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Chapter 9 Ethics, Corporate Social Responsibility, Environmental Sustainability, and Strategy
230
ASSURANCE OF LEARNING EXERCISES
1. Widely known as an ethical company, Dell recently committed itself to becoming a more environmentally
sustainable business. After reviewing the About Dell section of its website (www.dell.com/learn/us/en/
uscorp1/about-dell),preparealistof10specicpoliciesandprogramsthathelpthecompanyachieveits
visionofdrivingsocialandenvironmentalchangewhilestillremaininginnovativeandprotable.
Response:
ThestudentshouldidentifythatDellhasarticulatedspecicareasofimpactrelatedtosocialandenvironmental
change. Examples the student might list include the following:
ImpactingtheEnvironment—Throughinnovationsinpackaging,energyeciencyande-recycling,we’re
givingourcustomersthepowertodomorewhileconsuminglesstominimizetheireco-footprint.Specic
initiatives include:
Recycling
Reducing Consumer Environmental Impact
ImpactingCommunities—Workingwithnon-protpartners,wegivetechnology,expertiseandfundingto
solvepressingsocialchallengesandtransformourcommunities.Specicinitiativesinclude:
Impacting the Supply Chain—Our global suppliers are integral to delivering technology solutions. Like
ourselves,weholdthemaccountableforupholdinghumanrightsandenvironmentalresponsibility.Specic
initiatives include:
2. Prepare a one- to two-page analysis of a recent ethics scandal using your university library’s access to Lexis-
NexisorotherInternetresources.Yourreportshould(1)discusstheconditionsthatgaverisetounethical
business strategies and behavior and (2) provide an overview of the costs resulting from the company’s
business ethics failure.
Response:
Thestudentshouldprepareananalysisthatincludesanoverviewofthesituation,thespecicunethical
behavior that developed, and the resulting impacts and costs. An example is the environment that allowed
BernieMadotodeceiveWallStreetandhisinvestorsfordecadesandconvincinglypromiseinvestorsthat
returnswouldbeatthemarketby400to500percent.
Chapter 9 Ethics, Corporate Social Responsibility, Environmental Sustainability, and Strategy
231
The conditions that existed in this case were a lack of oversight by the Securities and Exchange Commission,
trust on the part of clients and the nancial community both because of the length of the relationship
3. Based on information provided in Illustration Capsule 9.3, explain how Warby Parker’s CSR strategy has
contributedtoitssuccessinthemarketplace.Howarethecompany’svariousstakeholdergroupsaectedby
its commitment to social responsibility? How would you evaluate its triple-bottom-line performance?
ACTIVITY
This Assurance of Learning exercise is available as a Connect Assignment. The assignment can be
graded and posted automatically.
Response:
Marketplace Success—The student should identify that through partnerships with critical suppliers and
investments in lean manufacturing costs are minimized, allowing an attractive value proposition for buyers.
Thermsellsitshigh-fashionglassesatapriceof$95,approximately80%belowtheaverage$500price
whilemaintainingattractiveprotabilityandstrongbrandrecognition.Higherprotsalsoallowtherm
tofundinternationalnon-protorganizationsthatprovideeyeexamsandglassesindevelopingcountries,
while helping those organizations that train community members to manufacture and sell glasses.
4. Go to www.google.com/green and read about the company’s latest initiatives surrounding sustainability.
What are Google’s key policies and actions that help it reduce its environmental footprint? How does the
company integrate the idea of creating a “better web that’s better for the environment” with its strategies for
creatingprotandvalue.HowdotheseinitiativeshelpbuildcompetitiveadvantageforGoogle?
ACTIVITY
This Assurance of Learning exercise is available as a Connect Assignment. The assignment can be
graded and posted automatically.
Chapter 9 Ethics, Corporate Social Responsibility, Environmental Sustainability, and Strategy
232
Response:
One area the student might focus on is Campus Operations where Google has built a green transportation
system that includes biodiesel shuttle busses and a large corporate electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
The shuttle busses provide free and environmentally friendly transportation for the thousands of Google
employees while the charging infrastructure is used to recharge the company’s “Geet” plug in electric
