Help me answer my peer discussion with full references at the bottom

1. Discuss the concepts related to the four main sources or determinants of differences in managerial ethics implemented in organizations as discussed in our course textbook.

The four main determinants of differences in managerial ethics are individual values, organizational culture, industry standards, and cultural norms. These factors influence how managers perceive and respond to ethical dilemmas.

Individual values are when a manager's personal values and beliefs significantly impact their ethical decision making. These values act as a moral compass, guiding choices in situations. For example, a manager with a strong sense of honesty and fairness is more likely to act ethically in business dealings. Additionally, organizational culture is shaped by its leadership, policies, and practices, playing a crucial role.A company with a strong ethical framework and clear codes of conduct will help to influence ethical behavior among its managers. A culture that prioritizes profit over ethics can lead to unethical practices. Furthermore, industry standards are when each industry develops its own set of ethical norms and expectations. These standards dictate acceptable behavior within that specific sector. For example, the pharmaceutical industry has strict regulations regarding drug testing and marketing, reflecting industry-specific ethical standards. Lastly, there are cultural norms. They are societal values and norms that vary across cultures. What is considered ethical in one country may not be in another. Understanding these cultural differences is crucial for managers operating in a globalized world.

Understanding these four key determinants is essential for managers to navigate ethical challenges effectively and foster a culture of integrity and accountability within their organizations.

2. A company's ethics, as discussed in the previous question, will determine the company's perspective, or stance, on its obligations to make socially responsible business decisions. Discuss the ways in which a company can commit to social responsibility based on the specific approach it implements. Explain each of the four approaches presented in our course textbook in detail and determine their strengths from low to high.

Companies can demonstrate social responsibility through various approaches, each reflecting a different level of commitment and proactive engagement with social and environmental issues. Four common approaches are obstructive approach, defensive approach, accommodative approach, and proactive approach.

Obstructive approach is companies adopting an obstructive stance prioritize profits above social responsibility and may attempt to deny or cover up any negative social or environmental impacts they may have. They are the least socially responsible and may engage in practices like pollution, customer deception, or employee exploitation. Furthermore, with a defensive approach, companies abide by legal requirements related to social responsibility but remain primarily focused on maximizing profits. They will meet minimum legal requirements to avoid legal action but may not go beyond what is mandated. This approach is often responding to external pressures or regulatory guidelines rather than proactively addressing social or environmental concerns. Furthermore, companies employing an accommodative approach believe social responsibility should be prioritized and go beyond minimum legal requirements. They embrace ethical practices and are willing to participate in social programs if convinced of their importance. This approach reflects a transition toward a more proactive stance where companies are open to sharing information with the public and addressing social concerns. Lastly, there is proactice approach. Companies taking a proactive approach actively seek opportunities to contribute positively to society and the environment before any issues arise. They prioritize ethical practices and strive to prevent harm to society, the environment, and employees. This approach represents the highest level of social responsibility, making a positive social impact.

3. Read the articles above and determine which approach to social responsibility 'Better World Books' implements in their for-profit social enterprise mission-based Buy One Book - Donate One Book Business Model. How does this business model also achieve environmental sustainability?

Environmental sustainability refers to the responsible management of natural resources to fulfill current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. It aims to balance ecological, economic and social goals, such as reducing carbon emissions, promoting renewable energy and ensuring equitable resource access (Patterson, 2024).

Better World Books provide Carbon-balanced packaging, with Green-e certified offsets, to help reduce Better World's carbon footprint. Additionally, they collect used books from college campuses and libraries through their book drives, converting these used titles into over $24 million in literacy and education funding. This company successfully prevents over 250 million books from entering landfills since the company's founding (Newell, 2023). With their Mission, "Buy Books. Do Good", they successfully reuse or recycle over 475 million books, committing to creating a positive social and environmental impact. Better World Books diverts books from landfills by collecting material from libraries, bookstores, college campuses throughout the community, and other sources with surplus materials. Also, Better World Books is proud to be B Corp certified. B Corp certification is awarded to companies that achieve high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. As part of their commitment to environmental sustainability, they never throw away a book. Any book for which we cannot find a proper home is recycled. Every order at Better World Books may be shipped as carbon balanced for just a few cents more. Customers have helped make a difference by reaching over 128,657 tons of carbon offsets simply by selecting this option with their order at checkout (BetterWorldBooks, 2024).

References

BetterWorldBooks. (2024). Our mission: Buy books. Do good. https://www.betterworldbooks.com/go/mission

Better

Newell, G. (2023). Corporate responsibility examples from Better World books. https://602communications.com/better-world-books-corporate-responsibility-examples/