Tobacco companies studied ways to hook female smokers…..Ethical?

Tobacco companies studied ways to hook female smokers…..Ethical?

In a recent case study that we read in class, “tobacco companies studied ways to hook female smokers”, the case study talk about how researchers from Harvard University’s school examined and researched how companies try to lure more women into smoking. We have to ask ourselves…is this really true? Is this really fair to women that tobacco companies are doing this? Is this really ethical? Well believe it or not, tobacco companies will do anything to get more women to smoke.

The article discusses how tobacco companies will change the looks of their cigarettes by making them longer and slimmer to make women feel that they are living a healthier lifestyle. R.J Reynolds CO. wanted to even create unique flavours such as chocolate, brandy, cinnamon and many more to get women hooked on the good last taste of cigarettes. By 2025, worldwide smoking rates for women are expected to increase by 20%, while men are steadily declining. So does it not make sense for these tobacco companies to target women?  

The real question is…is this very ethical? We talk about these things in class all the time.   Are these companies that sell tobacco products doing the right thing by promoting smoking for women? Is it really all about making profit? Or should we be concerned about the health of other people? I believe that by companies promoting and selling these products they are doing anything wrong. We live in a world where everybody is responsible for themselves and the decisions they make. Right on the cigarette packages it explains what the cigarettes and tobacco can do to you so I don’t believe that we should criticize someone for selling these products that are harmful to our body. The person is just doing their job. We don’t think about this when someone sells a car to us. There’s a chance that you could die in a car crash every time you drive it isn’t there? I guess we don’t really think about these things. We notice the smoking case more often because it’s so obvious to us what the tobacco can do to our bodies.

We all have our own opinions on ethics and what we classify ethical or non ethical. I think that we should be more aware of what’s going on in society and how business works.

Sources:

     http://www.bluelight.ru/vb/threads/203913-Tobacco-companies-studied-ways-to-hook-female-smokers

Brandon York

10071395  

CEOs now more conscious about corporate social responsibility

 In a recent article I read in The Economic Times, the article discusses how businesses, specifically CEO’s, are looking into more practices and CSR events to do throughout their businesses. In the article it discusses how the upcoming government directive wants companies to spend 2% of their net profits on CSR activities and to really discuss more deeply into these events. I think that it is very important for companies to do this because it really creates an image and brand for the business and it’s also how the public views your company. I think this is a great idea for companies to spend at least 2 % on CSR activities because if all companies do this, it will make the social and environmental factors of our business world much better. Right now I believe that not all companies are doing CSR activities and are not investing the time and money into them.                                                            

                                                                                                                                                                            

 

This chart above was recently done in 2012 and it shows the top ten reputable companies in the each country and what they spend on CSR activities. As you can see Microsoft spends the most on CSR, at 904 million. Walt Disney and Daimier are right behind Microsoft in CSR spending. There are four and almost five companies in the top ten rankings that hardly spend any money on CSR activities. I know that these companies have a good image as it already is, but if they took the time and spent at 2 % of their net profit on CSR activities, which isn’t a lot, then it would help our environment and workplace out in a great deal.  

      http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-01-29/news/36616989_1_profit-on-csr-activities-social-responsibility-social-entrepreneurship

Brandon York    

10071395

What is the Difference between Corporate Philanthropy & Corporate Social Responsibility?

Corporate Philanthropy and Social Responsibility are two different concepts that can either define a business in a good way or a bad way. They both define a company’s reputation and image. Although both Corporate Philanthropy and Social Responsibility are used in businesses every day, the two strategies differ in many ways and they both impact the communities and customers in many different ways.

Corporate Philanthropy mirrors individual philanthropy except for the fact that a corporation, not an individual, is donating funds or supporting charities. I truly feel that businesses that do this can make a good name for themselves in their community. Two are the most common forms of Corporate Philanthropy are Cash donations and In-kind donations. Cash donations include community donations or sponsorships. In-kind donations may include donating products to charities or volunteering to different events. I think that for businesses to do this they create a good image and reputation for themselves and are a great way to get involved with the community.

Corporate Social Responsibility is the continuing commitment by business to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families as well as of the local community and society at large. Corporations that do business in an ethical manner really contribute to their businesses attitude and image towards its neighbours, customers and the environment. If all Corporations did business in an ethical manner it would be a perfect world, but that’s not the way it is.

I think in society we need to be more ethically responsible in the decisions we make and give back to the community more often. We can do this in two ways, by being Corporate Philanthropy and Corporate Social Responsible. If more Corporations do this then business will be done much better and it will erase many issues that businesses have in today’s society.

Sources:

 http://www.ehow.com/info_7756972_difference-philanthropy-corporate-social-responsibility.html

 

Brandon York

10071395