Question

Many people will tell you that if you don't cut corners you will never be very successful. Identify a for-profit company that prides itself on ethical leadership. Write a 300-400 word summary regarding this company. Be sure to use your own thoughts and words for the summary while including in-text citations from at least two outside sources to support your claims. This assignment is worth 25 points and will be assessed as follows: Originality and clarity of summary: 20 points; Correct spelling, grammar and citations: 5 points. Submit your work on a Word doc by the due date indicated.

Answer 1

A for-profit organisation that prides itself on ethical leadership is United Technologies. This is a large group organisation having several lines of business operating in several countries across the world. United Technologies has always stress upon ethical values and has built up the culture of maintaining high ethical values across all its stakeholders. Not all organisations take ethical practices so seriously as much as United Technologies does.

United Technologies has maintained a highly ethical standard for the choice of their suppliers and customers as well. Moreover, they want to operate in countries and markets which encourage ethical business practices. There has been several instances where United Technologies have left or withdrawn their participation in deals which demanded bribes or favours from them. Although they have lost a big deal they have always stressed upon the fact that they don't want to do business by doing favours or bribing anyone.

Answer 2

In a world where the cut-throat corporate culture has become the norm, ethical leadership has become a rarity. However, there are still a few companies that are committed to being socially responsible while maintaining profitability. One such company is Patagonia, a privately held outdoor apparel company that prides itself on its ethical and sustainable business practices.

Patagonia's mission statement is “to build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis.” The company's founder, Yvon Chouinard, has been an environmental activist for over 40 years and has embedded this commitment to sustainability into the company's culture. The company has been recognized for its ethical leadership by various organizations, including being named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere Institute for 10 years in a row.

One of the ways in which Patagonia demonstrates its commitment to ethical leadership is through its product line. The company uses sustainable materials such as organic cotton, recycled polyester, and hemp in its clothing, reducing its carbon footprint. Patagonia also encourages customers to buy fewer items and repair and reuse what they already have. Additionally, the company donates 1% of its sales to environmental causes and encourages other businesses to do the same through its “1% for the Planet” program.

Another example of Patagonia's ethical leadership is its fair labor practices. The company has a code of conduct that ensures fair treatment of workers throughout its supply chain, including monitoring and auditing its factories to ensure compliance. Patagonia also provides its employees with fair wages, healthcare, and other benefits, which has contributed to the company's low employee turnover rate.

In conclusion, Patagonia is a prime example of a for-profit company that values ethical leadership. Its commitment to sustainability and fair labor practices have earned it a reputation as one of the most socially responsible companies in the world. By using sustainable materials in its products, donating to environmental causes, and treating workers fairly, Patagonia has proven that being a socially responsible company does not have to come at the expense of profitability.