...Cross-Cultural Perspectives ETH 316 BP is a global organization that has a multinational presence in the world. A cultural issue that can impact this organization outside of the United States is gender. In the United States and several other countries that BP works in, gender is not an issue as culturally it is acceptable for men and women to be in business together, but in some countries, especially in the Middle East this is tricky cultural difficulty. This can be a serious issue because women should be able to be equals in a corporation, but at the same time, BP has to be able to not offend someone that they are trying to do business with because they are culturally uncomfortable with women in business. This is a delicate balancing act between ethics, social responsibility and cultural awareness for the company. Legally and ethically a woman should be able to perform all the same tasks as a male counterpart, but it may be in the best interests of the company to respect the cultural differences that can occur in doing business in other countries. There are several ethical perspectives at BP when it comes to dealing with culture and gender. Consequence ethics and principle-based ethics can both be at play in this situation. Consequence ethics in that there can be consequences from both making business partners uncomfortable and in choosing a man over a woman for business dealings because of cultural differences. Principle-based ethics looks at this situation...
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...Ethical Issues Affecting Bp Operations Management Essay For a company to become a good corporate citizen it must follow the rules put in place by the government to where the company's operations activities are taking place, this also include protecting the environment and local people in the community from any harm from noise or water or air pollution. This report will explore more about the responsibilities BP have for making moral judgement and how their employees are involved and empowered. Also will have information on ethical issues affecting their operational activities and how do they ensure good relationship of employer and employee. Ending part there will be a summary about ethical code for oil industry. INTRODUCTION Considering ethics, a corporations' responsibility for taking actions that are morally sound needs to change. Reviewing the role of the individual, corporations are being subjected to the role of moral agent. The question is, can a corporation, composed of people, be held responsible for its own action as a moral agent? The answer is complexed from an individual's viewpoint with that of the corporation. Werhane (1989:821) viewed that corporation by law is identified as a person that is frequently held responsible for business practises. However, Werhane continues, if firms are not moral agents, they do not become morally liable and thus the onus is passed onto the individual person. [1] This becomes complicated because how can individuals become solely...
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...Challenges in the Global Business Environment Bus 457 11/25/2014 Chevron Chevron, one of the oldest energy companies in United States, was first founded as Pacific Coast Oil Company in 1879 and was named as Chevron Corporation in 1984. Several companies were established after Standard Oil’s split during 1980s’ and Chevron Corporation was among those big energy corporations who merged with those companies. The company is publicly traded on NYSE, Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500. Chevron is involved in petroleum and natural gas industry. It does almost anything related to the industry from exploring to generating power. With over 60,000 employees Chevron operates business in 84 countries; Angola, Australia, Gulf of Mexico, Kazakhstan, Nigeria and United States are regions where the cooperation mainly operates primary exploration and production. Other than oil and natural gas, Chevron is engaged to biofuel, geothermal, hydrogen, solar and wind energy production. According to the official website for businesses Chevron offers following goods and services: * Additives * Aviation Oils * Base Oils * Chemicals * Fuels * Lubricants * Marine * MSDS * Specialty Products * Technology And for consumers it offers goods and services listed below: * Fuels and Stations * Gift and Credit Cards * Pay Bill * Motor Oils and Fuel Additives Code of Ethical Conduct Chevron relies...
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...environmentally. This company markets its products in over 100 countries and, as of December 2011, employs over 83,000 employees. British Petroleum has worked hard to honour their commitments to the people and communities of the Gulf Coast. This company produces the natural resources that the world depends on daily, and produces them in some of the most operative, proficient, and resourceful ways which are possible today. (BP, n.d.). This company proves to be constantly evolving in the world. They are always innovating and coming up with new ways to operate their business as to cause the most minimal effect or damage on the environment. BP has become one of the most environmentally aware companies of the modern age, especially from what they have gone through in the Gulf of Mexico, and the revolutionary technologies they have integrated in their business operations. The vertically integrated company uses three main types of leadership, as well as an operational controlling method to ensure that the organization functions accordingly and remains socially responsible, ethical, and practices corporate social responsibility. By focussing on developing the company’s organizational structure on upstream and downstream tasks, British Petroleum can aim towards innovating and distributing their goods and...
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...Cross-Cultural Perspectives Takeema L. McCaskill ETH/316 September 29, 2014 Christy Vilavanh Cross-Cultural Perspectives Known to be one of the leading international oil, gas, and energy companies, BP has a worldwide reputation of providing consumers fuel for transportation purposes, energy towards heat and light; in addition to, creating petrochemical products and lubricants to keep engines especially in large machineries moving. With headquarters based in London, England, the multinational organization currently have operations in more than 80 countries throughout the world; in fact, has currently 83,900 employees in the United States as well as internationally. BP having a multinational presence since the organization conducts business operations out of countries; such as, Indonesia, West Africa, and Slovak Republic its open to possibly facing cultural issues which can in fact make an impact on the internal operations of the organization, or influence business decisions that effects the organization and its stakeholders. BP has experience more than one issue that could influence the interactions outside of the United States. In 2005 the Texas City Refinery explosion killed fifteen workers in which lead to the organization being fine by the OSHA, and the oil spill on Prudhoe Bay which happened in the Alaska North Slope back in 2006. However, one of the major environmental disasters that will go down in U.S. history is the Gulf Oil Spill of April, 2010. The Gulf...
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...Management Planning MGT/230 4/29/2013 Steve Mersereau Management Planning BP Management ensures that the material risks are identified and that the company runs effectively. Furthermore, BP management ensures that internal control and risk management is under control. In particular, some vital components of BP management include their recognition for the company’s yearly plan, reviews of material risks, ensuring that the chief executive adopts their approach about risks, and that the decisions made are taken in accordance through the system of delegation. Board Monitoring Group Risks The board annually reviews the group risks and the groups’ risks are managed as part of an annual group proposal. The board delegates which risks will be allocated to the committee while reporting to the board. The work program for the board is set on an agenda that identifies the board’s tasks and group risks. The committee receives reports about how each specific task is allocated. In particular, the audit committee manages financial risks and the SEEAC monitors all other risks that are not financial. On the other hand, the board reviews geopolitical risks. Reports are given from committees to the specific task that was allocated. In addition, the Gulf of Mexico committee specifically oversees the Gulf Coast Restoration Organization. Under BP’s authority outline, the executive management delegates to the chief executive of the group. Executive management also has many responsibilities...
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...BP: Marketing Case Study Sarah Allen, Matthew Earhart, Amelia Pye I. Case Summary BP plc, formerly known as British Petroleum and Anglo-Persian Oil Company, is a multinational oil and gas company headquartered in London, England (“BP”). It is the fifth-largest company in the world measured by 2012 revenues (BP Annual Report 51). Its extensive corporate history has created a non-malleable image and reputation which present-day marketing strategies must overcome in order to effectively promote the ideals of industry leadership and ethical responsibility. BP is faced with significant challenges to its brand as a consequence of its widely-known safety and environmental policy issues. An explosion at one of its Texas refineries caused fifteen deaths, 170 injuries, and a violation of the Clean Air Act in 2005. Years of neglecting pipeline corrosion led to its violation of the Clean Water Act in 2006 when Alaskan oil pipelines leaked crude oil into the tundra. The following year, another BP spill occurred near Prudhoe Bay, leaking toxic chemicals into the tundra and thus killing wildlife and vegetation (“BP Gulf Coast Disaster and Recovery”). These incidents, however, were dwarfed by an explosion at BP’s Gulf of Mexico offshore drilling rig, Deepwater Horizon, in April 2010. The explosion caused the largest accidental marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry. It resulted in the deaths of eleven people and the release of an estimated 210 million gallons...
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...Case 1 McDonald’s: Grilling Up an Empire 1. Describe some of the management challenges McDonald’s has likely faced in its expansion internationally. McDonald’s has been a staple in the restaurant business for as long as most of us can remember. It has achieve around the globe, but not without overcoming a fair amount of challenges in its pursuit of the title “King of Fast Food”. The basis for the entire business is ethical, truthful and dependable. It takes time to build reputation. McDonald’s has developed a successful strategy for operating their fast-food enterprise across the globe. This strategy has been one that is developed based on existing operation as well as the local cultures and customs that make each McDonald’s relevant to the international markets in which it operates. However, McDonald’s could not rely merely on its brand success and simply run their international locations. They needed to attune their brand to the needs and wants of the local customers in each of the markets they had entered. Within this awareness about brands and brand development, McDonald’s faced a challenge that needed some serious considerations in order to insure its chances of success in international markets. Marketers need to be aware of the cultural and societal connotations the brand is taking on and the way these are changing or staying the same as norms of interacting are changing or staying the same as norms of interacting are changing...
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...Mining Industry Case Analysis | Business Ethics in a Global Context | Presented To: Dr. Jang Singh | | | | Executive Summary This report will examine the Mining Industry via ethical perspectives. This report includes a brief overview of the industry followed by an evaluation of the Mining industry’s value chain; including an environmental analysis of a mining company, as well as an evaluation of the industry’s corporate social responsibility, corporate social responsiveness and finally the corporate social performance. The Mining Industry is one of the World’s largest industries. The ‘idea’ of mining dates back to the beginning stage of civilization. Some examples of early mining can be found in Egypt, Europe and the Philippines. As of now, top mining countries are South Africa, Russia, Australia, Ukraine and Guinea. This industry faces constant technology advancement, consequently it is an expensive investment, with large profit. The Mining Industry can be controversial when looked through an ethical lens. This Industry is analysed through four perspectives. * The utilitarianism perspective, an act is morally right if the outcome benefits the greatest amount of people; * The rights perspective, basically, important entitlements that should be respected and protected in every action; * The justice perspective, fair treatment of individuals in a situation where everyone is involved and gets what they deserve to; * The virtue perspective, morally...
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...Responsibility and Marketing Strategies BUS 508 – Contemporary Business Strayer University Provide a Brief Description of Apple Corporation. Apple Inc. started on April 1, 1976 by Steven Wozniak and Steven Jobs. They had both been interested in electronics and both worked for technical firms in Silicon Valley. After Steven Wozniak came up with a design for a computer, Jobs thought of ways to market this new design. This begins the long dynasty of Apple Computers. Apple Inc. is now an American corporation that designs, develops, and sells computer electrons, software and personal computers. It is the second largest technology company worldwide. Examine Apple’s position on ethical and social responsibilities and determine if they have met these responsibilities. Provide two reasons that support your position. Apple Inc. like most companies has become more socially responsible regarding the environment and it workers. They are concern for society’s welfare and all their workers according to their Code of Ethics. Apple is geared to build not just better products, but smaller, thinner and lighter, which means less carbon dioxide emission. Apple engineers ensure all their products are as energy efficient as possible, receiving an ENERGY STAR certified rating. This means money saved by the consumer and less emissions in the environment, which is a win-win situation for us all. Apple also recycles in 95% of the cities they retail to, which calculates to 130 million pounds...
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...suppliers. According to Project Management Tips (PMTips.net/blog/defining-stakeholders, n.d.), some of the key characteristics of a stakeholder is a) a person who stands to gain or lose through the success or failure of the project, a ROI b) provides funding for the project c) has invested resources in the project, d) is affected by the outputs of the project, e) is in the “chain of accountability”. The stakeholders within the PharmaCARE scenario would be the CEO, PharmaCARE’s executives and its Shareholders/stockholders of the company. Analyze the human rights issues presented by PharmaCARE’s treatment of the Colberia’s indigenous population versus that of its executives. Recommend at least three (3) changes PharmaCARE can make to be more ethical going forward. Corporations are expanding their business enterprise to less regulated poorer countries where they can violate human rights with the cooperation of that countries government, and make the officials rich. The corporations are setting up businesses in other countries where the indigenous people of that area are poor, often living in less than standard conditions and working for huge corporations such as PharmaCARE. In these countries, big corporations will have little to no resistance from the indigenous people. By moving the corporations to developing countries they can employ workers for less than minimum wage, and were workers’ rights are non existent, also they can avoid paying the high cost of U.S. taxes. (Shah, 2002)...
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...British Petroleum Corporation – or BP as it is better known throughout the United States after acquiring Amoco and rebranding its gas stations – was incorporated on April 14, 1909, as the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, Ltd. The current name was adopted in 1982. BP Shipping, which is a subsidiary of BP Holdings, the same parent of BP, was founded in 1915. It is the oldest continuously operating entity in the BP group, tracing its roots back to the creation of the British Tanker Company Limited in 1915, formed to ship Anglo-Persian Oil Company oil from the Persian Gulf to the United Kingdom. In 1981 the unit was renamed BP Shipping Limited to reflect the subsidiary’s “growing involvement in wider shipping and maritime affairs.” The subsidiary currently operates semi-autonomously from its parent company. It is charged with carrying 50 percent of BP’s oil using its fleet and for brokering transportation for the other 50 percent. It is responsible for brokering any excess capacity vessels may have on return trips, as well as any other capacity not needed by BP. The red lion ‘rampant’ on the company house flag dates back to 1954 but was re-introduced in its present form in 1984. The company began life carrying oil products from Persia. The first BP-owned oil tanker was the British Emperor, acquired in 1916. Company ships operated throughout the Second World War when more than 22 BP ships and 650 BP seafarers were lost at sea. Nine BP Shipping vessels received battle honours in the Falklands...
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...was fed by hydrocarbons from the well continued to burn for 36 hours until the rig sank to bottom of the ocean. “Hydrocarbons continued to flow from the reservoir through the wellbore and the blowout preventer for 87 days, causing a spill of national significance” (Crisis Watch). The operations were controlled by BP Exploration & Production Inc., in which they held the lease contract as operators of Mississippi Canyon Block 252, which contains the Macondo Well. Deepwater Horizon exploration was to collect crude oil, one of the leading fuels in the world. After the explosion that shocked the nation, BP formed an investigation team that was in charge of gathering the facts surrounding the accident, analyzing available information and to identify possible causes and making recommendations to enable prevention of similar accidents in the future. The BP investigation Team began its work immediately in the aftermath of the accident, since gathering information directly from the explosion site was slightly out of the question immediately due to the horrendous events and lack of testimonies and vital facts, BP investigation team worked independently from other BP spill response activities and organizations collecting data directly from the rigs computer system which stores its information just like a plane with a black box. The concluding report presents an analysis of the events leading up the accident; eight key findings related to the accident were documented as key findings...
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...BP Leadership Group Four MGMT 620 – High Performance Leadership 2/5/2012 Chadron State College Abstract The purpose of this analysis is to focus on British Petroleum (BP) leadership as it relates to the 2010 Gulf oil spill and cleanup. One would think that a large corporation like BP would be penalized greatly from an oil spill of the magnitude. Once the announcement was made of the spill, BP leadership was quick to shirk responsibility and circumvent its safety policies and practices which led to one of the greatest man-made ecological disasters the world has ever known. Prior to the spill, the leadership values and culture at BP are obvious. Their focus was on reducing costs and meeting tight time-lines at the expense of safety. The former BP CEO resigned voluntarily. What leadership values or traits changed as a result of the disaster at BP? Did the new CEO set forth a path of leadership change or rather simply pacify the media? The Gulf oil spill forced a rapid increase in fuel prices in the country. In one quarter during 2010, BP earned enough profit to cover the expenses associated with the spill, including the associated litigation. One astonishing fact is that, upon exiting, the (supposedly) punished CEO was given a settlement of over 100 million dollars from BP. What leadership changes have occurred as a result of this tragedy? Not much, why? Limited financial consequences for BP have brought about very little change in leadership...
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...Ethics Case Analysis BP BP Struggles to Resolve Sustainability Disaster Case Summary: The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in April 2010 is the worst oil spill in US history. Initial claims on the scope of the spill, as released by BP, was that 5,000 barrels per day were being released into the water, although they stated they had no way of precisely measuring the spill. Outside analysts have stated that between 54,000 and 84,000 barrels per day were leaking into the area. This estimate has been largely supported and accepted. The spill lasted for 87 days before workers finally sealed the leak, but by that time, more than 4 million barrels of oil had been released into the gulf. The BP oilrig, owned by Transocean, Deepwater Horizon had been in operation in the Gulf of Mexico since February 2001. The rig was valued at more than $560 million dollars and worked on many different wells in the gulf. The last well it operated on was the Macondo well. It was this well that the oil spill came from and was brought about by several preventable errors on the part of BP and Transocean management and employees. The Deepwater Horizon vessel was an exploratory rig assigned the duty of finding oil, reporting it, and capping the well for another extracting type rig to come in and harvest the oil. While drilling the well, the rig encountered pockets of natural gas buildups where it was drilling. A week prior to the fatal explosion, Horizon encountered one of these pockets and the natural...
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