Question

Illustrate (make clear by giving solid examples) 3 examples of unethical decisions that businesspeople have made. Further evaluate these examples by applying a framework or theory.( suggested framework is Caroll's CSR pyramid )

Answer 1

Carroll's pyramid presents four steps:

1. economic responsibility is the profitability.

2. legal responsibility is following the legal procedures.

3. ethical responsibility is the self-judgment on right or wrong.

4. philanthropic responsibility is the work towards social betterment.

1. Discrimination in the workplace is one of the regular unethical practices and well-known practices done by business places. this is happening in terms of sex, religion, color, region, etc. The business group may follow all the steps according to Carroll's ethic pyramid but most of the time on this aspect they failed to justify and even the higher authority support this type of practice.

2. The projection of a product sometimes is very lucrative and appreciable, but in originality, it is not up to the satisfaction. The company playing with the expectation of the customer. which is a violation of the ethical point in Carroll's pyramid.

3. Asymmetric information about the product hides some of the negative impacts of the product which has been hidden from the customer to acquire more profit. it may be riskier in the case of some reactive products.

4. Stealing the work of others in terms of producing similar types of products with minimum differences. this is also known as a close substitute. but in the ethical terms, the company that has introduced the product has all the rights on that product and the type. but just copying everything with minimum difference may be in terms of size, shape, color, fragrances one can't claim the ownership of that product. legally this may be justified but ethically it is not.