Organizational Theory and Research Article Critique

Article Critique

Melvin Queenie

Columbia Southern University

Organizational Theory and Research MBA 6001

Dr. Carol Jensen

July 27, 2010

Davenport, E. & Low, W. (2009). Organizational leadership, ethics and the challenges of marketing fair and ethical trade. Journal of Business Ethics, 86:97–108. Springer 2008. DOI 10.1007/s10551-008-9763-7

Introduction

The author of this article explores leadership in organizations, ethical issues and challenges experienced when marketing fair and ethical trade. Organizations restructure their systems of operations to fit ethical requirements. There are two issues discussed in this article, first, ethics in purchasing procedures adopted by public and non-profit organizations should be observed when delivering products to the customers. Secondly, non-profit organizations carry out the mission of merging conservation education and strategies of marketing their products. The article also analyzes leadership aspects in organizations when implementing ethical and fair trade.

Statement of the Problem

Consumers are not only concerned about getting goods and services from the market, but also consumers are concerned about ethical issues about production and marketing systems used to get the final product. Buying decisions relate to all aspects of a product, and consumers in developed and developing countries are cautious about ethical standards followed in the production of commodities. Leadership is required of the organizational managers to promote strategies which lead to achievement of ethics in production and marketing of commodities in public and non-profit organizations. Unethical leadership practices have resulted into boycotts as people seek fair treatment from corporate leaders.

Description of Procedures

Two marketing strategies have been used when evaluating marketing systems of no-sweat products: anti-marketing ethics and de-marketing ethics. Fair trade movement had a schedule of 15 years to...