Ethics, Sustainability and Social Impact: Business Case Study Report

This report delves into the critical aspects of ethics, sustainability, and social impact within the realm of business. Task 1 explores the ethical implications of unrestricted access to digital information by law enforcement agencies, analyzing potential scenarios and comparing data protection in private email accounts to physical letters. It also outlines ethical principles in information technology and discusses the importance of closing the digital divide. Task 2 examines ethical principles in international business, followed by case studies on the exploitation of garment workers by top fashion brands and the findings of an information and communication technology benchmark report. The report utilizes both primary and secondary research methods, including interviews and desktop research, to provide comprehensive insights into the ethical challenges and responsibilities of businesses in the modern world.

ETHICS SUSTAINABILITY
AND SOCIAL IMPACT
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Table of Content
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
1. Should law enforcement agencies be allowed unrestricted access to such complete and
intrusive information....................................................................................................................3
2. Scenario you could personally imagine to unrestricted access to the digital communications.
......................................................................................................................................................3
3. data stored in private email accounts as much protection as letters in a locked desk drawer. 3
4. Describe ethical principles related to the information technology..........................................4
5. What are the arguments as to why closing the digital divide is important..............................4
TASK-2............................................................................................................................................5
1. Ethical principle related to international business...................................................................5
2. Case study on Top fashion brands’ business practices are undermining progress on ending
garment worker exploitation........................................................................................................6
3. Case study on information and communication technology benchmark finding report..........7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9
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TASK 1
1. Should law enforcement agencies be allowed unrestricted access to such complete and
intrusive information
The law enforcement should not be allowed for the unrestricted data in the privacy
because it can cause huge impact on the overall business of the people and the government duties
need to make sure that they are following the protocols and need to follow the systematic way of
accessing the information. Their must be a way in which the process of data can be asked with
proper law and legislation. Systematic ways can help the companies in answering the question
and the data they hold to access. It is required to have a proper understanding in the process of
the people who are analysing or accessing the information should be in lawful manner, nature or
not. There are several prescriptive factors that necessarily to be thoughtful while accessing of
data. It has also been analysed that the regime needs to form sure that no private data is been
leaked and it is being kept secret. They can not leak the information and it will also increase the
trust of the government of the trust of the people. It will help in increasing the privacy and
confidential data to be kept in the private data.
2. Scenario you could personally imagine to unrestricted access to the digital communications.
The worst things which can lead to due to the unrestricted access of the digital
communication can lead to a lot of losses of privacy data and it can cause a lot of frauds in the
country which can impact on the economy of the country and decrease the economy and dis-
balance it in the country. It can cause huge in the growth of the country because the economy is
already affected due to the frauds. It will also affect in the investment from foreign countries
because of the frauds they will feel that the country is not safe for the foreign investment and it
can cause them a huge loss in the business, so they will not invest in the country. Through the
unrestricted data it can
3. data stored in private email accounts as much protection as letters in a locked desk drawer.
No it would be wrong to said that data stored in private e-mail is safe in comparison of
letters locked in drawer until and unless there would be no strict policies and rules regarding data
protection and storage. However, a letter locked in a drawer would be considered as much safe
because it has fewer chances to have access towards it because of its safety measures and
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physical form. Similarly, in case if there is no strict governmental provisions regrading
protection of data then it would not be considered as safe for storing data in private mail. As
there are chances that through the use of technology anyone can access the data and may use for
unauthorized purpose. But in case if there are strict policies regarding access of data or cyber
security then stealing and access of data for unauthorized purpose will not be possible. In that
case it would be considered as safe to store private data in e-mails. In addition to that if data is
stored in e-mail then due to technical error also it may lose. Since e-mail is a technology driven
mode of storing and sharing data so any small error may lead to leak of data or sharing of data
which may be used by anybody in wrong manner if it contains private information. So, it would
be right to said that data will be safer and secure in physical mode in locker in comparison of e-
mails.
4. Describe ethical principles related to the information technology.
There are many ethical principles related to information technology. These principles are
based on the fact to protect the interest of public. As Non-Maleficence principle favours that no
one should be harmed for any proposed intention so applicability of this principle is also very
important in the field of information technology (SAHOO, 2019). For example as it is very
essential that privacy concern has to be taken care while dealing in IT sector so applicability of
this principle will protect sharing and leakage of information and data for unauthorized use .
Another principle that could be implemented includes efficiency. This means that it is
very essential to know the value of money (Mittelstadt, 2019). Instead of wasting money on
unlawful purpose it is necessary to save cost and use in some other good moves. Applicability of
this principle and its effect proves to be very helpful in the IT sector too. This can be understood
with an example that those people who spend a lot of money in stealing private data or
establishing their access towards private data. This principle will act as a lesson in learning the
value of money and use of money for some good reason.
5. What are the arguments as to why closing the digital divide is important.
Digital divide refers to a situation and gap between those who can have access towards
data and those who are restricted to have such access (Van Dijk, 2020). This may be due to some
restriction in their area or unavailability of resources. Thus, it is very important to close the
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digital divide because in today's world digitalization plays a very important role. Almost every
activity in recent time is being performed only over digital platform. It would not be wrong to
said that a lack of online mode will make the people far behind the world. So it is very important
to have access towards digital mode. However, due to digital divide people may get separated
from technology and digitalisation so lifting of digital divide is very important. Closing of digital
divide will open new way to live the life specially to those who have restriction towards digital
world. It will make their life easy in addition of availing interaction with the real world.
TASK-2
1. Ethical principle related to international business
There are many principles that can be incorporated in international business. Out of them
some important includes, law-abiding, commitment to excellence, fairness, honesty,
trustworthiness and many more. As principle of law-abiding will guide the company to perform
and execute its work within the legal framework. This principle has to be strictly followed by
every business and company because it is very essential to keep and operate the activities of the
company within the legal guidelines and framework (Ferrell, 2019). In the same way fairness
principle ensure that company should follow fair policy where no discrimination or any illegal
activities will be promoted or executed. Likewise, honesty, trustworthiness principle also guides
the company to be honest and trustworthy towards its employees as well as its customers too.
While implementing and following the principle of commitment to excellence will helps the
company to give its full efforts during operating its activities and business operations.
In addition, of these principles every business and company also have to give dual
consideration towards various other principles too. These principles include, health and safety in
workplace, reducing employee's exploitation, non-discrimination, equality, and many more. As
health and safety principle guides the companies to take adequate measures regarding protection
of health of its employees. Adequate measures may includes taking safety precaution, inculcation
of safety equipments, taking safety measures and many more. This principle will helps the
companies in creating safe environment for their workers (Astrachan, 2020). In the same way
adoption and execution of equality, non-discrimination principle also helps the business to
establish a positive environment in workplace. As when companies will follow non-
discriminatory and equality principles while dealing with employees then employees will fell
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satisfied and motivated because they find that company deal and treat everyone same and equal.
This will not only help the companies in raising performance of employees but it will also
directly lead to following of business ethics in workplace. Following of principle regarding
reducing employee's exploitation will also assist the company to have an abidance of ethical
principles along with raising employee's motive (Freeman, 2017). This is because if company
will follow this principle then employee's level of satisfaction will directly raise that will
ultimately benefit the company.
Thus, following and implementation of these principles of ethics will not only help the
company to have an abidance of ethical principles but it will also assist them to raise their level
of performance in meeting competitive level.
2. Case study on Top fashion brands’ business practices are undermining progress on ending
garment worker exploitation
Research method:
In reference of this case both primary and secondary research is being used. As primary
research is being implemented through the mode of interviews where employee's personal
interaction is analysed. It is also to be noted that primary research is most suitable for this
research because as it is concerned with employees and their issues so it can be better identified
only through personal interaction. However, some context of secondary research is also being
used to make the study more clarify and justified. It is also to be noted that the entire case study
is still open which can be used for further secondary research too.
Key messages:
The message behind the conduction of this research is to find, identify and resolve the
issue regarding ethics in business practice. As it is seen that labours are being violated, their
rights, activities are being exploited by the top brands without taking care of the ethical
consideration and principles (Armour, 2019). The main reason and message behind the
conduction of this research is to make the brand realize the main issue or mistake that is being
committed by them. As it is very essential for every business to follow and implement the
business ethics in their workplace so that along with their work, employees interest will also not
being hurt. Hence, violation of such ethics may put a severe bad impact over the company and its
employees. Thus, creating realization along with making recommendation is the main reason
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behind the conduction of this research so that this issue will be resolved and employee's
perspective and interest will be protected.
3. Case study on information and communication technology benchmark finding report
Research method:
During the entire report a combination of research method were used initiating with
primary research where data is being collected for the first time. Initial research or primary
research is being conducted for a period of three months and then on the basis of that further
studies and findings were made. In addition, of primary research secondary research is also being
used in the form of desktop research. The reason behind the choosing of these modes of research
is to make and clarify the information and issue along with proper justification which are again
supported with both primary and secondary form of research.
Key message:
The main message behind the entire research is to highlight the issue regarding forced
labour. This means that the message behind the study is to identify various issues associated with
forced labours that how they are being exploited or ruined by the big companies (Information
and Communications Technology BENCHMARK FINDINGS REPORT, 2020). It is also being
shown that how companies while fulfilling their motive and objectives forgot to take care of its
own staff and ethical principles. Thus, it would not be wrong to said that the entire report is
giving message reading the violation of ethical principles along with raising importance towards
its following and execution.
Common observation between both reports:
The common observation and similarity between both the report is related to issue and
problem. This means that in both the cases labour exploitation and violation of ethical principles
are common. As it is observed that in both the scenario companies are not concerned towards the
employee or their issue, but they are not focussed towards their own objectives only. One more
similarity that can be identified is the violation of ethical principles. This means that in both the
cases companies are breaking ethical principle with regard to their employees.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Astrachan, and et.al., 2020. Values, spirituality and religion: Family business and the roots of
sustainable ethical behavior. Journal of Business Ethics.163(4). pp.637-645.
Ferrell, and et.al., 2019. Business ethics, corporate social responsibility, and brand attitudes: An
exploratory study. Journal of Business Research.95. pp.491-501.
Freeman, R.E., 2017. The new story of business: Towards a more responsible
capitalism. Business and Society Review.122(3). pp.449-465.
Mittelstadt, B., 2019. Principles alone cannot guarantee ethical AI. Nature Machine
Intelligence.1(11). pp.501-507.
SAHOO, J., 2019. The Significance of Ethical Values in Business.
Van Dijk, J., 2020. The digital divide. John Wiley & Sons.
Online references
Armour, S., 2019. Top fashion brands’ business practices are undermining progress on ending
garment worker exploitation. [Online]. Available through
<https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/news/nr/top-fashion-brands-business-practices-
undermining-progress-ending-garment-worker-exploitation-1.862357>
Information and Communications Technology BENCHMARK FINDINGS REPORT., 2020.
[Online]. Available through <https://knowthechain.org/wp-content/uploads/2020-KTC-
ICT-Benchmark-Report.pdf>
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