MNGT 3711 Business Ethics & Society: Course Reflection Project

This report is a reflection on the MNGT 3711 Business Ethics and Society course, focusing on the interrelationship between business and society, stakeholder needs, and the influence of ethics and social responsibility on internal and external business forces. It discusses the impact of reading and journaling activities on understanding workplace ethics and corporate social responsibility, the role of government, and the impact of stakeholder biases. The reflection also incorporates the circle of reflection method to analyze the effects of various issues on stakeholders and concludes with key learnings from the course, emphasizing the importance of ethical decision-making and social responsibility in business.

Business Ethics
Reflection of the module
Student name

Business ethics 1
Contents
Understanding interrelationship between business and society.....................................2
Confluence of stakeholders needs, wants, expectation and perspective........................2
Circle of reflection.........................................................................................................3
How ethics and social responsibility relates to some of the internal and the external
forces in business and society…................................................................................................4
Reading and Journaling activities influenced views on workplace ethics and corporate
social responsibility…................................................................................................................5
Interrelationship between external forces and internal influences on business and
society and workplace diversity….............................................................................................6
Government role in business and society.......................................................................8
Impact of stakeholder biases..........................................................................................8
Learning from this course............................................................................................10

Business ethics 2
Understanding interrelationship between business and society
Business directs everyone focus towards the organisation goals, which are designed to
provide goods and services or both to the ultimate customers. Whereas, society highlights the
community or the large group of people having common or different customs and traditions,
culture and values. Business and the society highlight the border conceptual relationships in
between them. Certain activities of environment such as economic, political, legal,
technological and cultural majorly affect and provide awareness while understanding the
interrelationship between them. In economic concern, the rate of inflation, demand and
supply, certain economic policies do influence the work we do (Goss, 2015).
Not only this, it also affects the amount of money earned also influences the person
lifestyles and entirely, the society. In cultural terms, the interests, values, and perceptions of
each individual influence society and business. Lastly, in political concern, certain
government policies and the political actions, regulations have a major impact over the
individuals’ livelihoods. Other than this, overly it affects the standards of living, individuals
quality of life and overall the organisation success. Business and the society are the part of
the larger entity. All individuals are part of it. In order to regulate a fine business they have to
face certain activities of the environment, which generates awareness within the organisation,
and the members of society.
According to my analysis, environmental forces can be both positive and negative that
shapes the business and the societal relationships. In order to make them inseparable business
and its stakeholders have to work over changing social expectations, globalization, handing
the government regulations of the business, facing the dynamic natural environment,
explosion of the technology and lastly they also have to focus on the growing emphasis on
the ethical values (Ganson, 2013).

Business ethics 3
Confluence of stakeholders needs, wants, expectation and
perspective
According to my perspectives, a stakeholder has an interest in the organisation that
either can influence or influenced by the various organisations. Stakeholders are of two types,
which are defined as primary and secondary stakeholder. Primary holders are those people of
the society in which they directly connect to organisation and having a major mission. Such
type of holders is important for the organisation existence and activities. They are categorised
into employees, customers, suppliers, distributors, creditors and shareholders. In business
terms, primary stakeholder acts as the market stakeholders in the businesses, in large
organisations and lastly as individuals who are engaged in the economic transactions with the
organisations as, they carry out their purposes of providing the society, majorly with gods and
services (Lazos, et al, 2016).
In secondary stakeholder, people or the group of individuals are directly and
indirectly are affected by the organisations activities. Such types of stakeholders have their
own interest, needs, wants and perceptions for which, organisations has to makes an effort to
fulfil them. For instance, the voluntary government officials who work for the organisation
for enforcing laws and regulations, are considered as the policy makers of the organisations
for the shorter period, and are forced for the work, as they are not fully part of the
organisational work. Other employers who are working and are part of the organisation are
considered as the asset of the company and are compared with them who do not handle daily
operations. According to my analysis, these officials of the companies should also consider as
the key stakeholders and are misused unethically and illegally.
In order to resolve the matters organisations should develop relations with the
stakeholders, make the entire processes very much clear to everyone. Along with this,

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establish the clear goals so it can be easily understandable. Moreover, lead organisation with
prioritization but do involve stakeholders in every decisions. As stakeholders are the most
essential part of the organisation. If we want that employees should perform effectively and
efficiently in the organisation then the employees needs to be consider seriously and should
merger stakeholders needs, wants, behaviour according to their needs and if not then it will
directly affects the performance of the organisations (Andriof, Waddock, Husted, &
Rahman, 2017).
Circle of reflection
In an organisation, there are numerous stakeholders. Whatever happens in an
organisation is inter linked with the stakeholders. Circle of reflection is a well-known method
which visually representing the effect of those stakeholders who are contributing directly and
indirectly to the concern and helps in defining the influence of the issue on the stakeholders.
(Source:Weiss, 2014).
The circle of reflection is very powerful approach, which replicates over the results of
the different issues and how it affects the people, government, society and lastly relations. In
this circle of reflection, the innermost circle of this reflection denotes families or the

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individuals (Weiss, 2014). This indicates the viewpoint of the family according to the
problems. The next circle highlights the reflection of company, which exhibits companies’
issues. Further, the circle of reflection is elaborated and gets even more borders and their
perspectives and impact, which are underlined within the sphere (Wheelen, Hunger, Hoffman
& Bamford, 2017).
The personal activities also influence the environment. For instance, if a person
intakes tobacco it affects its health, which also leads to development of harmful disease in the
person. It also affects the community by delivering the wrong message as the youngsters got
influence, consumes tobacco and overall affects the country by increase in the death rate of
the people. Moreover, we have also analysed that along with tobacco, the consumption of
smoking in the young generation is increasing day by day and ultimately harming their health
along with the diversity by increasing pollution.
Global impacts of issues are personally insignificant. For instance, widespread
adoption of the clean cook stove may provoke the wellbeing of the people living in region.
Not all these natural disasters have direct impact over the individuals or on their family. In
this, individuals can face widespread effects; which affect around the world by increasing
medical problems, native cooking strategies damage or hurt the environment, many trees are
cut down, this results in cleaning of the earth. Overall, it influences the livelihood in some
direct or in indirect way (Fleming, Roberts, and Garsten, 2013).
Circle of reflection majorly focuses on supporting the basic of the leadership power.
Partners might be emphatically required in undertaking exercise without considerably
contributing to many imperative choices. The effect on the organisation has always larger as
well as businesses houses can easily trade across the countries, worldwide. On facts related
on this basis, circle of reflection gave major impact over the perspective of an issue.

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How ethics and social responsibility related to some of the internal
and the external forces in business and society…
Ethics is a system of the moral principles. This affects that how people generate
decisions and lead their life to keep the track smooth. Ethical theories are useful in practice
and they affect in the way human being behave. In addition, business ethics are those, which
examine the ethical principles, and moral and the issues related to it that can arise in the
business environment (Nica, 2013). In other terms, business ethics is an application of the
general ethical ideas to the internal business behaviour (Fernando, 2011).
Moreover, social responsibility highlights about the obligations, which arises while
making decisions and performances to those actions, which are desirable in terms of
objectives and values for the society. Due to these business and society are incorporated by
some change in ethical desires, social responsibility, globalisation and advancing world
economy. Regarding the social responsibility of business integrates the innovation, natural
resources, environmental concerns and lastly the business concerns (Bowen, 2013). There
are numerous elements which an managers applies in order to take ethical decisions likewise,
Legislations, which highlights about the government interferences and the enact of laws for
the business owners for making ethical decisions (Reypens, Lievens, & Blazevic, 2016).
Government rules and regulations, highlights about the laws which government
supports in regards to give directions in the working conditions, to maintain the product
security, statutory cautioning and directing the working conditions. All this, provide a couple
of rules to the business owners in finding out what is sufficient and what not for the perceived
gauges and the related practices. Other than this, personal code of conduct highlights the
individuals’ code of conduct that helps in leading responsibility and affects the behaviour. In
addition, ethical code of company provides the direction to their subordinates so that it can be

Business ethics 7
easy for them in dealing with organisation. Societal pressure is also one of the external
forces, which have extensive impact over the business ethics. Sometimes, organisation
supplies substandard products and get involve itself in ethical behaviour trap and because of
this, the customers gets distant themselves towards the organisations. An immense pressure
of globalization, on the organisation made them to move out of their boundaries.
Globalization in basic terms implies the stretching out the business, innovation and the
philosophies, which have certain rules and morals. As numerous nations and societies having
distinctive values regarding trade, values, traditions, and beliefs for which companies are
clashed. Lastly, Strong performances after innovation came into swing, which has major
effects over boosting the productivity and reducing costs and arises a great competitiveness
Saeidi, et al, 2015).
For instance, it is analysed that the company Walmart is socially responsible towards
its customers and stakeholders. It actively participates in developing the rules and the policies
that are favourable for the employees, customers and make the continuous efforts in attracting
more and more stakeholders for the company. The company considers the rights of the
employees and focuses on providing justice to all the members of the organization.
Reading and Journaling activities influenced views on workplace
ethics and corporate social responsibility…
These reading and activities supported me a lot in order to get full knowledge on the
workplace ethics and the corporate social responsibility. It is truly said that business ethics
and sustainability both goes hand in hand in the organisation and yes! Both are equally
mandatory for handling the work of the organisation, which ultimately lead to the success of
the organisation (Loorbach, & Wijsman, 2013). Communities and stakeholders think that
every business in which they work should be socially responsible and should act ethically

Business ethics 8
which not only improves the internal performances but also have a major impact on the
external environment (Pinelli, & Maiolini, 2017).
For instance, there are many organisations, which applies sustainable development
along with this they also regulate ethics at organisations. Example Hewlett Packard (HP)
company has its own code of conduct at work and organisation leaders are so committed
towards their work and are active to take the required decisions so that it can be benefited to
the employees as well the entire organisation. Moreover, for an organisation ethics helps in
maintaining the societal concerns, having a direct link with truth, honesty, fairness and equity
(Lawrence, & Weber, 2014). Moreover, HP's organization in CSR and supportability has
passed on a great stage to work with industry nobles, NGOs and government associations to
influence the sort of future organizations and national controls. HP kept an eye on the issue of
extended and diverse stock system.In organisation concern, having code of conduct helps
employees in striking harmony between the end and the methods, which helps in achieving
them (Tashman, & Raelin, 2013). Furthermore, they also make certain sustainable
development initiatives like zero deforestation, working over for the reduction of the carbon
emission by 2020.
Other than this, corporate social responsibility is one of the essential parts of the
organisation, which helps them in building strong image or reputation in the market. Along
with this, it also helps in building strong brand image in the eyes of the customers and helps
organisation in keeping a hold over the market. For instance, Canadian business houses in
concern for social responsibility are more incorporated in maintaining substantial
organisation. CSR having numerous benefits for the organisation like it helps in reducing
operating cost, helps in enhancing the brand image and the reputation, helps in improving the
ability to attract more employees and retain them for the longer period. Moreover, in overall
concern it helps in increasing sales and maintaining customer loyalty by incrementing

Business ethics 9
publicity and increase in public image from good works and reputation (Suliman, Khatib, &
Thomas, 2016). Due to all these reasons, I think that ethics and corporate social
responsibility is very much mandate for business as well as for society.
Interrelationship between external forces and internal influences on
business and society and workplace diversity…
Relationship in between internal and the external forces have a major impact over the
working within an organisation. In brief saying, both internal and external plays vital role in
and out of the organisation. Internal forces like globalization, technologies, conflict and skills
put pressure on administrative activities to take business at global level. Not only this it also
helps in applying external forces which build pressure to keep up the brand image of the
organisation along with this also helps in building up organisation reputation (Bundy, Vogel,
& Zachary, 2018).
Examples related to the external forces that affect an organisation’s ability to compete
and respond successfully to the changes in the external environment. The internal factors help
in determining how the organisation is moving forward. Likewise, mission is an internal
factor, which helps the organisation to have clear sense of its ultimate purpose. Similarly,
Steve’s jobs original mission for apple was to contribute to the world and was more focused
to reach his ultimate goal by making tools for the mind that advanced humankind. In
technological dimensions, managers do take care of investment decisions and if there is an
advanced technology, it majorly affects the outcome of the business as well as society. In
socio-cultural dimension, Customs, morals, values and the demographic factors are the major
concern. It indicates that the product, services and standards of conduct should be according
to the society which they likely to value and appreciate. Therefore, the standards of the

Business ethics 10
business conduct vary from culture to culture and so do the taste and the preferences for
goods and services (Montibeller & Von Winterfeldt, 2015).
Globalization is that procedure which affects environment, culture, political system
and the economic development along with the prosperity of the society around the world.
These changes are mostly related to the increased competition and the rapid changes of the
technology. In order to challenge these changes, companies need to keep in mind the various
aspects likewise, to work over how to deal with the increased competition (Beringer, Jonas,
& Kock, 2013).
Other than this, technology is also one of the main tools of competition and the
quality of goods and services. In order to increase the product quality, for that company has
to make use of its latest technology. Moreover, every business has their own ethics and
corporate social responsibility towards the public (Davies, 2016). The major changes in the
external forces, like change in technology bring major changes in ethics and code of the
organisation (Grayson, & Hodges, 2017).
The other external forces, which affected the workplace diversity, are the leadership,
effective communication that results in an ongoing exchange of ideas to the benefit of both
the organisation and its environment. For instance, Johnson and Johnson is one of the
customers driven company which believes that customers are always right and it’s a single
company that transforming the way the goods are bought and sold all over the world. This is
all due to the effective communication with its suppliers and customers. This shows that
workplace rights and varying qualities majorly influence with the alternations in the external
forces. Moreover, company thinks that in order to be successful in global diversity, the
company needs to be culturally appropriate to be launched for every region. In this, clients
and employees both worked in improving productivity through training. I think and I believe

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that interrelationship of external and internal environment has a positive impact over the
organisation.
Government role in business and society
Government effects in the organisation and the society has vast level and can play role
in external a well as internal force and as stakeholder respectively. In internal terms,
government can establish some strict rules and laws, which force organisation to follow
ethical and legitimate method for running the business. Likewise, tax and subsides affects
business, due to this, price raise and customers suffers. It is based on the condition where it
depends on the government, which can make situation worse for the business or can lead to
the betterment conditions for the businesses (Carroll, & Buchholtz, 2014).
Relationship between the government, business and the society include numerous
agencies, which are categorised in national, local, foreign governmental levels. The changing
role of the government in some Canadian provinces where privatization of government or
taxpayer owned organisation such as liquor stores, power generation and distribution services
and health-care services majorly affects the society. Other than the taxes, government roles
impact over the business and the society are by implementing laws, regulations and policies,
which will help in enhancing economic development of country as well as helps in protecting
social welfare. This highlights that when needs and the interest of business and society
change, government roles changes (Waddell, 2017).
For instance, Due to the government forcing of the specific segment more of
charges and obligations are charged, which makes the speculators to loose enthusiasm. Other
than this, due to the high duty rates, government takes necessary steps to improve the trade
relations, which allows organisation to expand them globally and compete in the outer world
by acting as external force. Moreover, the federal government has banned smoking in