Student Resource
Johnson, Organizational Ethics, 5e
SAGE Publications, 2022
Case Notes
Chapter 11: Promoting Sustainable Organizational Citizenship
Case Study 11.1: A New Kind of Capitalism
Case Synopsis and Analysis
Two of the world’s most influential business organizations, the Business Roundtable and the
World Economic Forum, recently declared that corporations exist to serve the needs of
stakeholders, not to make money for those who own stock in the company. In stakeholder
capitalism, companies serve not only shareholders but employees, customers, suppliers, local
communities and society as well.
Skeptics doubt that members of the Round Table and World Economic Forum will back their
commitment to stakeholder capitalism with concrete action. Wealthy executives appear
unwilling to sacrifice any of their wealth or to change the status quo which benefits them.
Learning Objectives
• Students will reflect on their attitudes toward capitalism.
Student Resource
Johnson, Organizational Ethics, 5e
SAGE Publications, 2022
Discussion Guide
Young Americans seem particularly disenchanted with capitalism. Determine if your group
shares that view. Questions 2 & 3 encourage students to reflect on their current economic
Case Study 11.2: Drowning in Plastic
Case Synopsis and Analysis
Plastic pollution is emerging as an important international environmental issue. Plastic creates a
massive litter problem on land and it causes even more damage in the world’s oceans, producing
Clothing may be the next battlefield in the war on plastic. Hundreds of thousands of
synthetic plastic fibers are released in the average wash cycle and discharged into rivers and the
ocean. Some fibers are recycled into our drinking water and food. Nonetheless, synthetic
Student Resource
Johnson, Organizational Ethics, 5e
SAGE Publications, 2022
Learning Objectives
• Students will identify their stance on plastic bans.
Discussion Guide
The discussion questions ask students to reflect on their personal use of single use plastics, their
attitudes towards plastic ban, and the effectiveness of such bans. Point out that the issue of
plastic pollution appears to be moving to the consolidated and institutionalized stages of
Case Study 11.3: Dick’s Sporting Goods Takes a Stand
Case Synopsis and Analysis
Ed Stack, CEO of Dick’s Sporting Goods, the nation’s largest athletic retailer, decided to remove
assault-type weapons and high capacity magazines in all company stores following the Parkland,
Florida High School massacre in 2018. The retailer no longer sells firearms to anyone under age
21. Stack went a step beyond other CEO activists by laying out a set of specific steps for
Student Resource
Johnson, Organizational Ethics, 5e
SAGE Publications, 2022
Learning Objectives
• Students will decide if they support Stack’s decision to limit gun sales.
Discussion Guide
Gun control is a controversial topic so take care that the discussion doesn’t end up as a debate
about gun rights. Instead, keep the focus on student response to Dick’s decision to limit gun