Analysis of Ethics, Sustainability, and Social Impact in Business

This report delves into the multifaceted aspects of ethics, sustainability, and social impact within the business domain. It begins by examining the ethical implications of unrestricted access to personal information by law enforcement agencies, including the potential worst-case scenarios. The report emphasizes the importance of protecting data privacy and advocates for warrants to access private email accounts. It then identifies key ethical principles relevant to information technology, such as privacy, security, and transparency, while also highlighting the significance of closing the digital divide. The report further explores ethical principles in international business, including honesty and integrity. The research methods used, including interviews, are discussed, and the report analyzes key messages, such as the need for brands to ensure ethical labor practices and the challenges in eradicating labor exploitation within supply chains. The report calls for new initiatives to address labor issues, including freedom of movement and worker-driven social responsibility, while also critiquing the limitations of social audits.

Ethics, Sustainability and
Social Impact
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY ..................................................................................................................................3
Law enforcement agencies be allowed unrestricted access to complete and intrusive
information on people’s lives.......................................................................................................3
Worst-case scenario in regard to unrestricted access to digital communication of general
population....................................................................................................................................3
Afford data stored in private email accounts as much protection as letters in a locked desk
drawer..........................................................................................................................................4
stored where law enforcement agencies would need a warrant to access and review the
documents ...................................................................................................................................4
Ethical principles are most relevant to information technology with example...........................4
Arguments as to why closing the digital divide is important.......................................................5
Ethical principles most relevant to international business with examples...................................6
Research methods and were they sound......................................................................................6
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8
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INTRODUCTION
Ethics refers to human morality that defines good or bad, right or wrong, justice and
crime, virtue and vice. It helps in identifying what is correct or incorrect and concerns matters of
value. Sustainability refers to meeting our own needs and retain some resources for future use. In
the report ethical principles relevant to international business are described (Singer, 2021).
MAIN BODY
Law enforcement agencies be allowed unrestricted access to complete and intrusive information
on people’s lives
Law enforcement agencies should allow unrestricted access to complete and intrusive
information on people's lives because this will affect the lives of people as their personal
information will be leaked to the unknown people or to unknown sources. Law enforcement
agencies should keep safe the personal and intrusive information of people which ensures that
they are relying on the safety which agencies provide them (Alshehhi, Nobanee and Khare,
2018).
If the law agencies will allow the access to important information then people's data and
information will be stolen, and they will have to face many difficulties in the near future. Also,
people may sue the agency for ill effects of management and services which the law agencies
could not provide. Law enforcement agencies main objective and goal is to keep safe the
information of public so that it is not conveyed to other people. The agencies should also restrict
unknown access to the other people's account for keeping safe their documents, data and
information which they have provided to the agencies. Therefore, unrestricted access of
information should be allowed to keep details of people safe (Eizaguirre, García-Feijoo and
Laka, 2019).
Worst-case scenario in regard to unrestricted access to digital communication of general
population
Worst — case if there is access provided to general population for digital communication then
there will be easy access to the people's information which is important to them. Important
information of people will get leaked. And when this will happen then some fraud individual's
will misuse that information which will result in various problems to be faced by the population.
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For example, important bank information will get leaked, other fraudulent agencies will get the
personal details which has been leaked.
This will affect population on large basis. The trust towards the law enforcement agencies
will break as perception towards those agencies will change. People will have to block their
credit cards and debit card when their bank details will get leaked. Criminal activities will take
place when the important information of people will be leaked. This can be the worst scenario
which can be imagined. With rise in criminal activities, people will not feel safe and more cases
of robbery and murder complaints will be filed. This will also affect the country's economic and
social factors on large scale (Lee and Ha-Brookshire, 2017).
Afford data stored in private email accounts as much protection as letters in a locked desk drawer
stored where law enforcement agencies would need a warrant to access and review the
documents
Yes, law enforcement agencies should access a warrant to review the documents that are stored
in the private email accounts of individuals. This will keep safe the information otherwise and
the agencies will also have proof to access private email accounts so that if any mishap occurs
then law enforcement agencies would be able to clarify what has been processed from the
accounts of people.
Enabling warrant to agencies will also make individuals satisfy that their information is
kept safe to the agencies. This warrant will be a proof kept to the law enforcement agencies that
the documents and information of people are being kept safe to the agencies. The warrant will
also be acknowledged for keeping the important emails between the person and law enforcement
agency itself (Mahmood and et.al., 2018). Therefore, warrant should be afforded to the law
enforcement agencies so that the data stored is accessible to them in critical and otherwise
normal situations. This will help agency to keep record of details of person or an individual for
future references. Warrant allowed to law enforcement agency will be more effective.
Ethical principles are most relevant to information technology with example
Computers and information systems are used everywhere in society. Ethics in IT aims at
constructing of tools that can be applied in method improvement and use for consideration of
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important ethical features. There are some ethical principles which are most relevant to
information technology such as -
Privacy
This is one of the most important ethical principle which is relevant to information
technology as privacy matters to individuals who fear that their important information can be
leaked to other people. Privacy is considered as most important tool in keeping the information
safe and secured.
Security
Security is the second most ethical principle relevant to information technology as IT
department makes sure that the information kept to them is secured is having all type of
passwords locked for keeping safe the documents and data of individuals.
Transparency
Transparency is the third most effective ethical principle which ensures that all the
policies and procedures followed by IT department are made transparent to the individuals which
makes sure that they have knowledge about what is being processed by their information
(Rawhouser, Cummings and Newbert, 2019).
Arguments as to why closing the digital divide is important
Digital divide is defined as the gulf between those who have access to computers and
internet and those who do not have the accessibility of computers and internet. Closing the
digital divide is important because it creates difference between the rich and poor people. This
should not happen as everybody should get access to internet and computer facilities as per the
requirement and otherwise as well (Schaubroeck and Rugani, 2017).
Arguments are in favour of closing digital divide which are as follows -
 Closing digital divide will ensure that people have easy access to internet and computer
facilities.
 The differences between people who have internet facilities and people who are unable to
reach to the internet will be solved and population will altogether reach at common
objective.
 Closing digital divide will also enable the people who are less familiar with the internet
and its functions.
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 Digital marketing will boom in the market structure which will encourage more business
aspects and will enhance productivity.
 Individuals when made familiar with the internet will be able to analyse their knowledge
and abilities which have acquired since years.
Ethical principles most relevant to international business with examples
International business is defined as business which is done internationally between
countries. Business is important for companies to grow and develop by better understanding of
business. There are some ethics which organizations follow which ensures that these ethical
principles are necessary for maintaining the cooperation and sincerity within organization.
Ethical principles relevant to international business are -
 Honesty is main ethical principle which is followed in international business. Businesses
are done between countries that helps in maintaining the honesty factor.
 Integrity is second most important ethical principle which is necessary in international
business. This ensures that organizations are keeping intact their behaviours and values
which are related to integrity.
 Code of conduct is third major principle which ensures that organization should follow
proper form of conduct which are framed within business environment. By following
code of conduct various international businesses reach success and are able to accomplish
goals and objectives (Stahl and et.al., 2020.).
Research methods and were they sound
Interviews with more than 135 business leaders, workers, NGOs, unions and government
agencies in the state of Tamil Nadu during 2018 uncovered considerable evidence that while top-
down initiatives from brands have led to some improvements in working conditions, they have
failed to eradicate labour exploitation.
Primary research method was introduced which constituted Interview and this helped in
analysing the ill effects through the process. The researchers did find some cause for optimism
from businesses at the bottom of the supply chain — especially mill owners and garment
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factories — who are pioneering strategies to eradicate exploitation that do not simply rely on
audits.
“They are changing their recruitment strategies, for example providing free transportation
services to pick up and drop off workers as a strategy to avoid the risks of hostels which tend to
restrict workers’ freedom of movement. And they are relocating manufacturing, so that workers
can remain closer to home, where they have lower living costs and support from their families
and communities.”
The researchers are calling for the formation of a new taskforce in Tirupur to solve the
labour issues facing the industry, led by an independent organization or chair. They highlight
three key issues to achieve decent work and economic growth: freedom of movement, health and
safety, and worker-driven social responsibility — and have made 12 recommendations to
achieve this.
The research found that social audits, intended to call out exploitation, are frequently
manipulated and cheated by suppliers in order to retain business with brands. Suppliers complain
that such ethical certification systems are too costly and add little value (Traverso and et.al.,
2018).
What are Key messages?
Brands are demanding living wages and ethical labour practices from suppliers, but they
are not paying sufficient or changing their business models in order to makes such things
possible. It is vital that these such firms identify the influence of their request regarding cheap.
Firms are also requires to assure that local business are supported within their efforts in order to
do decent work. It can an also squeeze through buyers demands that can push them regarding
more exploitation. In order to bring initiatives regarding up skills workers business owners
product differentiation and branding as well as investment within cost saving and automation
technologies all of such things have the potential in order to improves labour standards (Boiral
and et.al ., 2019).
Business owners are also changing their strategies regarding recruitment such as giving
free transportation services for pick and drop of workers so that they can avoid risk regarding
hotel that tends to restrict the freedom of workers regarding movement. In addition to this they
are also relocating the manufacturing so that employees also remains closer to their home where
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they can support their families as well as lower living costs (Uribe, Ortiz-Marcos and Uruburu,
2018).
What are Research method used
It has been analysed that secondary research method was used in it. The data was
gathered from journal, articles, report, etc.
What are key messages?
The majority of the firms score poorly with more than three quarters that are scoring less
than 50 % on an average score such as 30 % (Chiappini, 2017). These are considers as low
scorethat point out that majority of such high profits firms are not doing so much in order to
recognise and removes the abuse of workers who are manufacturing the goods they sell
Recruitment- Here it is found that out of 49 firms 36 said that they need to form a policy
which prohibited workers to pay recruitment fees but they also shows that there is disparity
between policy and practice so only 13 firms shows evidence that fees is returned back to
workers. The voice of workers that focuses that how firms to seek in order to assures that
workers understand as well able to exercise their right that can be also considered as lowest
scoring theme regarding benchmark. Every firm scored zero on their efforts in order to assure
that workers of chain supply are free to organise as well as collectively bargain in order
regarding the working condition to be in better form that is considered as the key to eradicate
forced labour (Karaosman, Morales-Alonso and Brun, 2017).
CONCLUSION
From the report it can be concluded that, ethics, sustainability and social impact are
important for every organization. In the report research method used, key messages, ethical
principles such as, honesty, integrity and code of conduct are described. Arguments in favor of
closing digital divide is discussed.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Alshehhi, A., Nobanee, H. and Khare, N., 2018. The impact of sustainability practices on
corporate financial performance: Literature trends and future research
potential. Sustainability. 10(2). p.494.
Boiral, O., and et.al ., 2019. Ethical issues in the assurance of sustainability reports: Perspectives
from assurance providers. Journal of Business Ethics. 159(4). pp.1111-1125.
Eizaguirre, A., García-Feijoo, M. and Laka, J. P., 2019. Defining sustainability core
competencies in business and management studies based on multinational stakeholders’
perceptions. Sustainability. 11(8). p.2303.
Karaosman, H., Morales-Alonso, G. and Brun, A., 2017. From a systematic literature review to a
classification framework: Sustainability integration in fashion
operations. Sustainability. 9(1). p.30.
Lee, S. H. and Ha-Brookshire, J., 2017. Ethical climate and job attitude in fashion retail
employees’ turnover intention, and perceived organizational sustainability performance:
A cross-sectional study. Sustainability. 9(3). p.465.
Mahmood, Z., and et.al., 2018. Does corporate governance affect sustainability disclosure? A
mixed methods study. Sustainability. 10(1). p.207.
Rawhouser, H., Cummings, M. and Newbert, S. L., 2019. Social impact measurement: Current
approaches and future directions for social entrepreneurship research. Entrepreneurship
Theory and Practice. 43(1). pp.82-115.
Schaubroeck, T. and Rugani, B., 2017. A revision of what life cycle sustainability assessment
should entail: Towards modeling the net impact on human well‐being. Journal of
Industrial Ecology. 21(6). pp.1464-1477.
Stahl, G. K., and et.al., 2020. Enhancing the role of human resource management in corporate
sustainability and social responsibility: A multi-stakeholder, multidimensional approach
to HRM. Human Resource Management Review. 30(3). p.100708.
Traverso, M., and et.al., 2018. Towards social life cycle assessment: a quantitative product social
impact assessment. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment. 23(3). pp.597-
606.
Uribe, D. F., Ortiz-Marcos, I. and Uruburu, Á., 2018. What is going on with stakeholder theory
in project management literature? A symbiotic relationship for
sustainability. Sustainability. 10(4). p.1300.
Online
Singer, P ., 2021. Ethics. [Online]. Available Through:<https://www.britannica.com/topic/ethics-
philosophy#ref59238> [Accessed On March 4, 2021].
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