Ethics in Business Task 1

Ethical Issues in Business

Competency 310.2.1

Objective 310.2.1-05

LeeAnne Green

Western Governors University

The times have changed, and as with any business if you do not change with the times you will get lost. In this example we will be looking at Company Q a small local grocery store, which happens to be located in a major metropolitan area. For this grocery store being located in a major metropolitan area should be a positive in terms of having a large enough population to spread across many grocery stores. However, for Company Q they recently have closed two of their stores in higher crime rate areas. The closures were cited to be due to consistently losing money at both locations. It is unknown what was taken into consideration when deciding to close two locations, and what was done with in each location to try to prevent the closures.

It seems to me that less locations means less opportunities to get people into the store and sell to them. Profit loss can be a result of many things with a grocery store, from actual theft, to spoiled produce, to plainly not carrying what the consumer is looking for. Based upon the information we are given Company Q has had requests for years to carry more health-conscious and organic products. Just recently they have started carrying a very limited amount line of these products. The product line they have chosen is also a very high margin line which may negatively affect their sales as well. The consumer is definitely in the driver’s seat regarding what stores are going to do well and which ones do not. If Company Q is not listening to its customers and offering the things they are looking for they will go somewhere else. Company Q is missing the mark by a mile.  I not feel like there is any attitude at all about social responsibility.  The chain has been approached both by individuals with in the community that they serve with requests of a certain line of products they would like to find in the...