Ethical Situations In Business Task 1
Amanda Carlier
Western Governors University

Company Q is a small local grocery store operating in a major metropolitan area, currently behaving in a negative way in terms of being socially responsible. Recently Company Q has made some changes and closed two of their stores operating in high-crime rate areas due to losing money. Instead of trying to mediate the problem, they have a negative impact on the community by taking away jobs from members of the surrounding area. This shows no commitment to the consumers. They have also added some high-margin items of organic and health-conscious products, only after receiving years of requests from customers. Selling these items could increase profits helping in an economic way but also satisfying the customer’s wants and increasing customer loyalty. When asked about donations for the area’s food bank of day-old products, management declined instead opting to waste them and throw them out due to worries of possible fraud and theft from employees. Giving back to the community is an important philanthropic aspect of social responsibility and Company Q’s actions go against this. Company Q has a lackluster attitude of doing their part of being socially responsible and needs to install changes to be seen in a positive light. Company Q could remedy their current situation of a negative attitude towards social responsibility in many ways. Company Q said they closed two of their stores due to profit loss. They could have tried to overcome the profit loss by devising a plan to fit the neighborhood of high-crime rates and consumers. They could sell generic brand products that are available to them at a lower rate, which creates lower prices for consumers, while still generating a profit, creating positive economic success. If the high-crime rates of the neighborhood are a concern as well,