Brenda Eichelberger – 3/21/06
Case 1 - “The Main Street Merchant of Doom”
Problem/Issue Analysis:
This case details the history and social responsibility issues of Wal-Mart. It discusses Sam Walton and his responses to criticisms as well as his determination to be a successful. The central issue is this case is why is there such conflicting data? Some people see Wal-Mart as an example of “social responsibility” and one of the most admired corporations in America, while others see it as an unattractive homogenizing factor and a “Merchant of Doom” that should not be allowed to set up shop in small towns.
Objectives
1. To develop a broader and more complete understanding of the business and society relationship to include the stakeholder and ethics environments in which business functions.
2. To help the student perceive and understand the importance of sound business ethics practices in the effective functioning of organizations. This includes coming to understand that virtually every decision managers face has an ethical facet or dimension to it.
3. To comprehend the major stakeholder groups which interact with business organizations and the kinds of expectations they may hold with respect to their role in the business enterprise and society.
4. To understand the major corporate social responsibilities of business: economic, legal, ethical, and philanthropic and to appreciate their tensions with one another.
5. To understand what business ethics means, what influences come to bear on business ethics decision making and the various ethical principles, guidelines and concepts which constitute the academic field of business ethics and shape the ethical climate of o ...