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103) Which of the following is LEAST likely to be viewed by a company as an advantage of
stressing sustainability?
A) The company is seen as efficient.
B) The company is seen as ethical.
C) The company avoids bad press.
D) The company avoids economic ramifications of being seen as socially irresponsible.
Opposing Views of Social Responsibility (Scenario)
The board of directors of the Four Forks Generating Corporation is meeting to consider the
construction of a new electrical generation facility near the Four Forks River. Director Appleton
prefers a coal-burning plant because it promises to be the most profitable alternative. Over the
short term at least, a coal plant will be by far the least expensive facility to build and operate.
Coal is cheap and the considerable pollution from the plant won’t affect anything within
hundreds of miles from the plant.
Director Estrella wants a nuclear plant to be located 30 miles upriver from the biggest city in the
area. Nuclear power is cleaner than coal. Completely safeguarding the community against
accidents in the plant or the disposal of toxic waste could be very expensive. However, Estrella
has discovered that the job can be done much more cheaply by cutting some corners–while still
strictly following all laws–and creating some additional risk for the community.
Director Jossleman supports the most expensive option of the three–she wants a wind farm to be
built along the banks of the river on top of a ridge. The wind turbines produce absolutely no
pollution and pose no threat to the community or the environment. They are expensive to build
and to operate at the current time because they require elaborate back-up systems to function
when the wind isn’t blowing.