 2020. Corporate Social Responsibility. CSR and Socially Responsible Investing
Strategies in Transitioning and Emerging Economies, p.65.
Aragon-Correa, 2017. Sustainability management teaching resources and the challenge of balancing
planet, people, and profits.
Bice, 2017. Corporate social responsibility as institution: A social mechanisms framework. Journal
of Business Ethics, 143(1), pp.17-34.
Borgersen, 2017. When ethics and law clash a look at the ethical, legal, and moral issues arising
from the Boston College Belfast Oral Project. Libri, 67(2), pp.129-140.
Gunasekaran, 2017. Information technology for competitive advantage within logistics and supply
chains: A review. Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, 99,
pp.14-33.
Mili, 2019. Business ethics, company value and ownership structure. journal of Management and
Governance, 23(4), pp.973-987.
Morley, 2019. From what to how. An overview of AI ethics tools, methods and research to translate
principles into practices. arXiv preprint arXiv:1905.06876.
Oláh, 2018. Information technology developments of logistics service providers in Hungary.
International Journal of Logistics Research and Applications, 21(3), pp.332-344.
Panda,, 2018. Modelling the relationship between information technology infrastructure and

organizational agility: A study in the context of India. Global Business Review, 19(2),
pp.424-438.
Ross, 2019. Ethical issues in newborn sequencing research: the case study of BabySeq. Pediatrics,
144(6).
Schwartz, 2017. Business ethics: An ethical decision-making approach. John Wiley & Sons.
Sila, 2017. The impact of environmental, social and governance dimensions of corporate social
responsibility on economic performance: Australian evidence. Procedia computer science,
120, pp.797-804.