Business Ethics - Case 3
Questions:
1. Do you think Wal-Mart is doing enough to become more sustainable?
2. What are the problems Wal-Mart has faced, and what has the company done to address them?
3. Why has Wal-Mart tended to improve performance while other retail outlets have been suffering financially?
1. Personally, I do not feel that Wal-Mart has done enough to become more sustainable. Although they have certainly set goals as a company, they are still in it for the bottom line. Everything I have read is about how they are cutting costs on this and that, which means more money in the company’s pockets. There are good points and bad points to this. While the company has made a conscious effort to go “green”, including training and products, it is because they are trying to garner more support in communities with stakeholders, as well as realizing that the global business world is more socially and environmentally responsible as a whole; they need to get with the program or be left behind. I still believe all of these measures are for the sole benefit for Wal-Mart to attempt to change public opinion of them, and not due to any real desire on their part to change their ethic culture. Even as they make changes that seem to be socially responsible and ethical, they are still fighting with employees concerning pay and benefits, as well as communities to enlarge their company at the expense of other small businesses. The business world is letting them know that they basically have no choice but to make these changes. But the way Wal-Mart is accomplishing that leaves a lot to be desired in my eyes.
2. Some of the problems Wal-Mart has faced are as follows:
• Putting other companies out of business
• Reduction in overall payroll wages in areas Wal-Mart enters the market
• Pressure put on suppliers to comply with Wal-Mart policies
• Wal-Mart’s questionable treatment of employees
• Fraud and theft within Wal-Mart top management just to name a few. Having read some of the
1. Do you think Wal-Mart is doing enough to become more sustainable?
2. What are the problems Wal-Mart has faced, and what has the company done to address them?
3. Why has Wal-Mart tended to improve performance while other retail outlets have been suffering financially?
1. Personally, I do not feel that Wal-Mart has done enough to become more sustainable. Although they have certainly set goals as a company, they are still in it for the bottom line. Everything I have read is about how they are cutting costs on this and that, which means more money in the company’s pockets. There are good points and bad points to this. While the company has made a conscious effort to go “green”, including training and products, it is because they are trying to garner more support in communities with stakeholders, as well as realizing that the global business world is more socially and environmentally responsible as a whole; they need to get with the program or be left behind. I still believe all of these measures are for the sole benefit for Wal-Mart to attempt to change public opinion of them, and not due to any real desire on their part to change their ethic culture. Even as they make changes that seem to be socially responsible and ethical, they are still fighting with employees concerning pay and benefits, as well as communities to enlarge their company at the expense of other small businesses. The business world is letting them know that they basically have no choice but to make these changes. But the way Wal-Mart is accomplishing that leaves a lot to be desired in my eyes.
2. Some of the problems Wal-Mart has faced are as follows:
• Putting other companies out of business
• Reduction in overall payroll wages in areas Wal-Mart enters the market
• Pressure put on suppliers to comply with Wal-Mart policies
• Wal-Mart’s questionable treatment of employees
• Fraud and theft within Wal-Mart top management just to name a few. Having read some of the