Business Ethics and Responsible Management Report - SuperValu

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of business ethics and responsible management, focusing on the case of SuperValu, a company in the tuna industry. It explores the significance of business ethics, ethical issues within the organization, the role of business in society, and the impact on s...Read More

Business Ethics and
Responsible
Management

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY ..................................................................................................................................3
PART 1 A........................................................................................................................................3
Business ethics............................................................................................................................3
Issues of business ethics in the organisation given in case study...............................................4
Role of business within society...................................................................................................5
Effect of business on stakeholders..............................................................................................5
Recommendations.......................................................................................................................6
PART 1 B.........................................................................................................................................6
Discussion of two Ethical theories..............................................................................................6
PART 2............................................................................................................................................8
Reflective essay of ethical Leader...............................................................................................8
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Business ethics as well as responsible management is defines as a practices or activities
which leads guide a company to conduct their business task properly and perform effectively. It
is necessary for an organization to do their business practices according to proper business ethics
as that will help in taking proper business decision for growth. This will also help an
organization to take correct decision as well as properly conduct business activities for attaining
the desire goal and objectives (d’Adda and et. al., 2017). It is determined as responsibility of
management to considered all human rights and sustainability related to working environment
for performing task. Organization selected for respective report is SuperValu, that is introduced
in 1926 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The respective company offer different wide range of food
products and they have numbers of grocery stored that are located in different parts of world.
Topics covered in respective report are significant of business ethic during performing
organizational activities. This will also include different ethical problems as well as human right
issues which faced by company. Along with this, it also include different ethical theories which
help a company in operating and it also include reflection.
MAIN BODY
PART 1 A
Business ethics
It is necessary for a company to determine issues related to ethics as that will help
management in developing decision. Business ethics generally provide framework as well as
guidelines to a firm according to which they conduct their business task effectively and properly.
This will aid firm in considering moral as well as value of business. It is essential for companies
who are collecting tuna fishes from sea to considered all policies and rules developed by
government (Freeman and Laasch, 2020). Moreover they also nee to focus on the human rights
for conducting business practices in proper way. In order to implement business ethic it is
essential to include several aspects such as environment protection, employees protection, moral,
values, sustainability development, corporate social responsibilities, polices and rules and so on.
SuperValu firm is not adopting polices, rules and regulation which is developed by government
related to collection of Tuna fish from sea. This situation of lack of following business ethics as
well as responsibility leads to affect on the performance of a company. There are numbers of

benefits or advantages gain by respective firm while considering ethics and responsibility. It is
considered as main issue what impact directly on the business performance of SuperValu. In
respect of this, it is essential for company management to identify the problems or drawbacks as
that will help in developing proper decision that enhance profitability of business (Greenwood
and Freeman, 2018). It is also opportunity for the respective company to earn more revenue and
profits through consideration of business ethics as well as moral. This also leads to enhance in
market position by developing strong relationship with the customers.
Public image is considered as opinion of individual or customer about an organization as
well as activities performed by them. It is also necessary for the respective company to determine
the impact of issues based on business ethics on the public image. The main operation of
respective company is to collect Tuna fish from the sea as well as they are operating this
business at huge scale. Negative public image affect directly on the sales and profitability of a
company as customer get loss trust on them. Customer anticipate environment protection,
honesty as well as health and safety during conducting business practices as well as also while
provide products to potential customers. Respective company not consider policies developed by
government related to human rights and ethical consideration related to collection of tuna fish
from sea. It also impact negatively on the fish as well as creature at sea (Homann, 2016).
Considering public view is essential for an organization as it leads to impact on a company
performance and sales. Public view leads to have proper and significant affect on the brand value
of a respective company. It also help in managing the reputation of company and in developing
effective relationship with customers. It is also necessary for a company to resolve ethical issues
by following the policies as well as human rights for creating positive reputation and brand value
effectively.
Issues of business ethics in the organisation given in case study
According to the article by Charlie Hart it is identified that there are several large
companies which is operating in tuna fish business as well as they not follow proper support
policies in respect of practical action of modern slavery. Government developed several rules,
regulations and policies that need to be followed by a company while collecting tuna fish from
sea. Government generally develop policies in order to balance sea life as well as for reducing
negative impact of fishing activities on environment. In respect of this report, business as well as
human right resources centre tuna companies are de-stored into form of policy over practices

during tackling slavery in supply chains. In respective case study, there are several ethical issues
as well as human right abuse which is experienced by firm such as forces labour, slavery, human
trafficking, child labour and many others (Pirson, 2020). Tuna companies are generally get failed
to follow the policies,, rules as well as standards related to human right business supply chain.
Role of business within society
Business generally play essential role in society as that will impact on the citizen. It is
necessary for the tuna firm to proper conduct their business practices in order to positively
impact their role in the society. The main role of business in the society will include several
aspects such as providing products or services that is according to the need as well as
requirement of customers. It is essential for organization to develop products or services which
help in satisfying customers' need, wants and expectation in best possible way. In addition to
this, it is role of business to do several corporate social responsibility practices for providing
benefit to the society as well as its citizens. Moreover, sustainability as well as growth of
environment play effective role in development of society. Role of business also considered that
ensure everyone is follow proper rules and regulation while conducting business operations and
functions.
Effect of business on stakeholders
A stakeholder is considered as party which is interested in an organisation as well as they
can affected by business. There are several stakeholder who are linked with firm and it is
essential for company management to consider stakeholder while developing decision. In context
of SuperValu, they have different stakeholders who majorly impact on the business practices.
Below some of the main stakeholder and its impact are mentioned below:-
 Customers – It is considered as person who generally purchase products and services
offer by a company as well as they impact on the sales. In respect of respective company
it is essential for them to understand the need, requirement and expectation of customers
so that they can develop strategies to fulfil it successfully (Price, Gherardi and Manidis,
2020). In addition to this, SuperValu also need to influence customers.
 Employees – These are those stakeholder who work for the company and by them firm
able to attain their predetermined goal as well as objectives successfully. These are
essential stakeholder in a company who perform business activities properly according to

rules and policies. It is essential for the respective company manager to train their
employees so that they can conduct their work properly and effectively.
 Society or community – These are the those who directly impact on the company
operations and functions. There are several community or society people linked with the
company (Routledge, 2017). It is essential for respective company to consider rules,
value and believes of society or community while offering products at potential
marketplace.
Recommendations
By the above mentioned case, there are several recommendations for the SuperValu firm
which help them in conducting their business operations and functions in effective manner. In
respect of this it is recommended that top level manager of this firm must take proper steps so
that all employees follow ethical as well as moral while conducting business practices. In
addition to this, it is also essential for respective company to follow all rules and regulation
developed by government while operating in tuna industry. It is so because by following ethical
rules and regulation respective company able to conduct business operations properly as well as
they also able to develop an effective relationship with the customers. Along with this, it is also
essential for respective company to resolve ethical issues as well as carry out the business
practices by consider human right standards. Human rights as well as responsible management
leads to have an effective or positive impact on the business as that ensure the growth of
business. In addition to this, business ethics as well as standard of human right guide an
organisation to effectively perform business operations and function for attaining desire goal.
PART 1 B
Discussion of two Ethical theories
Ethical theories are considered as framework which is used by a company in order to
follow ethical practices at the workplace. It is essential for a company to consider ethical theory
because that will help them in developing effective decision as well as plan that are related to
conducting business practices and operation in ethical manner (Shapiro and Stefkovich, 2016). In
respect of SuperValu they are conducting their work in tuna fish industry in which they collect
fish from sea. But while performing business operations and function in respective sector

respective firm not able to follow all ethical consideration. In respect of this they may adopt
different theories and model, from which main two are mentioned below:-
 Rawls theory of justice – It is also known as the John Rawl's theory which is related to
the justice as the fairness that explained as the attempt related to distinct ideas altogether
with the comprehensive manner. In respect of this theory there are numbers of advantages
of distribution and burden in the society which is related to even that situation when
staffs are getting equal rights to the most extensive liberties that are matched with the
equal liberties. Similarly to the monetary as well as social disparities are the organized so
that they mostly noteworthy benefit of least bit of allowance (Suddaby and Laasch,
2020). In respect of this management provide position which are open reasonably as well
as similar to all. In respective model there are main two standards such as rule 1 as well
as principle 2. The rule 1 is considered as rule related to equivalent freedom as well as
according to this rule every person who is single and independent are shielded from the
attack. On the other hand, in respect of principle 2 that is also considered contract
guidelines. This is generally expresses improvement situation of the penniless individual
of general public. Moreover according to this model good and effective
acknowledgement is essential for the self intrigues as well as judicious people. There are
several injured parties involve in respective model such as action was real cause of
injuries, person did action voluntarily as well as action that inflicted injury was wrong.
 Utilitarian theory – It is considered s theory which related to the morality that will
advocates about the action which foster happiness as well as pleasure. Moreover it also
opposes actions which cause unhappiness or harm at the workplace. This is related to the
situation which is directed toward making the social, political as well as economical
decision. Along with this it also include utilitarian philosophy that aim for the betterment
of the society as whole. The respective model also related to the action that is right if the
result include in happiness of greatest ratio of a person in the society or any group
(Wymer and Rundle-Thiele, 2017). So by adopting respective model respective company
i.e. SuperValu able to conduct their work effectively as well as in ethical manner. This
will also help in attaining their desire goal as well as objectives in ethical manner.

PART 2
Reflective essay of ethical Leader
Ethical leader is considered as an individual who have the potential and capability to
influence other staffs to conduct whole business practices in ethical manner. It is essential for an
ethical leader to have proper understanding as well as idea related to how to correctly perform
the business activities and manage staffs ethically. As I am performing role of ethical leader I
need to conduct proper and clear analysis of whole situation before taking any kind of decision
as help me in developing effective decision. In this I need to determine what is wrong for firm
and what is right. According to me it is necessary for a company manager and leader to follow
all the policies and rules related to human rights as well as ethical aspects while conduct business
activities. Being an ethical leader of a firm I didn't hesitate in conducting those things which are
right for the firm. In addition to this at the workplace it is my main responsibility to ensure as
well as guide employees to conduct all business practices in ethical way for attaining company
desire goal. But sometime situation take place where I need to take decision for business that is
inconvenient, unprofitable as well as unpopular for providing the ethical direction to the
business. In this I determined that there are several skills as well as characteristics which a leader
need must have in order to become effective ethical leader. From all characteristic Justice is one
of the main character of ethical leader according to which they need to take fair decision as well
as not do discrimination to others on any basis such as age, gender, income, colour and many
more. Along with this there are several other skills of an ethical leader such as team building,
honesty, respect to others and many more. These all skills and capability are essential in order to
ensure that task is conducted in successful and ethical manner. In respect of this, I have the
awareness it is essential for ethical leader to communicate as well as discuss about the ethical
value with staffs so that work accordingly at workplace. While working as a ethical leader I
determined that I am not tolerate any violation of ethics at workplace as well as I also determined
that organization need to full fill ethics as well as moral practices by conducting different
corporate social activities. This will be done in order to attain the company objective and goal
successfully. At a workplace it is essential role of ethical manager as they need to determine
business issues and ethical problems according to which decision are developed. In respect of
ethical manager which I am, I need to focus on identifying the root issues so that I can develop
strategies and plans to resolve it effectively. There are several reasons due to which company

experienced ethical issues. Some reasons behind it are failure in implication of policies, unable to
involve manager, ignore standards related to human rights and so on while conducting business
practices. During experiencing all these issues I determined that there are several practices which
I need to use for adopting ethical environment at workplace such as I need to conduct workplace
analysis, develop decision in ethical way, motivate employees to use ethical aspects and so on.
Furthermore, personal ethics can be determined as the value or moral that is identified
according to individual and situation at workplace. It generally leads to implication of direct
action as well as making of decision which is effective for the leader and company. In respect of
SuperValu, I was an ethical leader I will ensure that all the business practices are conducted
according to government rules, regulations and guidelines. In this I will also ensure that all the
employees are conducting work according to ethical consideration. While this I determined
modern policies related to Tuna companies which is mainly focus on identifying major reason
why an organization is not follow rules, regulation and policies while catching fishes. It also help
me in determining whole condition as well as tale effective decision for the business growth. In
respect of this communication is main tool according to which manager or ethical leader
communicate about the business ethics as well as human rights for an organization. In respect of
this I provide guidance as well as motivate employees related to standards of business ethics and
human rights in order to attain the company desire goal and objectives. During this my main aim
is to ensure that employees are conducting whole business practices properly as well as to check
the affect on operations of business. In addition to this, for this I also develop proper business
strategies and plan which will be beneficial for a company as well as society.
CONCLUSION
By conducting above mentioned topic it can be summarised that for every company it is
essential to conduct all business practices in ethical manner as that will help in developing
effective decision as well as ensuring all the practices are done ethically. While conducting
business in ethical manner a company go through several issues as they need to develop
strategies, plan and policies accordingly. Moreover, a business plays essential role in the society
as they offer employment which enhance standard of leaving of people as well as well as it also
help in increasing economy of nation and society. Stakeholder also consider as essential part of a
company as they help in conducting business operations in more effective as well as appropriate
manner. In addition to this, there are several types of ethical theories that a company may adopt

in order to conduct their work in effective manner such as utilitarian theory as well as Rawls
theory.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
d’Adda, G., and et. al., 2017. Do leaders affect ethical conduct?. Journal of the European
Economic Association, 15(6), pp.1177-1213.
Freeman, R.E. and Laasch, O., 2020. From management sucks to responsible management
rocks!. In Research Handbook of Responsible Management. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Greenwood, M. and Freeman, R.E., 2018. Deepening ethical analysis in business ethics. Journal
of Business Ethics, 147(1), pp.1-4.
Homann, K., 2016. Globalisation from a business ethics point of view. In Globalisation and
business ethics (pp. 15-22).
Pirson, M., 2020. A humanistic narrative for responsible management learning: An ontological
perspective. Journal of Business Ethics, pp.1-19.
Price, O.M., Gherardi, S. and Manidis, M., 2020. Enacting responsible management: A practice-
based perspective. In Research Handbook of Responsible Management. Edward Elgar
Publishing.
Routledge.Kaplan, A., 2017. European management and European business schools: Insights
from the history of business schools. In Management Research (pp. 211-225).
Routledge.
Shapiro, J.P. and Stefkovich, J.A., 2016. Ethical leadership and decision making in education:
Applying theoretical perspectives to complex dilemmas. Routledge.
Suddaby, R. and Laasch, O., 2020. Responsible management as re-enchantment and retrovation.
In Research Handbook of Responsible Management. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Wymer, W. and Rundle-Thiele, S.R., 2017. Inclusion of ethics, social responsibility, and
sustainability in business school curricula: a benchmark study. International Review on
Public and Nonprofit Marketing, 14(1), pp.19-34.