Contemporary Brief 3: Business Ethics, Law, and Accounting Analysis

This report delves into various aspects of business and law, starting with an examination of ethical dilemmas in business, law, and accounting, using Volkswagen's emissions scandal as a case study. It then explores market research methodologies for a new restaurant, focusing on brand awareness, target audience, and customer acquisition. The report also addresses equality and diversity cases, proposing a policy for a new restaurant to ensure fair treatment of employees and customers. A section on legal theory provides advice for a client arrested for credit card fraud, outlining their rights and potential legal procedures. Finally, the report analyzes accounting models applicable to a struggling business, such as Marks and Spencer, suggesting strategies for financial recovery, including the merger model. The report aims to provide a comprehensive overview of these interconnected business and legal topics.

CONTEMPORARY BRIEF 3

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Ethical dilemma that can occur in business, law or accounting..................................................1
Market research for a new restaurant by using an appropriate methods.....................................2
Equality and diversity cases and develop a policy for a new restaurant.....................................3
Legal theory for advising a client who has been arrested for credit card fraud..........................4
Accounting models and apply these to a struggling business.....................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
In order to run an organisation in an effective manner, it is necessary that company
consider the business ethics that includes principles and moral which can arise in business
environment (Borich, 2016). Thus, it involves set of values and norms that are required to govern
the action and behaviour of a person. The report will throw light on ethical dilemma that might
occur in the field of business, law or accounting. Apart from this, appropriate methods in order to
plan and conduct a market research for a new restaurant. Along with this, equality and diversity
cases for developing a policy for a fresh restaurant. Other than this, a case study on credit card
fraud is included in this report. Lastly, accounting model that can be applied in struggling
business is mentioned in this assignment.
MAIN BODY
Ethical dilemma that can occur in business, law or accounting
Business ethics is considered as a philosophy through which fundamental purpose of the
organisation can be determined. Ethics helps an individual or an enterprise in making correct
decisions according to what is right and wrong. Every business face some or the other issues
which hampers the entire working, so it is important that company takes quick actions related to
the problem, this will enable them in eliminating the situations in a better manner. Businesses
were given freedom in taking decisions because of which organisation were making maximum
benefits due to which they were operating their business freely (Bradbury, 2015). An example
can be taken form Volkswagen, which is a German company and manufactures cars for every
class. In the year 2015 the corporation was facing ethical dilemma and they have confronted that
firm was building a cheat emission testing tools that was placed in their vehicles.
While manufacturing products Volkswagen was facing problems as they had to follow
multiple government regulations and during that period their sales were relatively low.
Therefore, when the company was caught red-handed they started using some trickery methods
in order to avoid rules and regulations regarding auto emissions. The problem that Volkswagen
was facing was that, while achieving the required fuel efficiency, car engine was emitting
chemical nitrogen oxide at 40 times which was higher than standard level. The issue was not a
small problem as to fix this; company was required to make a fundamental alteration that was
higher at cost (Braswell, McCarthy and McCarthy, 2017). Therefore, to resolve this problem

Volkswagen, dodge the necessary emissions control and for this, their cars were programmed in
such a manner that whenever pollution control is tested the result will be within allowable level
(Congress, 2017). Thus, the entire mechanism was placed at the back of the engine which was
helping for the same. Henceforth, after coming out of the truth in public domain legal actions
were taken against the company. This was popularly known as defeat device. A $15.3 billion
amount of was imposed as a civil penalty along with the $2.7 billion which was to be paid to the
Environmental Protection Agency.
Therefore, company was in a dilemma whether they invest some money for making
fundamental changes in their engines or to let it be as it is. To increase their profits they fix up a
programme in their engines which was giving false information.
Market research for a new restaurant by using an appropriate methods
Market research is a process that is used for collecting information in order to start or
establish a new business. This provides data about market, customers and competition so that
company can have a adequate knowledge about the same. Thus, it is considered as a beneficial
stage but not so helpful for new start-ups. Planet for Foodies is a new restaurant that wants to
launch their business in United Kingdom and for this it is necessary that company go through a
market research and for this some of the methods are given below for operating their business in
an effective manner. Furthermore, the area for market research can be classified into for types
Brand Awareness: This will enable the organisation in evaluating the taste and
preferences of customers (Holm and Severinsson, 2014). It will usually give information about
the brand's relative position and as Planet for Foodies is a restaurant, so this will help them in
identifying the food that maximum people preferred in terms of attributes, prices, usage etc.,
along with this company will also get to know the amount that customers can pay for any food
items.
Target Audience: Food is what everybody loves whether male or female, child or adult
or aged person. Therefore, after identifying the targeted audiences company will be able to
deliver the right food items according to the preferences and choices of the consumers.
Customer Acquisition: In order to increase their sales it is essential that company
manufactures goods according to the needs and wants of clients. Therefore, conducting a proper
survey will give suitable outcomes and results.
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Customer retention: Market research will help the company in evaluating the nature of
the market and customers as well (McConville, 2017). In addition of this, company also conducts
market research for determining customer’s satisfaction towards their company products and
services. With the help of this, company gain customers retention for longer period of time.
Therefore, all the above mentioned factors are very important to be considered in order to
conduct the business in an effective manner. Other than this, Planet for foodies is using other
methods as well which are given below so as to understand it in a better manner:
Primary research: This is the basic methods from which all the data are collected, this
provides authentic information as it is done by the researcher by himself through surveys, direct
observations, interviews and many others. Therefore, it is very valuable but it is much time
consuming and costly as well.
Secondary research: This is a tool in which information are gathered with the help of
secondary sources it includes collecting knowledge from internet, existing market results,
information from other agencies etc.,
Quantitative: This kind of approach is used so as to gather numerical data for example:
sales figures, financial trends and many more (Miller, 2014). It is concerned by Planet for
foodies so that they can have an idea about which products are preferred by the customers. Other
than this, it assists the organisation in evaluating the research according to demographic areas.
Qualitative research: It is used to identify the views and attitudes of consumers along
with this, formal conversation is conducted so as to know the satisfaction of the clients regarding
their business.
Equality and diversity cases and develop a policy for a new restaurant
Equality and diversity is very important in order to operate their business in an effective
manner, thus, for maintaining harmony regulatory bodies of United Kingdom has formulated
Equality Act, 2010 in which government has incorporated nine protected characteristics and
these are considered as general duties to promote equality. All these laws advocate that
everybody should be given equal rights so that they can work effectively without any
discrimination. Planet for Foodies, has implemented these basic laws so that each employees are
treated equally. Earlier the organisations was hiring only white people and because of which
many critiques were criticising their this step (Oswick and Noon, 2014). According to the
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current market situation this is not appropriate and discrimination on the basis of caste, genders,
colour etc., and people boycotted this restaurant because of which their sales gets hampered.
Later, for increasing their profitability, company have incorporated certain rules in which
they have decided to eliminate racial discrimination so as to promote better relations with
between employees and customers as well (Shapiro and Stefkovich, 2016). In their new policies
they have mentioned that company will recruit candidates of other gender also. Other than this,
fundamental legal rights are included in their policies in which they are giving right to candidates
who are disabled or need any special treatment so that they can live their life in a better manner.
Therefore, Planet for Foodies has considered various factors in their policies like age,
disability, race, gender, religion and many more. Apart from this, as per their policies they are
providing maternity leaves of 26 weeks after giving birth to a child.
Legal theory for advising a client who has been arrested for credit card fraud
Criminal law is considered as a law that are related to crime. It includes the activities like
threatening, harmful conduct to health, safety, property and many more. Therefore, regulatory
bodies of United Kingdom have formulated such rules and regulation so that a healthy
environment is maintained in the society. According to the case scenario, it has been evaluated
that the respective client has been arrested for credit card fraud conducted by the person. Fraud is
considered as an deception or dishonesty that may cause loss or disadvantages. This law is
mentioned under the Fraud Act of 2006.
First of all it is important to find out whether the criminal is guilty or not but after getting
accused an individual have a right of availing some rights like he/she can get legal advice or
medical help. They can ask for legal codes of practice that must be follow Police along with this,
the person can ask for written notice about the rights. An example can be taken form a case in
which a group of people were involved in the fraud in which they misused a credit card and
withdraw a large amount and then went to some other nation for doing the same. While
conducting this process once again the government of United Kingdom arrested them and took
legal actions against them (Thompson, 2017). To evacuate from this action they appointed a
legal advisor who advice them to follow certain rules by which they can eliminate the legislative
activities. Advisor is offering them a suggestion of compensation and financial facilities under
which advisor make them agree to make up the loss and damage that was faced by the victim. In
counter attack government may use confiscation so as to seize the proceeds of the crime.
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Therefore, legal procedure is a big process that requires a lot of paper work and to
accomplish this it may take ample amount of time and money as well.
Accounting models and apply these to a struggling business
Economics and accounting can be linked with one another as both are important in order
to evaluate the circumstances and situations in a better manner. Therefore, to maintain a record
company can make a proper plan and record the details accordingly. As from the current report it
has been identified that Marks and Spencer was facing problems while operating their business
in an effective manner. Around 14 stores were cut down due to which approximately 460 people
were affected (Borich, 2016).
There are various kinds of accounting model that help the organisation in performing the
task in a better way. Some of them are explained below so as to understand it in a better manner
therefore, for gaining maximum profits company can optimise
Merger Model: Under this, company tries to merge with any existing companies so that
they can earn maximum profits. For example: for coping up with the struggling business Marks
and Spencer can merge with any other organisations who are dealing in the same filed. This can
help them in gaining some benefits in order to sustain in the market for a longer period of time
after facing such crises. Apart from this, it is very helpful for the new enterprises that are new to
the market area.
Forecasting Model: It is a kind of model which will assist the organisation in making
future prediction according to the growth the company is going through in recent times.
Therefore, with the help of Forecasting model Marks and Spencer after utilising unique strategies
can forecast their future position or planning after implementing certain plan of actions
(Braswell, McCarthy and McCarthy, 2017).
Therefore, both the model is very useful in overcoming with the business struggle and as
a result it has provided maximum benefits to the organisation. This will help the company in
sustaining a better position in the market area for a longer period of time.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it has been concluded that, for a operating a successful business
some of the criteria are very important to be concern so that activities are conducted in a better
manner. In this assignment some of the case studies are mentioned that are related to different
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backgrounds like criminal law, business ethics, and many more. Therefore, to explain it in a
better manner all the tasks are explained with the help of example as well.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Borich, G. D., 2016. Observation skills for effective teaching: research-based practice.
Routledge.
Bradbury, H. ed., 2015. The Sage handbook of action research. Sage.
Braswell, M. C., McCarthy, B. R. and McCarthy, B. J., 2017. Justice, crime, and ethics. Taylor
& Francis.
Congress, E. P., 2017. What social workers should know about ethics: Understanding and
resolving practice dilemmas. Social Work Ethics, p.1909.
Holm, A. L. and Severinsson, E., 2014. Reflections on the ethical dilemmas involved in
promoting self-management. Nursing Ethics. 21(4). pp.402-413.
McConville, M. ed., 2017. Research methods for law. Edinburgh University Press.
Miller, J., 2014. Building academic literacy and research skills by contributing to Wikipedia: A
case study at an Australian university. Journal of Academic Language and Learning.
8(2). pp.A72-A86.
Oswick, C. and Noon, M., 2014. Discourses of diversity, equality and inclusion: trenchant
formulations or transient fashions?. British Journal of Management. 25(1). pp.23-39.
Shapiro, J. P. and Stefkovich, J. A., 2016. Ethical leadership and decision making in education:
Applying theoretical perspectives to complex dilemmas. Routledge.
Thompson, N., 2017. Promoting equality: Working with diversity and difference. Macmillan
International Higher Education.
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