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Real-Life Problem Faced by the Body Shop

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Real-Life Problem Faced by the Body Shop
1.0 INTRODUCTION
This report is to address the real-life problem faced by The Body Shop and how the problem can be solved based on the functions of management. According to the information provided by The Body Shop website, The Body Shop has successfully created an image of being a caring company that is in helping to protect the third world workers and indigenous peoples. But behind the cuddly image lies the reality The Body Shop 's operations, the Body Shop does not help the dilemma of the workers and indigenous peoples as well as put them on a pedestal in order to exploit people 's idealism. Evidence from “What’s wrong with the Body Shop” (1988) stated that The Body Shop claims to be helping some third world workers and indigenous peoples through so-called 'Trade Not Aid ' or 'Community Trade ' projects. In fact, these are largely a marketing strategy as less than 1% of sales go to 'Community Trade ' producers, and it has been shown that some of these products have been sourced from mainstream commercial markets. This is the existing problem faced by The Body Shop.
Instead, if the problem of exploiting indigenous peoples cannot be solved, this leads to some impact on the specified environment especially customers and pressure group. Robbins, Bergman, Stagg, and Coulter (2006) have stated that organisations exist to assemble the needs of customers. Customer is the one who absorbs the organisation’s output. Consequently, customers will start to increase the awareness need to think seriously about the products they use and to consume less. Customers will boycott the Body Shop until the problem is settled. The evidence is seen that customers had started to declare their feeling through the internet. For an example, they posted bad command on “The Consumer Trap” (Dawson, 2007).
For the pressure groups, they do a lot of activities or campaign to against The Body Shop. For example, The London Greenpeace Group has started to create awareness to the customers



References: Allen, G. (1998). Planning Process. Management modern. Retrieved April 26, 2008 from http://ollie.dcccd.edu/mgmt1374/book_contents/2planning/plng_process/plng_process.htm Bennis, W Carroll, S. J. & Gillen, D. J. (1987). Are the Classical Management Functions Useful in Describing Managerial Work? Academy of Management Review, 12(1), 38-51. Dawson, M. (2007). Behind the Green Veil: Notes from Stan Cox. The Consumer Trap. Retrieved April 23, 2008 from www.consumertrap.com Higgins, J Jayashree Pakhare, (2007). Management Concepts- The Four Functions of Management. Business & Finance. Retrieved April 26, 2008 from http://www.buzzle.com/articles/management-concepts-the-four-functions-of-management.html Lubicon Lake Indian Nation Robbins, S., Bergman, R., Stagg, I., & Coulter, M. (2006). Foundation of Management. Australia: Pearson Education. The London Greenpeace Group. (1988). What 's Wrong With The Body Shop? - A Criticism Of 'Green ' Consumerism. McLibel Support Campaign. Retrieved April 20, 2008 from http://www.mcspotlight.org/beyond/companies/bs_ref.html Tolup, A Support Community Trade: What 's happening in the US. (2007). Our Values. Retrieved April 20, 2008 from http: http://www.thebodyshop.com/bodyshop/values/support_community_trade.jsp

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