Registration No.

: 2102064

SYED MOHSIN ALI

Social Responsibilities of Strategic Decision Makers

The concept of social responsibility describes that an organization has responsibilities to society other than making the profits. For example, a decision to reduce the workforce and product lines in the business firm not only effect the firm profitability but it also effect the employees, customers and the communities that are linked to the firm directly or indirectly. Decision makers while making a strategy should keep in view the social effects. Friedmans argues against the concept of social responsibility that is the primary goal of business firm is profit maximization not spending shareholders money for the general social interest. He says that socially responsible actions hurt a firms efficiency. Carrolls proposes that the managers of business organization should have four responsibilities: economic, legal, ethical and discretionary. Ethical and discretionary are the social responsibilities while economic and legal are the top priorities for a firm to continue its existence. He proposes that a lack of social responsibility results in increased government regulations, which reduce a firms efficiency. Sustainability: In order for a business corporation to be sustainable that is to be successful over a longer period of time, it must satisfy all of its economic, legal, ethical and discretionary responsibilities. Sustainability thus involves many issues that lead us to corporate stakeholders. Corporate Stakeholders: Stakeholders have an interest in the business and affect or are affected by the achievement of the firms objectives. Stakeholder Analysis: the identification of corporate stakeholder in three steps: Primary stakeholders have a direct connection with the corporation and have sufficient bargaining power to directly affect corporate activities Secondary stakeholders have an indirect stake in the corporation but are also affected by corporate activities Estimate the effect on each stakeholder from a particular strategic decision

Reasons for Unethical Behavior: Lack of standards of conduct Different cultural norms and values Behavior-based or relationship-based governance systems Different values between business people and stakeholders
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Social Responsibility and Ethics in Strategic Business Management

Registration No.: 2102064

SYED MOHSIN ALI

Moral Relativism claims that morality is relative to some personal, social, or cultural standard and that there is not a method for deciding whether one decision is better than another. Types of Moral Relativism include: Nave relativism: Based on the belief that all moral decisions are deeply personal and that individuals have the right to run their own lives. Role relativism: Based on the belief that society roles carry with them certain obligations to that role. Social group relativism: Based on a belief that morality is simply matter of following the norms of an individuals peer group. Cultural relativism: Based on the belief that morality is relative to a practical culture, society or communities. Kohlbergs Levels of Moral Development:

The preconventional level: This level concern for ones self. Conventional level: This level is characterized by considerations for societys laws and norms. Actions are justified by an external code of conduct. Principled level: This level is characterized by a persons adherence to an internal moral code.

Encouraging Ethical Behavior Code of Ethics: specifies how an organization expects its employees to behave while on the job. This can be useful to promote ethical behavior. Whistle blowers: employees who report illegal or unethical behavior on the part of others. Key Terms in Ethical Behavior Ethics: the consensually accepted standards of behavior for an occupation, trade, or profession Morality: the precepts of personal behavior based on religious or philosophical grounds Law: is the formal code that permits or forbid certain behaviors and mayor may not enforce ethics or morality
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