BSAD 460 Franklin University ?Ethics Corporate Social Responsibility? Discussion

Purpose

To assess your ability to critique an ethical dilemma.

Overview

Each week requires the completion of a 3- to 5-page paper. The purpose of these writing assignments is twofold. First, the assignments provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate your comprehension of the content being covered in each week and to connect that content knowledge with the real world. Second, these writing assignments provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate effective writing and research skills in a short, focused manner.

Action Items

1. Review the assigned readings from the text and article by Carroll (1991).
2. Prepare a 3- to 5-page paper titled, Corporate Social Responsibility.
3. Reflect upon your text readings from Chapters 1 and 9 with a focus on the following core concepts:
   • Organizational Social Responsibility (Chapters 1 and 9)
   • The Ethical Decision-making Process (Chapter 1)
   • Corporate Reputation (Chapter 9)
   • The Corporate Social Responsibility Pyramid (Chapter 9)
   • The Importance of Trust (Chapter 1)
   • The Pyramid of Corporate Social Responsibility (article by Carroll and Chapter 9)
4. Read The Merck and River Blindness Case at the end of Chapter 9 of your text.
5. Compose your paper in Microsoft Word. Include your name, the assignment name and number, the course and section number, and the date on your title page. Follow APA guidelines for formatting and citations..NOTE: Your paper must meet the minimum requirements as outlined in the section of Weekly Written Assignments of the Assignment Guidelines and the grading criteria of this assignment. You are to provide a minimum of 2-3 references in your work. For this assignment, use of general google.com or Internet search references is not acceptable. Use the university library’s scholarly databases.
6. Respond to each of the following questions and statements:Stakeholders:
   • Produce a list of all key stakeholders that you perceive to have a bona fide interest in the Merck company’s dilemma.

   Corporate Social Responsibility Pyramid:

   • Frame the Merck company’s ethical dilemma within the Corporate Social Responsibility Pyramid (Chapter 9). E.g. State briefly the key economic, legal, ethical, and philanthropic responsibilities. As a focal point, compare and contrast the economic implications against the ethical and philanthropic considerations.

   Organizational Values:

   • State briefly and specifically whether the decision to a) proceed with the drug project or b) not to proceed with the drug development best fits with the company’s declared organizational values and its principles of profitability.

   Stakeholder Impact and Trust:

   • If the drug development failed and cost hundreds of millions of dollars, would that harm to the company and its stakeholders be justifiable?
   • If Merck decided not to pursue development of the new drug, what implications do you see this having for stakeholder relations such as the scientists who desire the development. E.g. Is this a trust and leadership consideration?

   Final Decision:

   • If you were the CEO of Merck and the final decision on this risky new drug development was yours, what would you do and why? Justify your decision. Using Carroll’s theory, are you comfortable stating your opinion to the board of trustees, employees, and media?

   NOTE: Since this is an actual, real-life case, your focus should be on producing creative and new thinking that applies the ethical concepts to the material. Also, include an introduction and conclusion in your paper. You are encouraged to use the headings above in Action Item 7 in your paper for organizational purposes.

7. Submit your paper to Turnitin.com.NOTE: Turnitin.com is used by Franklin University to assist students in detecting plagiarism. Turnitin generates a report within minutes of submitting your paper. Your results will not be e-mailed to you; you must login to review your results. Submitting a paper ahead of an assignment deadline provides you with the opportunity to take action if you need to rewrite any part of the paper. Your professor will provide you with a class ID and password as an e-mail or a Class Communication object.

Submission Instructions

Upload your paper using the Submit tool.

Face-to-Face Students: Bring one copy of the assignment to class for in-class discussions

Grading Criteria

• Content and focus: Response addressed the question(s) posed in a logical, cohesive manner: 0 – 35 points
• Analysis and critical thinking: Writing illustrates higher order critical thinking, analysis, synthesis, and/or evaluation: 0 – 35 points
• Writing style, grammar, sentence structure: Sentences are consistently clear, concise, well written; grammar and punctuation are correct: 0 – 15 points
• APA and research: Correct use of APA style in body of paper and appropriately references the text and/or other research sources: 0 – 15 points