Organizational Strategy and Ethical Behavior

Organizational Strategy and Ethical Behavior

Organizational Strategy and Ethical Behavior

“Recent surveys suggest that 76 percent of employees have observed illegal or unethical conduct in their organizations within the past 12 months” (Colquitt, Lepine & Wesson, 2013 p. 213). Colquitt, Lepine and Wesson (2013) explained:

Unethical behaviors in organizations can be directed at employees (e.g., discrimination, harassment, health and safety violations, ignoring labor laws), customers (e.g., invading privacy, violating contract terms, using false advertising, fabricating test results), financiers (e.g., falsifying financial information, misusing confidential information, trading securities based on inside information), or society as a whole (e.g., violating environmental regulations, exposing the public to safety risks, doing business with third parties who are themselves unethical). (p. 213)

Because unethical behavior can harm an organization’s most valuable asset, its reputation, and how it is seen in the eyes of employees, customers, financiers or society as a whole, it is crucial to protect it (Colquitt, Lepine & Wesson, 2013).

Company Description

In 1971, Starbucks opened its first coffee shop in Seattle, Washington. Today, it is a global company that prides itself on being a “good citizen” (Reis, 2009). Its corporate mission statement states (Reis, 2009):

To establish Starbucks as the premier purveyor of the finest coffee in the world while maintaining our uncompromising principles while we grow” p. 208

The following six guiding principles will help us measure the appropriateness of our decisions:

Provide a great work environment and treat each other with respect and dignity.

Embrace diversity as an essential component in the way we do business.

Apply the highest standards of excellence to the purchasing, roasting and fresh delivery of our coffee.

Develop enthusiastically...