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Business ethics - Coggle Diagram

- - - - Using the hedonic calculus, it will show that CSR / brand activism maximises pleasure for the majority
      - Maximises pleasure for the majority (community, environment, stakeholders, shareholders)
    - - Argue that stakeholders matter
      - There is a direct link between social responsibility and profit, so it is wrong not to consider it
      - Businesses are obliged to work with these people or they will lose their business
    - - Universal law of nature - if noone did CSR, it would lead to a poor society, noone should be treated as a means to an end, useful for kingdom of ends
      - Act responsibly as it is the right thing to do
  - - - Goes against the categorical imperative if it is done for the purpose of profit - hypothetical imperative
      - Negative as it uses customers as a means to an end
      - Businesses are only using the people to see that they are supporting a certain cause, for example LGBT, to gain more customers
    - - Businesses only have one responsibility, which is to make profit
      - They have to act in the interests of the investors and shareholders
      - If businesses try to act morally responsible or focus on anything other than gaining profit, then they will be less effective as a business
      - Gives the examples of Susie, a construction worker who wants to work overtime to improve her life
      - The law says she can't work more than 48 hours a week
      - She cannot do overtime if CSR is important to the business
      - So she cannot improve her life due to these restricting hours
      - So businesses must focus on making more profit over everything else, then eventually, it will improve everyone's life
- - - - Edward Snowden is a former US intelligence analyst, working for the USA National Security Agency
      - Told newspapers in the USA and UK that the agency was monitoring the communications of ordinary citizens around the world without their consent or knowledge
      - Documents he leaked proved this, and also showed how the gathered information
      - Serious breach of loyalty and national security
      - Many regard him as a national traitor
      - US federal court ruled his actions as illegal and unconstitutional
  - - - We have a duty to ensure that businesses are abiding by the categorical imperative
      - Not using people as a means to an end
    - - If more pleasure is created by whistleblowing, then it is the best action for the majority eg. Snowden helped American majority
      - Using the hedonic calculus, it may show that whistleblowing is the action that maximises pleasure for the public and minimises pain
    - - Says that all businesses should be abiding by rules for 'general' utility
      - We can police that with whistleblowing, if a business is not maximising pleasure for the majority
  - - - Prima facie duty of loyalty to our employer
      - Should not break the trust and whistleblow
    - - It may be that there is more pain caused by whisteblowing than pleasure
      - For example, with national security putting people at harm
      - The hedonic calculus would not defend whistleblowing due to purity
- - - - Creates jobs for millions in poor areas
      - Overwhelming positive in the extent criterion of the hedonic calculus - benefits stakeholders
  - - - The impacts of globalisation can seem like the super rich are imposing their will on the poor
      - Breaches the second and 3rd of the categorical imperative
      - Workers are exploited for their work, as a means to more profit in the west
    - - Would reject the idea of TNCs
      - Goes against harm principle, as people are working in poor conditions for little pay
    - - Agrees with Kant
      - All stakeholders should be treated as an end in themselves, not a means to an end
    - - Doesn't benefit majority of the workers
      - Hedonic calculus - purity
- - - - Green & Black's was the first chocolate bar that was Fair Trade certified, and also claims to be organic
      - It was linked to child labour and other workers' rights issues
      - Used 'Organic' and 'Fair Trade' in their packaging to encourage customers
      - Now, it releases non organic and Fair Trade certified products
      - Kantian ethics
        
        Disagree with Green & Black's business idea as it goes against the categorical imperative
        
        Uses workers as a means to an end, including children workers to gain more profit
      - Utilitarianism
        
        Maximises pleasure for the majority
        
        Customers and business both benefit
      - Mill
        
        Disagree with their business
        
        Goes against the harm principle due to child labour
    - - This would also lead to a higher level of employee loyalty
      - Also have Pret Foundation that supports homeless charities
      - Claims to create a healthier fast food option while maintaining sustainability, employee welfare, and Fair Trade standards
      - For example, Pret a Manger presents all aspects of business as ethical
      - Leads to more customers through a better image
      - Kantian ethics
        
        It makes ethical actions following duty
        
        Doesn't use people as a means to an end
        
        Agree with good ethics is good business
      - Utilitarianism
        
        Maximises pleasure for the majority of people
        
        So good ethical decisions are good business decisions
  - - - Disagree with it as it goes against the categorical imperative
      - Uses people as a means to an end by making ethical decisions to get more customers, in order to maximise profits
    - - Maximises pleasure for the majority
      - Both helps the business and the customers
    - - Customers and investors have little loyalty to a business if
        another one sells something at a cheaper price
      - Being ethical risks increasing costs
        and reduces profits
      - So good ethics is bad business
      - Profit = £55.1m compared to Cadbury's £122.3m