Matthew Vigna
Class Discussion Questions for 11/1/20 – Chapter 17: Business and Its Suppliers
1. Top 5 – ‘Supply Chain
Production, inventory, location, transportation, and information
2. Is China Labor watch right? [p.372 – “… GM shares responsibility for this deadly
explosion …”]
The Chinese Labor watch isn’t right in my opinion. They blamed GM for the deaths
because of their brand recognition, the plant was at fault for the deaths and the explosion,
and the plant is just a supplier that GM uses in early on in the supply chain to pay parts
3. Is it right/ethical that BanglaDesh garment workers earn $91/month? [p.376]
It is ethical because minimum wage laws are domestic. Although $91 may seem low in
the US the conversion rates and currency strength may cause it to be considered a fair
wage. If those wages are considered to be average then it is fair to pay them that wage.
4. Should companies operate in countries with anti-democratic, repressive regimes?
I do not believe it is right to operate in anti-democratic companies, because by doing so
we are aiding those countries in remaining “anti–democratic”. If trade were to stop and
those companies were viewed more harshly on the values that they have maybe it would
result in the countries changing their ways.
