CHAPTER 9: CONTEMPORARY SOCIAL ISSUES

Lesson Objectives
At the end of this lesson, the students should be able to:
1. Explain the meaning of Environmental issues, global issues, technological issues;
2. Determine the factors affecting organizational structure selection in multinational
corporation; and
3. identify the areas of government regulation of business.

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
 Corporations have long been criticized and even lambasted by some pressure
groups for their negative effect on the natural environment in terms of wasting
natural warning. The use of fossil fuels, which according to some has been
obsolete, is pressure on corporations to adhere to stricter environmental standards
and to voluntarily change production processes in order to do less harm to the
environment.

GLOBAL ISSUES
 Corporations increasingly operate in a global environment. The globalization of
business appears to be an irreversible trend, but there are many opponents to it.
Critics suggest that globalization leads to the exploitation of developing nations’
workers, destruction of environment, and increased human right abuses.
TECHNOLOGICAL ISSUES

 Another contemporary social issue relates to technology and its

effect on society, for example, the internet has opened up many new
avenues for marketing goods and services, but has also opened up the
possibility of abuse by corporations.
ETHICAL BEHAVIOR IN THE ENTERPRISE
 Paying attention to ethics makes good business sense, this can create goodwill for
the corporation and enhance the chances of success. Meeting its obligations and
treating customers, suppliers, employee and other stakeholders fairly is a sure shot
of investment of a brighter future the company in the long-run.
Character
 Character drives what we do when no one is
looking, each person has the ability to build,
change or even destroy his or her own character.
We can build our character through the way we
live by thinking good thoughts and performing
good acts.
Ethics

 Ethics refers to a set of rules that describes what

is acceptable conduct in society. Ethics serve as
a guide to moral daily living and helps corporation
judge whether such behavior can be justified.

Integrity

 To have integrity is ti be honest and sincere. Integrity is defined as adhering to a

moral code in daily decision making. Integrity put simply, when people and
businesses possess integrity, it means they can be trusted.
Laws

 The law is a series of rules and regulations designed to express the needs of the
people. Laws frequently provide us with a sense of right and wrong and guide our
behavior. It is worth nothing that an illegal act can be ethical.
Morals
  Morals are a set of rules or mode of conduct on which society is based. Certain
moral elements are universal, such as the laws forbidding homicide and the basic
duties of doing good and furthering the well-being of others. Morals and ethics are
very similar, both pertain to society’s ideas of right and wrong.
Values

 Values are defined as the acts, customs, and institutions that a group of people
regard in a favorable way.

ROLE OF THE STATE AND ITS IMPACT ON BUSINESS ORGANIZATION

 Some sectors have criticized that the government regulatory parameters on the
economy is restrictively futile on some extent considering that, often, it only lacks
teeth but also has some features that obstructs the full capability of the enterprise
in terms of maximizing health.

ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IN BUSINESS

 Private sector is the chief economic force of every country but it needs
government regulation.
 The constitution gives the government the power to regulate some commerce.

Consumer Protection

 The government’s role in the business includes protecting the consumer or

customer.
 The consumer movement still needs considerable development to protect the
public.

Contract Enforcement
  Companies bring one another to court just as individuals do.
 If one party fails or refuses to meet its obligation under a contract, a company will
turn to the government’s legal system for reinforcement.

Employee Protection

 Many agencies work for the rights of

employees.
This rights covers the following:
 Regular employment
 Probationary employment
 Minimum employable age
 Prohibition against stipulation of marriageAnti sexual harassment law and many
others.

Environmental Protection

 When a marketing transaction impacts a third party besides the marketer and
purchaser the effect is called an “externality”
 The government through its legislative branch passed some laws the pure intent
of which is to protect the environment.

Investor Protection

 Government mandates that companies make financial information public, thereby

protecting the rights of investors and facilitating further investment.
 Starting a business
 Licenses
 Employing workers
 Getting Credit
 Protecting investors
 Paying taxes
 Export Policy

Permission
  Most business needs to register with a government to operate.
 Legitimate businesses need permission from the governments to operate and
corporations need a charter from government.

Taxation

 Government policies can also promote

business.
 Government set policies to make it
work.
 Companies are getting quality services
at a relatively low cost

PRESSURE GROUPS

 Is an organized group that seeks to influence not only government policy but also
private enterprises’ operating policies.

Types of Pressure Groups

Giant Private Corporations

 The relative size and power of these companies can sometime rival to that of the
government.
 Can bring massive influence on political and economic decisions which affects
variety of business activities.

Professional Organization
  This is a powerful group bound by the common interest of its
members.
 PICPA (Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants)
 PMA (Philippine Medical Association)
 IBP (Integrated Bar of the Philippines)
 AGFO (the Association of Generals and Flag Officers Inc.)
 JBC (Judicial and Bar Council)

Trade Associations

 It is the association of businesses with common interest to protect.

 They are the most defensive mode rather than being active in crafting those
policies which affect them.
 Good number of companies have found the need to react to the new policies
which affects them.

Trade Unions

 Labor groups certainly have influence on policies considering the vast sectors
that it covers.
 Those in charge of governance therefore should take into account seriously this
pressure groups.

PUBLIC PRESSURE GROUPS

 The public have turned to pressure groups since they are visibly vocal on issues
that pat the heart of the certain individuals.
 These individuals have the belief that these pressure groups might be triumphant
in changing what they believed unacceptable.
SECTORAL PRESSURE GROUPS

 Refers to groups which work to protect and advance the interest of specific
social groups in a certain society.
 At times they are crossbreed of political groups.

RELIGIOUS/ATTITUDE PRESSURE GROUPS

 Considered as one of the most powerful groups.

 They share universal beliefs and objectives on one issue.

GOVERNMENTAL UNIT PRESSURE GROUPS

 Led to a greater degree of power and freedom for the local government units.
 These LGUs wish to be as near as possible to this ultimate source of revenue to
put In a bid for extra resources for local projects and developments.

INCOME AND WEALTH DISTRIBUTION

 How a nation’s total economy is dispersed amongst its population.

 It is a comparison of wealth of various members or group in the society.

Major Causes of Economic Inequality

Culture and Religion

 In many countries individuals belonging to a certain racial and

ethnic minorities like the natives are more likely to be poor than
others.
Development
  As a country develops, it acquires more capital which leads to the
owners of this capital having more wealth and income and
introducing inequality.
Diversity of Choices
 When confronted with the choice between working harder to earn
more money or enjoying more leisure time, equally capable
individuals with identical earning potential often have different
choices.
Education
 Especially in an area where there is a
high demand for workers, creates high
wages for those with education.
Globalization
 Trade between the countries dissolves
any limit that was used to be the protection
of inferior economy.
Inflation
 Inflation of the money supply is a coercive
measure that favors those who already
have an earning capacity, disfavoring
those on fixed income or with savings,
thus aggravating inequality.
Labor Market

 Inequality Is rooted from the difference in the supply and demand

for different types of works.
 Workers’ wages will not be controlled by the labor and by the
employer but rather dictated by the market.

WEALTH CONDENSATION
 Those who already have more money to begin with are the ones who
have greater capabilities to earn more by capitalizing on their assets. Their
huge resources base gives them the buffer on the impact of inflation.

For further discussion, please refer to the link provided: Role of government in business

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TieUA8nYpZE
For further discussion, please refer to the link provided: Taxation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ra51-L08M_w
For further discussion, please refer to the link provided Pressure groups https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20BCgB8HUTo

Reference: Strategic Management Made Simple By: Felina C. Young