Briana Alston
MGT 3550-03 Values Ethics and Sustainability
April 19, 2016 Abstract This paper was created to reflect how the chapters in molecule 2 helps us understand how important big corporations are to their employees, the environment, and also to people in need. In this essay I will give a brief run down on a number terms we familiarized in class, and analysis on cases in chapter 1,3, and 10. In addition, I will present my own managerial implications to clarify how I would run a company if I were ever to become a CSR manager. To commence this abstract I would like to ask, which is more of great import to a business, helping the public or profit?

Part I- Terms
In Chapter 1 T. Savoie (2016), explained to the class the meaning of the term Stakeholder from his reaction paper. According to the book the term stakeholder refers to the persons and groups that affect, or are affected by, an organization’s decisions, policies. and operations. According to business dictionary.com, some examples of key stakeholders are creditors, directors, employees, government (and its agencies), owners (shareholders), suppliers, unions, and the community from which the business draws its resources.

Another term in chapter 1 we went over was Focal Organization, which was described by Savoie (2016). In the book this is described by the organization from whose perspective the analysis is conducted. Savoie’s example of this was “in retail you would want to know the role if you are researching it”.

The last term in I will go over in chapter 1 is the Ownership theory of the firm, (Z. Westra, 2016). This term is sometimes called property or finance theory. It’s defined as the firm that is seen as the property of owners. According to investopedia.com this is defined as The theory of the firm is the microeconomic concept founded in neoclassical economics that states that firms (corporations) exist and make decisions in order to maximize profits.

In chapter 3 one of the terms I would like to go over is Corporate Power (C. Henrique, 2016). According to the chapter, this refers to the capability of corporations to influence government, the economy and society, based on their organizational resources. According to Translegal.com, corporate power are the means by which a company accomplishes its business purposes and may be expressly, though not exclusively, stated in a jurisdiction’s corporate code or in the company’s charter.

Another important term in chapter 3 is The bottom of the pyramid (J. Franklin, 2016). The term refers to the poorest people in the world- nearly 4 billion who earn less than $2.50 a day. Business can carry out its responsibility to society by bringing products to people in the world who have traditionally been beyond the reach of global commerce.

The final term in chapter 3 I will explain is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) which was explained by Toro, S. This term in the book is defined that a corporation should act in a way that enhances society and its inhabitants and be held accountable for any of its actions that affect people, their communities and their environment. According to investopedia.com the term is defined as a corporation's initiatives to assess and take responsibility for the company's effects on environmental and social wellbeing.

In chapter 10 the first term I will go over is biodiversity (A. Melnierny, 2016). According to the book biodiversity refers to the number and variety of species and the range of their genetic makeup. According to dictionary.com biodiversity’s definition is diversity among and within plant and animal species in an environment.
The second term I will discuss in chapter 10 is Kyoto Protocol, which I decided to opt for because the name stood out to me. Kyoto Protocol is a agreement that went into effect in 2005. The primary purpose was to stabilize the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous interference with the climate system.

The final term I will discuss in this paper is carbon offset, which was explicated to the class by A. Melnierny(2016). Carbon offset are sometimes called carbon credits and they are investments in projects that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. According to carbonneutral.com Carbon offsetting is the use of carbon credits to enable businesses to compensate for their emissions, meet their carbon reduction goals and support the move to a low carbon economy.

Part II- Short Cases In chapter 1 we read about Disney and how unfair they treat their employees that make the park what is. “They want to make money, but they don't care about the employees” said a employee named Gabriel de la Cruz (22). Many of the employees at disney had to pay a great amount of what they earned in housing because Anaheim was expensive, or they would have drive great distances to get to work. Disney wouldn't assist with fundings, either giving raises or paying for rent. The conflict began when SunCal wanted to buy land in the resort district to build affordable housing. Disney apposed SunCal’s plan, and argued that the land should only be used for tourism-related development such as hotels. A stakeholder map is a useful tool in this case. SunCal might conclude from the stakeholder map that those supporting the housing project have less say than those who are against this project . Disney, the chamber of commerce, many local businesses and some local officials. In particular, Disney’s great power may swamp the power of other stakeholders. In chapter 3 was about Timberland’s corporate social responsibility. Timberland is a famous manufacturer of boots, clothing and accessories. Timberland is long known for its deep commitment to corporate social responsibility. They help people all around the world, running charities, donating, and even teaching those in need. They also focus on sustainability issues by reducing its carbon emissions by 38% from a 2006 baseline as stated in the book. They also installed LED lighting in its stores and directing its European stores to purchase renewable energy. According to dictionary.com Corporate power as the power is defined as the ability of businesses to influence governments, the economy and society. Timberland does not have the vastness and authority how the largest firms own, however you can tell that social responsibility is who they are. In Chapter 10, the case we discussed is about how clean cooking is important. This case begins in a small village in Kenya with a woman cooking a meal in a open fire pit. She collected dung and scrap paper to use as fuel. The fire would give off sooty acrid smoke which filled the room. This kind smoke harms the environment and causes lung cancer and other diseases. Aware of this problem, the United Nations Foundation (UNF) and several governments created the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves to give proper stoves for those who need it. “As we build a cookstoves makes to the scale necessary to combat and defeat this silent killer” said its executive director in 2011. The widespread use of clean cook stoves will help in the economic growth and reduce poverty because of the assistance in sustainable development. Then decreasing air pollution would help decrease the treat to the ecosystem. Also since the stoves can be purchased at very low costs anyone can buy it, which will reduce diseases.

Part III- Implications If I were in a similar situation as the cases in molecule 2, I would choose to aid people over profit. In a large corporation such as Disney, they should be ashamed of the bad treatment they give to their employees with the great revenue that they posses. Without their employees, Disney would be nothing at all, and they seem to fail to realize this. Disney is similar to Freedman’s approach on business, in which they both decide to choose profits over their employees. A much smaller and humble corporation such as Timberland and the United Nations Foundation they give back to the people who need it, and are admired for their actions. After reading Disney’s case I don't think I will ever go back to Disney. Disney will never be the happy place their visitors imagine it to be because the way they treat their employees is disgusting. However, I still will be buying Timberlands because I know the money goes to a good cause and I may look into volunteering with them and the UNF.

Part IV- Conclusion I have seen many instances where people choose profits over assisting those in need. But what comes out of that? Is it what’s actually important? Many corporations do not understand the significance of giving back. It’s a great thing for a company to be admired for their actions, which can bring in even more revenue. Also it can help in the long run and prevent diseases or air pollution. And most importantly it can put a smile on someone’s face which is priceless. I believe that people are more important than profit because it can look bad on a company when you don't help those in need, and also there is Karma. If the roles flipped who would be there to help you?

“Money has never made man happy, nor will it, there is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more of it one has the more one wants”- Benjamin Franklin

References
Business Dictionary (n.d.). Retrieved March 10, 2016, from http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/ethical-auditing.html

Carbon Offsets - Carbon Reduction | CarbonNeutral from Natural Capital Partners. (n.d.). Retrieved April 19, 2016, from http://carbonneutral.com/

Franklin, J. (2016) MGT 3550-Values, Ethics, and Sustainability WPU Spring 2016

Henrique, C. (2016) MGT 3550-Values, Ethics, and Sustainability WPU Spring 2016

Lawrence, A. T., & Weber, J. (2008). Selected chapters and cases from Business & society: Stakeholders, ethics, public policy. Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.

Melnierny, A. (2016) MGT 3550-Values, Ethics, and Sustainability WPU Spring 2016

Money Quotes. (n.d.). Retrieved April 19, 2016, from http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_money.html

Savoie, T.(2016) MGT 3550-Values, Ethics, and Sustainability WPU Spring 2016

Toro, S. (2016) MGT 3550-Values, Ethics, and Sustainability WPU Spring 2016

Westra, Z. (2016) MGT 3550-Values, Ethics, and Sustainability WPU Spring 2016