You are owner and executive level manager of a food and beverage shop which has eight locations. Each location is situated on very small parcels of land. This original strategy has contributed to somewhat lower operating expenses for the business and you view this as a competitive advantage. One of your shop locations was recently visited by a government health inspector. Based on new local health codes, new laws have been issued requiring trash dumpsters be a minimum distance of 30 feet (9.144 meters) from the rear entrance of the building. New land-use laws require that all out buildings be at least 6 feet (1.8288 meters) from the property lines. The enclosure that houses the trash dumpster is 5 feet (1.524 meters) from the property lines, which is in violation of those laws. The government inspector has told your location manager that he would be willing to approve this if your business provides the food for his department’s holiday party. The location manager has conveyed this information to you. The integrity of a business organization and its leaders is a universally accepted component of business ethics. In his article “Rethinking Integrity” Stratford Sherman outlines eight ways in which business leaders can manage a business organization with integrity.
With Sherman’s eight steps as your guide. Describe the steps necessary for you to assess and take action demonstrating ethics and corporate social responsibility in this situation. What, if anything, does the nature of the holiday party have to do with your decision and actions in this matter? How will your decisions and actions influence the ethics environment of the shop in particular and the corporate social responsibility of your business in general?
