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Ethics and Social responsibility

AO2 You need to be able to: Demonstrate application and analysis of knowledge and understanding Command Terms: These terms require students to use their knowledge and skills to break down ideas into simpler parts and to see how the parts relate: Analyse, Apply, Comment, Demonstrate, Distinguish, Explain, Interpret, Suggest

AO3 You need to be able to: Demonstrate synthesis and evaluation. Command terms these terms require you to rearrange component ideas into a new whole and make judgments based on evidence or a set of criteria. Compare,  Compare and contrast, Contrast, Discuss, Evaluate, Examine, Justify, Recommend, To what extent

AO4 You need to be able to Demonstrate a variety of appropriate skills. Command Terms These terms require you to demonstrate the selection and use of subject-specific skills and techniques: Annotate, Calculate, Complete, Construct, Determine, Draw, Identify, Label, Plot, Prepare

Ethics, Costs and Profits

As well as being affected by society, business also has a responsibility to the society in which it operates. Members of society are stakeholders (have an interest in how the business operates) and need to be treated accordingly. Let's look at the range of major stakeholders and think of how a business has a social responsibility towards them.

  • Employees - they look for job security and adequate rates of pay.
  • Customers - want to buy with trust and a belief that adequate quality will be a norm. They also assume safety has been a primary objective of the business and that the price they pay is a fair reflection of costs plus a reasonable amount of profit.
  • Suppliers - expect some security of orders at a fair price and regular payment of bills.
  • Owners - look for dividends, increasing profits and a positive image of the business with the wider public e.g. environmental responsibility.
  • Government - hope that business uses resources efficiently and effectively and makes decisions with the best and widest interests of society in mind.
  • Local community - again look for jobs within a secure environment and a lack of social costs.