57. Darwin’s company is facing a difficult ethical issue. The firm has identified the various stakeholders and their issues and gathered the available data.
Everyone with an interest in the issue has engaged in brainstorming and evaluating alternatives. Management reviewed and refined the alternatives. It
should now choose the course of action that
58. Rock-Bend Company is considering buying out a competing firm and closing most of the competitor’s factories. The firm has identified the various
stakeholders and their issues and gathered the available data. Everyone with an interest in the issue has engaged in brainstorming and evaluating
alternatives. Management reviewed and refined the alternatives, and then chose a course of action. If the managers are not confident about the decision,
they should
59. Imagine the use (or misuse) of data collected from consumers by a marketing research firm. One of the issues that might arise is the way the data are
collected. At what step in the framework for ethical decision making would this issue be identified by tthe marketing research firm?
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60. Denny is considering the question, “Did our actions have a negative impact on any stakeholder group?” Denny is addressing marketing ethical issues
in the __________ phase of the strategic marketing planning process.
61. Every year, General Mills issues a report discussing how the firm has performed against its own standards of conscious marketing. This report is part
of General Mills’s __________ phase of its strategic marketing planning process.
62. Charges that firms are using “sweatshop” labor to produce their products are likely to occur during the __________ phase of the strategic marketing
planning process.
63. Marketers that include ethical policies and standards in the firm’s mission or vision statements are introducing these concepts at which stage of the
strategic marketing planning process?
64. During the __________ phase of the strategic marketing planning process, marketers utilize systems to check whether each conscious marketing
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issue raised in earlier phases was addressed.
65. Alicia has been asked to approve a marketing campaign that, although it is not illegal, promotes food products to children. She is concerned that the
food products are not particularly nutritious, although they are not as bad for children as some others sold by competitors. By using the ethical
decision-making metric, Alicia will
66. CSR can be described as context-specific actions and policies, taking stakeholders’ expectations into account, to achieve what is referred to as the
triple bottom line. The triple bottom line includes ________ performance.
67. When Toyota owners began to report problems with sticking accelerator pedals and nonfunctioning brakes, Toyota at first ignored or rejected the
claims. Eventually, the company evaluated the issue and issued a recall. Which of the four steps of the ethical decision-making framework was Toyota
performing when it recalled several of its 2007-2010 models?
68. For every consumer who purchases a pair of TOMS shoes for $55, the company promises that a needy child will receive a pair of shoes. TOMS
shoes is actively engaging in
69. If Melissa decides to sell the best ice cream on earth, and intends to establish a strong ethical climate in her organization, during which phase of the
strategic marketing planning process should she introduce ethical considerations?
70. Anupam’s company manufactures industrial ladders. He is concerned that consumers who do not understand ladder safety will purchase these
extra-tall ladders and injure themselves. During which phase of the strategic marketing planning process should this issue be addressed?
71. A meat-packing company discovers that six months ago it unknowingly distributed meat from a cloned cow. The firm is unaware of any specific
risks to humans consuming the meat; however, some scientists have raised questions, and some consumers are afraid of possible future problems. The
meat company has to decide whether or not to make this matter public. How should it begin the process of making an ethical decision?
72. Elena is the CEO of a small manufacturing firm. She is concerned with meeting the investment objectives of the firm’s shareholders, and sees no
value in corporate social responsibility. Elena’s attitude is
73. How might a technology company like Appleensure that it behaves in a socially responsible way toward its employees?
74. How might a technology company like Appleensure that it behaves in a socially responsible way toward its customers?
75. How might Starbucks ensure that it behaves in a socially responsible way toward members of its supply chain?
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supply chain.
76. All of the following terms are generally associated with the definition of corporate social responsibility except
77. When companies embrace __________, they appeal not only to their shareholders but also to all of their key stakeholders.
78. For corporate leaders, their firm’s ability to ___________ must be of paramount importance.
79. All of the following are questions posed in the ethical decision-making metric except
80. When integrating conscious marketing into a marketing strategy, a key task is to ensure that all managers are evaluated on their actions from a
conscious marketing perspective.This action would take place during which stage of the strategic marketing planning process?
A. brainstorming phase
Essay Questions
81. Burt’s Bees mission is to be an “Earth Friendly, Natural Personal Care Company.” As part of that mission, Burt’s Bees has a “Zero Waste to Landfill”
initiative. During which phase of the strategic marketing planning process would this initiative be pursued?
82. Identify how a company might evaluate whether or not to support the United Way, a program that collects donations and distributes them to a wide
range of charities.
83. The CEO of your firm, a distributor for a domestic beer manufacturer, has asked you to take on a special project. She has been hearing about a
growing trend toward corporate social responsibility, but she wonders if this is a reasonable investment for the firm. Outline the costs and benefits in
general terms and draw your own conclusion for her consideration.
84. Paul wants to work for a firm that demonstrates corporate social responsibility. Draw up a list of questions Paul could use in an interview to
determine the level of commitment of potential employers.
85. How would you distinguish a firm that practices corporate social responsibility from one that practices conscious marketing?
86. When marketers work in controversial or polluting industries such as tobacco or fossil fuels, their central activities largely bar them from becoming
conscious marketers. How might they engage in CSR in an effort to mitigate the damage that their products cause?
87. Avoiding a GMO label might help companies sell more of their products. Thus far, many food manufacturers seem to be fighting GMO labeling.
However, in 2014 General Mills decided to make some of its products, such as Cheerios, completely free of GMOs, and Whole Foods has committed to
issuing labels, by 2018, on all GMO-containing foods it sells. Who are the stakeholders in this situation?
88. Distinguish between business ethics and marketing ethics.
89. Paulo, owner of a local plumbing repair company, wants to improve his company’s reputation for corporate social responsibility. What could Paulo
do?
Corporate social responsibility includes a firm’s voluntary actions to address ethical, social, and environmental impacts of its business operations and
concerns of stakeholders. Answers will vary, but a plumbing repair company could volunteer to help with a Habitat home, assist with community efforts
90. After a series of embarrassing and unprofessional actions by her marketing team, Ming wants to ethically align personal and corporate goals within
her firm. What general and specific actions will she need to take?
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91. Funeral home businesses have been criticized for accepting payments from medical parts companies for assisting them in finding families who
would allow materials to be harvested from deceased family members. Though not illegal, the payments raised ethical questions. How should the
funeral industry go about addressing these questions?
92. As stated in your text, conscious marketing encompasses four overriding principles. Which do you feel is the most important, and why?
93. Jacinta has just learned that a brand of clothing she has been selling for years in her store is being made by workers in sweatshops, who work under
inhumane working conditions and are paid subsistence wages. Which of the questions in the ethical decision-making metric will most likely affect her
decision to discontinue the brand?
94. Describe how Walmart engages in CSR efforts to mitigate the criticism it receives for being the worst-paying company in the United States.
95. Describe three ways in which corporate social responsibility differs from conscious marketing.
96. What is the difference between government regulation of business and corporate social responsibility?
97. During which phase(s) of the strategic marketing planning process are issues related to conscious marketing likely to be addressed?
98. A local deli has decided that it wants to become more socially responsible. For three of the stakeholder groups listed in the chapter, suggest socially
responsible actions the deli could take to serve those stakeholders.
99. Describe the four steps in the ethical decision-making framework and include some questions that should be asked in each step.
100. Name at least two examples of socially responsible behavior that you have witnessed in a company or heard about through the media. How do these
instances meet the criteria for socially responsible behavior as outlined in the text?
101. Briefly describe the three phases of the strategic marketing planning process and give one example of an ethical dilemma that might arise during
each phase.
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102. Briefly describe how CSR affects the various stakeholder categories.
Category # of Questions
AACSB: Analytical Thinking 43
AACSB: Ethics 46
AACSB: Knowledge Application 11
AACSB: Teamwork 2
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation 80
Blooms: Analyze 4
Blooms: Apply 31
Blooms: Remember 17
Blooms: Understand 51
Difficulty: 1 Easy 18
Difficulty: 2 Medium 55
Difficulty: 3 Hard 29
Learning Objective: 04-01 Define conscious marketing. 14
Learning Objective: 04-02 Describe what constitutes marketing’s greater purpose. 12
Learning Objective: 04-03 Differentiate between conscious marketing and corporate social responsibility. 10
Learning Objective: 04-04 Describe the ways in which conscious marketing helps various stakeholders. 18
Learning Objective: 04-05 Explain how conscious leadership can produce a conscious culture in the firm. 15
Learning Objective: 04-06 Describe how ethics constitute an integral part of a firm’s conscious marketing strategy. 8
Learning Objective: 04-07 Identify the four steps in ethical decision making. 25
Topic: Corporate Social Responsibility 31
Topic: Ethical Decision Making 28
Topic: Ethical Issues in Marketing 8
Topic: Role of Ethics in Marketing 28
Topic: Stakeholders effect on Marketing Strategy 7