Thompson Rivers University MNGT 3711 Business Ethics Assignment

This assignment explores the multifaceted dimensions of business ethics and social responsibility. It delves into the critical interrelationship between businesses and society, analyzing the performance-expectations gap and the impact of awareness on stakeholder relationships. The assignment examines conflicts and the confluence of stakeholder needs, including perspectives and expectations, using examples such as Walmart's practices. It further investigates the impact of ethics and social responsibility on internal and external business forces, as well as the influence of readings and activities on workplace ethics. The analysis extends to the interrelationship between external forces, government roles, and the significance of recognizing stakeholder biases. The assignment also considers the impact of reflection circles in understanding business situations, the adoption of clean cookstoves, and the challenges of workplace diversity. The assignment uses examples like TCCC and Merck to highlight ethical dilemmas and social responsibility, and to demonstrate the importance of ethical conduct in business operations. The conclusion emphasizes the need for organizations to maintain trust, foster a good reputation, and adapt to evolving stakeholder expectations to achieve long-term success.

Running Head: BUSINESS ETHICS
Business Ethics
Student’s Name
University Name
Author’s Note

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Table of Contents
1. Influence of awareness and understanding of the interrelationship between business and
society..............................................................................................................................................3
2. Challenges related to dealing with conflicts and Confluence of the stakeholder needs, wants,
expectations and perspectives..........................................................................................................5
4. Impact of ethics and social responsibility and their relation with internal and external forces in
business and Society......................................................................................................................11
5. Impact of readings and generally activities on my workplace ethics and corporate social
responsibility ideas........................................................................................................................13
6. Interrelationship between external forces..................................................................................14
7. Government as a force in business............................................................................................16
8. Role of generating activities in recognizing real or potential impact of stakeholder biases
including personal bias..................................................................................................................17
9. Most significant learning in the course......................................................................................18
Reference List................................................................................................................................20

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1. Influence of awareness and understanding of the interrelationship between business and
society
There were several incidents as well as official activities that took place under different
scenarios. These scenarios were considered under various negotiable circumstances and led to
various categories of decision making. In the first place, I would be discussing about the
activities that were undertaken in order to address the performance-expectations gap. Thee
anticipations of the stakeholders on various fronts were addressed on various fronts. In the first
place, there has been a demand for the reduction of the amount of water that was used by the
production department of the organization. In relation to this, the claim that was raised was that
the same sources of water were also being used by the surrounding communities also. Later
allegations were also raised against the company.
The community had expected the stakeholders of the organisation to be responsible towards the
community members and thereby regulate water uses in the industry. In fact, the shareholders is
expected that the organisation was protecting the interest of the community members and thereby
the expected that there would be no chance of any conflict regarding this issue. This is the
performance expectation gap, by means of which we can understand the difference as well as
relationship existing between business and Society (Sodeyfi, 2016). There is some basic
corporate responsibilities which business is have towards the surrounding society and
community is which also form part of the stakeholder community which they serve. In most
instances the organisations use resources, by sharing them with the stakeholders designated as
community members. In the same way as the organisation, in this case had used up access
resources, the community could have also done so there by accounting for crisis of resources,

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which is water in this case for the organisation which would have made it difficult for them to
carry out their operations.
The case study analysis conducted in the second question also highlights that there is an acute
active relationship between organisation and the physical environment. On most instances, as we
have derived as conclusion from the previous study, the organisation is mostly dependent on the
environment for their manufacturing processes. This is the reason which they need to extract,
mineral, fuel, air, water as well as other proponents of land from the environment (Aithal, 2016).
In this case, the model utilised for demonstration idealize is water as one of the resources, which
is required by the other communities more so compared to the organisation. if the organisation is
considered to be another community the availability of water could have been a crucial factor for
them also if it had been limited by theother communities like it.
In the third question, we find the organisation address in this interrelationship and the importance
of balance between business and Society by taking corrective measures to ensure water neutrality
and equality policy.
Another reference to interrelationship between business and Society is evident in the
demonstration of the ways in which Merck acted regarding the testing of vioxx. It is already been
established that businesses need to act in a socially responsible. However, in this case by
establishing that he did not act in a socially responsible manager regarding vioxx in context to
customers and shareholders should be established how negative actions of organisations can have
high impact account surrounding communities. Organisation was observed in fraudulent as well
as unethical actions which cost it later. They disregarded specific information against some
rectifiable risks that was imposed upon the the organisation because of the vioxx (Mory, Wirtz &

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Göttel, 2016). The transactions with the corrupted officials and representation of false report
about safety as well as security ended in in the loss of lives and others were thrusted into severe
diseases. The number of casualties had crores 50000 only because of the use of this medicine.
There was an Exhibition of disregard towards human life and appreciative interest only towards
profitability of the organisation. However, this case analysis and the actions and activities
undertaken in the case, can be highlighted in order to show that organisations need to win back
the trust of the communities within which they exist. This will help in development of good
reputation and that can be an intangible asset working in order to add financial significance to the
organisation. In this case the community affected by the negative actions of the company is the
extended base of customers of the organisation.
2. Challenges related to dealing with conflicts and Confluence of the stakeholder needs,
wants, expectations and perspectives
There are several challenges in relation to conflict as well as Confluence of the stakeholders
needs, wants, perspective as well as expectations. In order to substantiate this view the example
of Walmart, one of the biggest as well as most reputed retail Giants in the world, with their
operations spread in more than 90 countries can be highlighted. Walmart has a lot of activities in
adults towards establishment of organisational ethics as well as social responsibility. Forbidden,
the organisation has indulge in activities like conservation of environment, observing and
fulfilling the rights of workers, ensuring quality products to the customers and so on in Canada.
This shows that the organisation has been able to bring about positive impact on the community
they serve, through impactful implementation of social responsibility. On one hand where we
observe Confluence with the organisational ethics as well as the cost tomorrow and other
stakeholders' requirements, on the other hand it can be observed that the organization has also

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negatively impacted the community by involving into specific actions which tainted the
organisational refrigeration. As observed by Testa, Boiral and Iraldo (2018), the organisation has
been involved into practicing unjust activity regarding various group of stakeholders. In the first
place, they have been punishing their workers in an unjust manner by depriving them of their
rightful compensation or remunerations. Again, more alarmingly, Walmart was observed to be
infringing the rights of children in Bangladesh. This seemed to be knowingly increasing the rate
of emission of harmful Chemicals like carbon in the environment that had a large impact on the
community of children involve in working for the organisation in the less developed countries of
Africa and Asia. Again, it has also been observed that there is a large scale of difference between
the product quality is that organisation cells in the less developed countries and the highly
developed countries. These are some of the conflicting aspects that exist between organisation
and their stakeholders. Speaking of Walmart, it can also be highlighted that they have taken up
significant actions also like development of organisational leadership. The newly introduced
executive leadership of the organisation has made a note of enhancing the the hourly payment of
workers upto $9. Nevertheless, Walmart has also started to sell products which are helpful for
environmental conservation thereby creating a long term impact on the community where the
operate. Besides, in order to establish Confluence with the customer segment, big organisations
like Walmart uses big data over digital platforms in order to to create a database about the
consumers preferences which help them to stay ahead in competition from their competitors.
Researchers like Brammer, He and Mellahi (2015), have highlighted that in order to consider
under taking the best decision in favour of the stakeholders, the pros and cons of every issue that
is being dealt with by means of the decision should be considered.

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As discussed in the previous answer, the breach of ethics practiced by Merckk also violets the
social responsible manner in which organisations should conduct business. This was done
through broadcasting of the advertisement of vioxx. The organisation misinterpreted the
allowance of FDI to promote the drug to the medical Institutions so that they writeabout the new
drug hitting the market.
The organisation adapted to fake advertising by citing Olympics champion Dorothy Hamill. It
was later recognised that the company had been molding information which was vital for uses of
the drug. Like the previous instance, it has been observed on most occasions that the
organisations that generally goes into conflict with the interest of the stakeholders in the first
place, gradually retreats from their position in order to come to Confluence with the stakeholder
groups. This can be perceived to be acts of social responsibility which help them in assuming
brand loyalty among the customers (Martínez, Fernández & Fernández, 2016). Nevertheless, it
can be communicated in this regard that execution of activities as well as improvement of
welfare practices of community is very essential in order to be established as a socially
responsible organization.
The challenges in meeting the stakeholders Expectations have also been greatly reflected in
description of the ways in which widespread adoption of clean cookstoves helps in addressing
environmental issues around the globe. In this context, it should be addressed that stakeholder
groups are all those communities which are impacted by the operations of an organisation.
Naturally, standing in the twenty-first century, the issue of protecting environment is is a
compulsory concern for all business organisations and how to do so can be considered to be a
severe topic of debate. The smooth design of the stove, has a great role to play in limitation of
environmental hazard issues when compared to those gate stoves. This is user friendly and does

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not create any issues, or body damage to the customers like the previous kind of stoves. On top
of that insurance work place. This is how these stoves are not only contributing towards the
community but are also impacting the customer directly.
3. Impact of circles of reflection
Depending on the circles of reflection, I have understood how to breakdown every situation in
two circles of concern and circles of influence. In the initial phase, the researcher should be
taking time to analyse all aspects that kept him or her caught in the circle of concern. After being
reminded of all major circles of concern, he or she has to learn letting them go one by one. This
is when the circles of concern will be replaced by circles of influence. The circles of influence
our about us or processes that can be actually and actively influenced by the researcher himself
or herself. It does not draws evidences from potential sources that has impact in scenario in
business or in community. However it will be acceptable as a circle of influence in the researcher
has had a hand in exercising the influence or might be in a potential position to be able to
exercise that influence.
In the first place the issues facing the TCCC company would be considered for negotiation.
Regarding the issues highlighted in this case, it can reflected that the circles of concerned were
drawn by several incidents taking place. First and foremostly, there was lack of effective
communication between the stakeholders and shareholders of the organisation. On one hand the
shareholders where insured that the company was undertaking prosedure as well as processes so
that the amount of water that it was using could be reduced and thereby water consumption from
the local community source could be kept under a limit. As such, the shareholders were
confirmed that the organisation was generating value for the community (Bason, 2018). The

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disturbance was that the organisation had never implemented such a proceedure and it was a
rather surprise when fervent criticism rocket from the end of the surrounding communities
blaming the company for overuse of the water resource thereby leaving less than marginalized
quantity of water for the surrounding people to enjoy. Another circle of concern was that the
company has been producing products that left traces of pesticides. Hence the foundation of the
circles of concerned could be described as the inappropriate and inexplicable approach of the
organisation regarding their business and their failure in addressing the Expectations of the
surrounding communities, which form a significant part of their stakeholder group also.
In the next step circles of influence should be over taking the circles of concern. Firstly we can
highlight that there was active expectation performance gap in the organisation. Hence in order
to establish the first circle of influence, there should be direct intervention of shareholders for
shareholders representatives in the performance and operations of the organisation so that no
such gap occurs in the future. I believe that as executive heads of the organisation, the employee
should undertake actions for simplifying the hierarchical structures so that the organisational
ideals are not diverged when their undertaking their business operations. Lastly, the organisation
should avoid entering into legal battle by doing some socially responsible activity towards the
community that they have affected so far through their actions. They can take actions so that the
water consumption of the organisation is reduced, as well as in sure that the water supply to the
community households appropriate by establishing pipeline frameworks. We can also hold
meeting with peoples present in leaves of the local communities in order to as sure that they
would take significant measures so that traces of pesticides are not found any more in their
products.

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The next activity that can be highlighted in order to demonstrate circles of concern and influence
is the banning of tobacco promotion by the Canadian government. The Government of Canada
lawfully band in form of public demonstration for promotion of tobacco brands or tobacco
products. The cycles of concerned are that this move of the government will directly impact the
direct stakeholders to the organisations dealing in tobacco (Guerrero et al. 2016). The managers
of these companies who are responsible for running organisations and developing the primary
policies will be affected at first. Besides organisations and their executive members will also be
in problem regarding establishment of strategies that can help in ensuring the profitability of the
company. Nevertheless it is evident that the circle of concerns also includes and impact on the
employees who might lose their work since the business volume might go down abstractly. Lots
of people in Canada are consumed in various departments of tobacco companies like processing,
advertising, marketing as well as customer care. As it seems of now these positions will be
redundant in organisations and therefore the people playing active role in this positions will no
longer be required by the organisations.
The circles of influence are rather negotiable in this context. This is because will influence the
people in the family settings in the country. In the first place people might lose their job from
tobacco companies, but they would be relieved of the tension of lung cancer throat cancer,
Bronchitis stroke, foetus malfunction as well as other forms of cardiovascular disorders. They
would be relieved of the emotional turmoil of family members were always concerned about the
adverse effect of tobacco that the victim might incur any day because of tobacco consumption.
Tobacco consumption also manipulates in development of smoking habits among children who
consistently watch their years for your parents smoking for a considerable period of their life
(Morioka & de Carvalho, 2016). Hence, in this regard it can be highlighted that although the

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circles of influence are not able to amend the disturbances caused to the tobacco companies or
their stakeholders. Nevertheless, the circles of influence can be extended by the government and
other corporate stakeholders to the communities by observing the relieved employees of tobacco
companies in other domains. This is a societal cause that can have large impact upon the society
by manipulating several hundred thousands of people by deviating them from the path of
intoxication. Nevertheless, circles of influence extends two activities that I can undertake myself
in order to make the circles of concern, redundant. In this regard I would say that if I would have
been posted in executive position of such organizations have diverted the budget and Advertising
efforts to promote CSR activities in rather than direct marketing. By extending significant
benefits towards communities I would ensure brand loyalty and brand awareness and thereby
make positive publicity possible, without even having to endorse the products generated by our
brands. The second circle of influence would be indicated towards nullifying the impact of of job
losses. I would do this by engaging activities as well as events that attracts mass population
where organisations attracted to visit and appoint people. Again this event would not use any
brand name other highlighting only the name of the organization that would be endorsing and
arranging such events. As per my expert is I would be influencing and exercising my activities
towards the sports events and demonstrate the company’s name. This will ensure that significant
number of people would attend those events and this would definitely create brand awareness.
4. Impact of ethics and social responsibility and their relation with internal and external
forces in business and Society
Ethics and social responsibility are often not needed to be demonstrated through unique actions
or activities of organisations. The procedures they carry out in conducting their business
activities determine the responsibility towards the society. We can give the evidence of Walmart

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in this context which is a renowned retail organisation with operations spread in most of the
reputed countries of the world. This case study undertaken for this module activity regards the
CSR activities undertaken by Walmart in Canada. The objectives of such activities include
environment conservation, ensuring quality products for the people, providing the rights to the
workers and so on. Ethical responsibilities of the organisation were fulfilled by providing quality
products as well as observing the workers’ rights. Social responsibilities involved environment
conservation and also the other two forms of activities they have undertaken. Considering the
activities undertaken by Walmart in Canada, it can be clearly highlight is that they have impacted
the external as well as internal forces of business and societies. However, the impacts of the
operations of big companies like Walmart are not always positive upon the society (Morioka &
de Carvalho, 2016). For evidence in in several communities Walmart has been alleged to be
engaged in operations which tainted their reputation. For evidence in Bangladesh, The
Organisation was found to be impacting the rights of internal stakeholders. Evidence they were
found to be infringing children rights by appointing a significant number of child workers. On
top of that, poor societal values were demanded by the organisation by providing the children
with less than minimum wage and not even otherwise it facilities like expenses for schooling
other than the minimum wages provided to them.
Moreover, external communities in the society were also impacted by instrument in emission of
harmful Chemicals like carbon as well as sales of products that were of significantly poor
quality.
The evidence of Walmart can also be provided to site how how impacts upon external and
internal communities or business and Society impact the business growth of organisations also.
Social responsibilities are good strategies of attracting customers since customers prefer