Description

1. FreshMart management has recently begun modifying its distribution center to what it is calling a “clean and green” facility. FreshMart is concerned about how employees will react. How does an environmentally sustainable workplace impact employee productivity? What features account for the impact?
2. Which of the following situations is a motivation for businesses to utilize environmental sustainability practices?
   a. To deplete available resources
   b. To decrease resource efficiency
   c. To reduce costs by eliminating energy use
   d. To reduce costs by finding new processes
3. FreshMart is a publicly traded corporation based in Springfield, Mass. FreshMart sells food, flavored drinks and tobacco items across the United States and globally through the Internet. FreshMart has begun adopting a program of corporate social responsibility. Its second step is to demonstrate that FreshMart and its employees follow basic ethical standards of behavior. Within the ethical compliance perspective of social responsibility, what should FreshMart do organizationally to engage in ethical compliance?
4. FreshMart is a publicly traded corporation based in Springfield, Mass. FreshMart sells food, flavored drinks and tobacco items across the United States and globally through the Internet. FreshMart ships products from its factory/warehouse in Springfield and distribution centers in Europe and Southeast Asia. FreshMart takes an “accommodative approach” toward corporate social responsibility. Describe the accommodative approach. What is the firm’s view of social responsibility in this approach? In light of its accommodative approach, how does FreshMart deal with a large health advocacy group that asks them to stop advertising tobacco products to minors in Third World countries? Suppose there are no laws restricting advertising restrictions in those countries. What would FreshMart likely do in the accommodative stance?
5. Explain the role of “primary stakeholders” in a corporation. What obligation of social responsibility does a corporation owe to its suppliers?
6. FreshMart management has decided to hold a week-long retreat to develop a program of environmental sustainability and social improvement in a formalized corporate social responsibility program. After determining whether a proposed activity does actually fall within FreshMart’s corporate social responsibility, the next step is to develop a decision tree to determine if a particular activity can be justified financially, either in terms of corporate expenditure or in terms of competiveness. There are many steps in making these types of decisions and as many decision trees as perhaps there are companies that develop one. Provide a five-step decision tree that could lead to a straight “undertake” or “not undertake” action for any proposed social responsibility activity. For purposes of this question, limit your response to whether or not it is in FreshMart’s financial or competitive interests to undertake a particular action. You may assume that any proposed activity already falls within what FreshMart considers to be its corporate responsibility to the community, the environment or the other stakeholders.
7. In what area of being a sustainable organization does a company engage in behaviors such as providing workforce training or offering medical screenings to members of the community?
   a. Economic sustainability
   b. Environmental sustainability
   c. Global sustainability
   d. Social sustainability
8. What is the “triple bottom line,” and what does it mean to be focused on being sustainable in the economic area?
9. FreshMart management utilizes a decision tree to make an “undertake/not undertake” choice for all corporate responsibility proposals. A local consumer group near its Springfield, Mass., manufacturing and distribution center has asked FreshMart to develop a line of energy drinks to supplement its beverage line because the group would prefer to buy energy drinks from a local company rather than from national manufacturers such as Coca-Cola and PepsiCo. Using a decision tree, at what point in the tree would the “undertake/not undertake” decision first be made? Explain whether FreshMart should accept the consumer group’s energy drink proposal.
10. FreshMart is developing its corporate social responsibility program, which will include activities it hopes will improve the quality of life for impoverished residents near its Asian distribution center. To perform these activities most effectively, what external stakeholders should FreshMart rely on for advice and assistance? Why would FreshMart engage outsiders?
11. Businesses must respond to social responsibility issues to be financially competitive. However, not every response provides a direct competitive result, such as consumers choosing a “green” company’s products. There are aspects to competitiveness beyond simply increased sales. Why might FreshMart utilize “self-regulation” in its corporate social responsibility obligations toward the environment? What financial impact or benefit does self-regulation provide?
12. Milton Friedman has a view of corporate social responsibility that suggests it is a conflict of interest for business managers to engage in social responsibility activities that enhance social welfare. What is the conflict of interest in this case?
13. Which of the following situations would have the greatest environmental impact?
    a. Creating local jobs
    b. Optimizing working conditions
    c. Starting a green purchasing policy
    d. Implementing a reward system for employees

APA format and references not needed at this time. However, I have listed the text resources from the class and topics below:

1. Baron, Business and Its Environment, Pearson eText, 7/e]
2. Cavusgil, International Business: The New Realities, Pearson eText, 4/e
3. Certo, Modern Management: Concepts and Skills, Pearson eText, 14/e
4. Ebert, Business Essentials, Pearson eText, 11/e
5. Griffin, International Business: A Managerial Perspective, Pearson eText, 8/e