Question

Answer to questions must be at least a paragraph long (5-6 sentences).

Grading criteria will be the following (all criteria are equal weight): Research and support (factual and logical) for your answers, appropriate application of strategic management concepts and writing grammar, clarity, syntax, and appropriate citations (if necessary).

Should We Go beyond the Law?

Nathan Rosillo stared out his office window at the lazy curves and lush, green, flower-lined banks of the Dutch Valley River. He’d grown up near here, and he envisioned the day that his children would enjoy the river as he had as a child. But now his own company might make that a risky proposition. Nathan is a key product developer at Chem-Tech Corporation, an industry leader. Despite its competitive position, Chem-Tech experienced several quarters of dismal financial performance. Nathan and his team developed a new lubricant product that the company sees as the turning point in its declining fortunes. Top executives are thrilled that they can produce the new product at a significant cost savings because of recent changes in environmental regulations. Regulatory agencies loosened requirements on reducing and recycling wastes, which means that Chem-Tech can now release waste directly into the Dutch Valley River. Nathan is as eager as anyone to see Chem-Tech survive this economic downturn, but he doesn’t think this route is the way to do it. He expressed his opposition regarding the waste dumping to both the plant manager and his direct supervisor, Martin Feldman. Martin has always supported Nathan, but this time was different. The plant manager, too, turned a deaf ear. “We’re meeting government standards,” he’d said. “It’s up to them to protect the water. It’s up to us to make a profit and stay in business.” Frustrated and confused, Nathan turned away from the window, his prime office view mocking his inability to protect the river he loved. He knew that the manufacturing vice president was visiting the plant next week. Maybe if he talked with her, she would agree that the decision to dump waste materials in the river was ethically and socially irresponsible. But if she didn’t, he would be skating on thin ice. His supervisor had already accused him of not being a team player. Maybe he should just be a passive bystander— after all, the company isn’t breaking any laws.

What Would You Do?

1. Talk to the manufacturing vice president and emphasize the responsibility that Chem-Tech has as an industry leader to set an example. Present her with a recommendation that Chem-Tech participate in voluntary pollution reduction as a marketing tool and as a way to position itself as the environmentally friendly choice.

2. Mind your own business and just do your job. The company isn’t breaking any laws, and if Chem-Tech’s economic situation doesn’t improve, a lot of people will be thrown out of work.

3. Call the local environmental advocacy group and get the group to stage a protest of the company.

Answer 1

Answer

1. Talk to the manufacturing vice president and emphasize the responsibility that Chem-Tech has as an industry leader to set an example. Present her with a recommendation that Chem-Tech participate in voluntary pollution reduction as a marketing tool and as a way to position itself as the environmentally friendly choice.

Keeping the environment clean and safe and protecting it from pollution must be the ethical priority of every organisation. Environmental safety is an important element of corporate social responsibilities. If the organisation fails to protect the environment and don't take any steps for protecting the river from getting polluted, it will lose its image, and trust from the stakeholders and also bring legal issues from environmental protectioists. Organisations which doesn't focus on environment protection are considered to be unethical and are not respected. This will decrease the sales and profitability and bring adverse effects on the business.

Nathan needs to talk to manufacturing vice president and emphasize the responsibility of the organisation, being an industry leader to set the example for other organisations and position itself as an environmental friendly unit. If the vice President value ethics and have concerned towards society and environment she will consider the Nathan's recommendation and also chnages the policy and practice to protect the river from getting polluted and keep it clean. Nathan's recommendation helps to implement the safety policy along with improving the company image and using it as a marketing tool by participating in voluntary pollution reduction. By doing this the company can gain trust of internal and external customers, investors feel secured by believing that their money is utilised in an ethical way, governmental agencies will least interfere in the affairs of the business.