Business ethics - good news for IBM, Intel and M&S but not so good for Ryanair

Ryanair seem to have no difficulty in maintaining a high media presence, but the publication of an new ethical reputation survey doesn’t contain good news for Michael O’Leary and his team

Google in China: Business ethics, business sense or both?

A fascinating Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) issue for the internet titan Google, whose business mission statement is stated simply as ‘Don’t Be Evil’.  China offers enormous potential as a profitable marketplace, and its poor human rights record shows some sign of gradual improvement as the country engages with the outside world.  But the Chinese government has reminded all companies that they must abide strictly by state controls of the country’s cyberspace.  Recent events have lead Google to say ‘no’, and they are threatening to pull out.  Why?

Video Case Study - The Supermarket Bullies?

Many thanks to Janis Thompson at Bristol GS for suggesting this terrific 3-minute video on the battle between supermarkets and their hard-pressed suppliers.  A great range of business topics in here, including an obvious starting point for discussing the ethical issues raised in the clip

Launch BBC video

Download student worksheet (including video link)

Rated: (5/5), based on 1 review

A bridge too far?  A classic case of illegal and unethical business

Teachers looking for a topical example of unethical and illegal business practice need look no further than the case of Mabey & Johnson…

Rated: (2/5), based on 1 review

Playing The Ethical Business Game

The better business game from BT is a useful resource for helping students to think about some of the ethical issues involved in running a business, and balancing the responsibilities of a business with the need to make money.

Porter’s Five Forces hits the fish counter

Sustainability, ethics and corporate social responsibility all feature heavily in the news about bluefin tuna this week, as does the theory of Porter’s Five Forces in shaping business strategy. The bluefin is the victim of consumer trends – the explosion in the demand for sushi and for fresh tuna steaks to barbecue, as well as successful campaigns to persuade us to eat a more omega 3-rich diet to protect us from heart disease (and even to prevent eye disease, according to this report on Monday). But it is being over-fished to a critical point at which stocks are becoming completely unsustainable. A film which premiered in the UK on Monday makes the point very clearly - The End of the Line, a documentary based on a book by journalist Charles Clover, examines the mismanagement of bluefin fisheries as a microcosm of how we are hoovering the seas of their fish to the point at which species cannot be sustained and risk dying out altogether. It is generating much publicity for the issue, such as this article from the Times, in order to give it a higher profile.

The Life Of Big Brother

Whatever your views on Big Brother, whether you’re glued to it or can’t stand it, your students are likely to be talking about it.

That makes it a useful tool to get students talking about product life-cycles.

As Channel 4 release pictures of the inside of the house it’s clear that once again they are looking to prevent the show going into decline with a number of twists.

Spotting an opportunity - or poor business ethics?  You decide

This short video clip would make an excellent starter piece with which to introduce the topic of business ethics…

Supermarkets under fire for price promotions that focus on fatty foods

A mini-row has broken out between the grocery retailers and the National Consumer Council over a report criticising supermarkets for offering too many sales promotions on unhealthy food…

The Primark Question

Over recent years, this topic has come up as ‘the most asked question’ in Business and Economics lessons.  Specifically, is it ‘ethical’ to buy low priced goods produced in poor countries?  My personal answer is an emphatic ‘yes’.  It’s hard to see how our refusal to open some markets to free trade – particularly in agriculture – helps the world’s poor. 

Rated: (1/5), based on 1 review

Ryanair advert grounded by the ASA

Once again, Ryanair has proved its ability to generate substantial publicity with a newspaper advert that was quickly banned by the Advertising Standards Authority.