A company is considering the possibility of moving its manufacturing plant and administrative offices from a small city in the American Midwest to another of similar size in the South. Approximately 20 percent of the city’s residents are employed by the company, and many others are employed in businesses such as banks, personal services, restaurants, malls and supermarkets that would see a decline in business if the company decides to relocate. Does the company have the social responsibility to take into account in its decision the impact that its relocation would have on the city? Explain your reasoning.
Service companies tend to have more planning difficulties than manufacturers. However, services have certain advantages that the manufacturing industry does not usually have. Explain the difficulty of planning services, as well as their advantages and disadvantages
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
The Social Responsibility of a Company in Relocation Decisions
When a company considers relocating its manufacturing plant and administrative offices, it must take into account the impact this decision would have on the city it is leaving behind. In this case, where approximately 20 percent of the city’s residents are employed by the company, and many others are employed indirectly through businesses that rely on the company’s presence, the company has a social responsibility towards the community.
Firstly, the company has a responsibility to its employees. Relocating a manufacturing plant and administrative offices would result in job losses for a significant portion of the city’s population. The company must consider the financial and emotional impact this would have on its employees and their families. It should provide adequate severance packages, job placement assistance, or even consider options to retain some employees by offering relocation opportunities.
Secondly, the company should consider the impact on the local economy. The businesses that rely on the company’s presence, such as banks, personal services, restaurants, malls, and supermarkets, would suffer a decline in business if the company decides to relocate. This could lead to further job losses and economic downturn in the city. The company should assess the potential negative consequences and explore ways to mitigate them, such as providing financial support to affected businesses or investing in new ventures to stimulate the local economy.
Thirdly, the company has a broader social responsibility towards the community as a whole. It is part of the fabric of the city, contributing not only through employment but also through tax revenues and community engagement. By relocating without considering the impact on the city, the company would be neglecting its social responsibility. It should engage with local stakeholders, including government officials, community leaders, and residents, to understand their concerns and explore possible alternatives that could benefit both the company and the city.
Moreover, taking into account the social impact of relocation can have long-term benefits for the company itself. A negative public perception resulting from insensitivity towards the community can harm its reputation and affect customer loyalty. On the other hand, by demonstrating social responsibility in its decision-making process, the company can enhance its brand image and build stronger relationships with stakeholders. This can lead to increased customer loyalty, employee satisfaction, and long-term sustainability.
In conclusion, a company considering relocating its manufacturing plant and administrative offices has a social responsibility to take into account the impact on the city it is leaving behind. This includes considering the welfare of its employees, supporting local businesses affected by the relocation, and engaging with the community. By fulfilling this responsibility, the company not only demonstrates ethical behavior but also protects its own interests in terms of reputation and long-term sustainability.
