Business ethics is based on broad principles of integrity and fairness and focuses on internal stakeholder issues such as product quality, customer satisfaction, employee wages and benefits, and external local community and environmental responsibilities issues that a company can actually influence. This study discusses the internal and external business ethics practiced at Starbucks Corporation. One of the Starbucks guiding principles is “to contribute positively to communities and environment.”
Introduction
Starbucks purchases and roasts high-quality whole bean coffees and sells them along with fresh, rich brewed, Italian style espresso beverages, a variety of pastries and confections, and coffee-related accessories and equipment. The Starbucks Company established in 1971 in Seattle’s Pike Place market. The company’s short-term goal is to open 1,500 locations and long-term goal is to open 30,000 locations within the next decade. Coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world next to Oil. The North America revenue accounted for 84.4% of the total revenue and International revenue accounted for 15.6%. Starbucks has more than 100,000 partners (employees). All eligible employees part and full-time qualify for a comprehensive benefit package that includes healthcare benefits and stock option grants through Bean Stock, Starbucks company-wide stock option plan.
According to Howard Schultz Starbucks Chairman, “We have the most knowledgeable work force in our industry”. Starbucks believes that people are the cornerstone of their success and ideas, commitment, and connection with customers are the essential elements. Starbucks invests in social programs in coffee-growing communities by contributing$1.8 million for social projects addressing local needs fro housing, health clinics, schools, good roads, and fresh drinking water.
Starbucks is the largest purchaser of Fair Trade Coffee in North America and is licensed to sell Fair trade