Est1 Task 1

Social Responsibility is a concept that includes a company’s actions, activities and attitudes and how they impact the business and the market in which it operates, with emphasis on maximizing its positive impact while minimizing its negative impact. In this essay, I will explain why I think Company Q is or is not acting in a socially responsible manner for each of the three situations in this scenario. I will also explain three ways I think Company Q can bolster its attitude towards social responsibility to improve its positive impact on all its stakeholders and the community it operates within.

Each situation in the scenario has a component of merit and detriment to its stakeholders, but to me, I believe the attitude towards social responsibility by company Q is negative at the core. Company Q appears to be following more of a shareholder model, in which it is placing most of its emphasis on the shareholder and increasing profits without much consideration for its other stakeholders. For example, in situation 1, Company Q closed two stores in a major metropolitan area suffering from high crime rates due to a consistent loss of money. While this decision was beneficial to the shareholders, it will also put all of those stores employees out of work and eliminates a source of groceries for its communities.

Situation 2 shows the emergence of a limited health-conscious/organic products section in the stores after years of requests from customers. But these items are all high margin items, maximizing profits for the company. These offerings serve the shareholders but not truly helping the customers due to the high cost.

In situation 3, a local food bank has made a request to obtain the entire store’s day old food. This request was denied, citing worries over lost revenue from possible fraud and theft by employees claiming to donate the food. The company instead decided to dispose of the food in the trash. By making this decision, the company is again...