This post has been updated and reworked into a short eBook, which you can pick up by clicking on the image of the book cover below (It's free!) if interested.
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| A Brief History of Socially Responsible Investing |
Showing posts with label corporate social responsibility. Show all posts
Showing posts with label corporate social responsibility. Show all posts
Saturday, December 15, 2012
/ The History of Socially Responsible Investing
This post has been updated and reworked into a short eBook, which you can pick up by clicking on the image of the book cover below (It's free!) if interested.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Moral Philosphy and Business Ethics
Evaluating all business actions from one's own point of view offers a narrow view of the world. Understanding which line of moral thinking a company follows can lead you to a greater understanding of why some things happen within a business' daily operations.
When you hear about unethical business practices, such as dumping toxic chemicals or employing the use of child labor, the normal reaction is to wonder what on earth the company's management was thinking.
Most companies operate with a sense of right and wrong that is based upon one of two schools of moral philosophy. If you figure out whether the organization is operating on a consequentialist or rules-and-rights philosophy, it will not really change anything. However, the way you judge the unethical practice will be based upon a greater understanding of what the company's leaders were thinking.
Consequentialist School of Moral Philosophy in Business
Consequentialist school of moral philosophy - an action's value is determined solely by the action's consequences. For example, if a company dumps a toxic chemical onto the ground and it seeps into the local water system, making people sick, a Consequentialist would say that dumping was bad.
If the same company dumped the toxic chemicals onto the ground and no one got sick immediately, a Consequentialist would say that the dumping had value because the company increased its profit margin. This is similar to the "Speeding is only illegal if I get caught theory."
Businesses that are walking just this side of the law, or even breaking the law, but also not going far enough to operate in a manner generally viewed as ethical, are functioning consequentially. This means the company is focusing on picking up the maximum short-term gain.
Rules and Rights School of Moral Philosophy in Business
Rules-and-Rights school of moral philosophy - An action's value is determined by whether it follows or breaks the rules, and rewards and discipline follow accordingly. Following a predetermined list of rules provides a set of rights.
This type of deontological philosophy begins in childhood, when the parent offers the child a treat for good behavior and punishes for bad behavior.
For a business ethics example, a company employing low income workers gets a portion of the labor paid by the government, has the opportunity to promote their philanthropy, and a also gains a nice tax break at the end of the year.
Businesses that go by the book, and sometimes step forward to go beyond the legally required minimums, are operating with the expectation of reward in exchange for good deeds.
Even if a company does not announce which school of moral philosophy it follows, an observer can usually discover and evaluate which school of philosophy is in play.
Most companies operate with a sense of right and wrong that is based upon one of two schools of moral philosophy. If you figure out whether the organization is operating on a consequentialist or rules-and-rights philosophy, it will not really change anything. However, the way you judge the unethical practice will be based upon a greater understanding of what the company's leaders were thinking.
Consequentialist School of Moral Philosophy in Business
Consequentialist school of moral philosophy - an action's value is determined solely by the action's consequences. For example, if a company dumps a toxic chemical onto the ground and it seeps into the local water system, making people sick, a Consequentialist would say that dumping was bad.
If the same company dumped the toxic chemicals onto the ground and no one got sick immediately, a Consequentialist would say that the dumping had value because the company increased its profit margin. This is similar to the "Speeding is only illegal if I get caught theory."
Businesses that are walking just this side of the law, or even breaking the law, but also not going far enough to operate in a manner generally viewed as ethical, are functioning consequentially. This means the company is focusing on picking up the maximum short-term gain.
Rules and Rights School of Moral Philosophy in Business
Rules-and-Rights school of moral philosophy - An action's value is determined by whether it follows or breaks the rules, and rewards and discipline follow accordingly. Following a predetermined list of rules provides a set of rights.
This type of deontological philosophy begins in childhood, when the parent offers the child a treat for good behavior and punishes for bad behavior.
For a business ethics example, a company employing low income workers gets a portion of the labor paid by the government, has the opportunity to promote their philanthropy, and a also gains a nice tax break at the end of the year.
Businesses that go by the book, and sometimes step forward to go beyond the legally required minimums, are operating with the expectation of reward in exchange for good deeds.
Even if a company does not announce which school of moral philosophy it follows, an observer can usually discover and evaluate which school of philosophy is in play.
Copyright Laure Justice
Saturday, June 30, 2012
/ The Gap Between Business Ethics and the Law
The content of this article has been updated and moved to
The Couch Potato Entrepreneur.
Come on over and browse around!
Saturday, January 14, 2012
/ TV Shows and Business Ethics
Reality TV can affect social corporate responsibility in a positive and surprising way; as evidenced on the CBS program, Undercover Boss.
When I sat down to watch one of the November 2010 episodes of the television show, Undercover Boss, for the first time, I expected that it might be kind of funny. I was expecting to see a company's CEO bumbling around, unable to do the tasks he was asking his employees to perform.
I thought I might also see a boss catching his employees goofing off, or some managers abusing their authority. I was surprised to see a leader who ultimately used his experience in a way that enhanced the company's social corporate responsibility.
Undercover Boss Visited Lucky Strike Entertainment
The episode that was on the evening I tuned in was the Lucky Strike episode. Steven Foster, CEO and co-founder of Lucky Strike Entertainment donned a wig, grew some stubble on his chin, and put on a black t-shirt and some glasses. He then walked into his business and tried his hand at bartending, serving, maintenance, and running the control desk. It wasn't very funny at all. It was moving.
Mr. Foster tried his hand at the same jobs his employees do daily. Okay, he dropped a couple of drinks; which was a little bit funny. He didn't just do the work, though; Foster listened to the employees. He listened to their dreams, asked questions about their lives, and paid attention to the things in need of fixing at the Lucky Strike facilities.
Undercover Boss and CSR
CSR, or corporate social responsibility, encompasses a range of ethical business practice. Green business and sustainability, fiscal responsibility, and responsibility to both internal and external stakeholders are all part of the business ethics mix. The way Undercover Boss, a TV show created to entertain the masses, affected customer social responsibility in the Lucky Strike Entertainment Center episode was in the area of labor relations.
Foster seemed to pick up immediately on the areas of the business in need of improvement. Employee talent was not being used to its full advantage in some cases. The break room was not really a break room at all, just a wide board in a closet-sized area. (If you haven't seen the episode, imagine a grown man balancing against a board while holding his food and trying to eat and chat with a pretty girl.) Computer programs were also not being utilized to full advantage, making extra work for already harried workers.
TV and Labor Relations
The Lucky Strike episode of Undercover Boss rounded out with Mr. Foster revealing his identity to some surprised employees. Foster made changes to both the company, in the form of getting a proper break area instead of a wide board for sitting in a closet; and arranging for the computer programs to coordinate information. He also made changes that can potentially change the lives of the workers he met during the filming of the show.
Giving employees a chance to thrive on the job and in their personal lives generally improves morale, increases employee retention, and lends a better reputation to the company. I was surprised to find a a story about business ethics in a TV show; surprised and entertained.
When I sat down to watch one of the November 2010 episodes of the television show, Undercover Boss, for the first time, I expected that it might be kind of funny. I was expecting to see a company's CEO bumbling around, unable to do the tasks he was asking his employees to perform.
I thought I might also see a boss catching his employees goofing off, or some managers abusing their authority. I was surprised to see a leader who ultimately used his experience in a way that enhanced the company's social corporate responsibility.
Undercover Boss Visited Lucky Strike Entertainment
The episode that was on the evening I tuned in was the Lucky Strike episode. Steven Foster, CEO and co-founder of Lucky Strike Entertainment donned a wig, grew some stubble on his chin, and put on a black t-shirt and some glasses. He then walked into his business and tried his hand at bartending, serving, maintenance, and running the control desk. It wasn't very funny at all. It was moving.
Mr. Foster tried his hand at the same jobs his employees do daily. Okay, he dropped a couple of drinks; which was a little bit funny. He didn't just do the work, though; Foster listened to the employees. He listened to their dreams, asked questions about their lives, and paid attention to the things in need of fixing at the Lucky Strike facilities.
Undercover Boss and CSR
CSR, or corporate social responsibility, encompasses a range of ethical business practice. Green business and sustainability, fiscal responsibility, and responsibility to both internal and external stakeholders are all part of the business ethics mix. The way Undercover Boss, a TV show created to entertain the masses, affected customer social responsibility in the Lucky Strike Entertainment Center episode was in the area of labor relations.
Foster seemed to pick up immediately on the areas of the business in need of improvement. Employee talent was not being used to its full advantage in some cases. The break room was not really a break room at all, just a wide board in a closet-sized area. (If you haven't seen the episode, imagine a grown man balancing against a board while holding his food and trying to eat and chat with a pretty girl.) Computer programs were also not being utilized to full advantage, making extra work for already harried workers.
TV and Labor Relations
The Lucky Strike episode of Undercover Boss rounded out with Mr. Foster revealing his identity to some surprised employees. Foster made changes to both the company, in the form of getting a proper break area instead of a wide board for sitting in a closet; and arranging for the computer programs to coordinate information. He also made changes that can potentially change the lives of the workers he met during the filming of the show.
Giving employees a chance to thrive on the job and in their personal lives generally improves morale, increases employee retention, and lends a better reputation to the company. I was surprised to find a a story about business ethics in a TV show; surprised and entertained.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
/ Ethical Aspects of 6 Sigma Methodolog
Sunday, May 15, 2011
/ Organizations and Oversight Groups Helping Businesses Understand Social Corporate Responsibility
Where can a business leader turn to get information about Social Corporate Responsibility when the information is needed in a hurry?
The information in this article has been updated and moved to The Couch Potato Entrepreneur. Come on over and browse around for information related to all your entrepreneurial needs.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
/ Business Ethics and the Bottom Dollar Now On The Couch Potato Entrepreneur
The content of this article about how companies profit in the long run for being socially responsible has been updated and moved to The Couch Potato Entrepreneur.
Socially Responsible Companies See Accounting Profits
Businesses operating at a high level of social awareness and using business ethics will reap long-term rewards.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
/ What is Social Entrepreneurship and How is It Used in Business?
The term social entrepreneurship is being used to describe so many functions that it is not always clear what is involved.
The content of this article has bee moved to The Couch Potato Entrepreneur to give you a better reader experience. Come on over and browse around.
The content of this article has bee moved to The Couch Potato Entrepreneur to give you a better reader experience. Come on over and browse around.
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