Q.4 You are working as the Head of Ethics and Compliance in a big mobile manufacturing company that is known for its innovation and quality products. Both the customers and the shareholders are pleased with the performance of the company as they get value for their money and high returns on their investments respectively. Tin is a major component in the products manufactured by your company. It was recently brought to your attention that workers – many of them children – are working in unsafe conditions, digging tin out by hand in mines prone to landslides that could bury them alive. About 70% of the tin used in smartphones manufactured by the company comes from these more dangerous, small-scale mines. The company defends its practices by saying it only has so much control over monitoring and regulating its component sources. The justification advanced of its sourcing practices is that it is a complex process, with tens of thousands of miners selling tin, many of them through middle-men or third-party contractors. Based on the above case, answer the following questions: (a) What are the ethical issues in the above case? (b) Can customers of the company be expected to take into account such practices before buying any product of the company? (c) If the management were to seek your opinion on the matter, what course of action will you suggest? (20 Marks)

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4 responses to “Q.4 You are working as the Head of Ethics and Compliance in a big mobile manufacturing company that is known for its innovation and quality products. Both the customers and the shareholders are pleased with the performance of the company as they get value for their money and high returns on their investments respectively. Tin is a major component in the products manufactured by your company. It was recently brought to your attention that workers – many of them children – are working in unsafe conditions, digging tin out by hand in mines prone to landslides that could bury them alive. About 70% of the tin used in smartphones manufactured by the company comes from these more dangerous, small-scale mines. The company defends its practices by saying it only has so much control over monitoring and regulating its component sources. The justification advanced of its sourcing practices is that it is a complex process, with tens of thousands of miners selling tin, many of them through middle-men or third-party contractors. Based on the above case, answer the following questions: (a) What are the ethical issues in the above case? (b) Can customers of the company be expected to take into account such practices before buying any product of the company? (c) If the management were to seek your opinion on the matter, what course of action will you suggest? (20 Marks)”

1. 

   February 11, 2022

   Karun Kumar Takhele

   ID-Ir1zuLIKkQ1gwr

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   1. 

      February 24, 2022

      Staff @CD

      Karun

      Before beginning with part a, you can give a brief intro- issue of child labour prevalent in hazardous jobs, against ILO conventions, even large companies such as Apple and Google have been found unaware.
      Issues mentioned in part a are okay, but you can also mention specifically about the rights of the children at stake(human rights, labour rights), in 1st point you can mention focus on ends vs means(utilitarian,teleological)risk to human lives etc.
      In part b, you don’t need to mention options available( that can be mentioned in part c as you are the officer here and need to analyze options available to you). In this part, you can just mention that customers are increasingly aware, take responsibility as global citizens, flowchart mentioned is fine.
      In next part mention options available to you ( ignoring, stopping purchase from such mines or holistic review of supply chain(hiring practices, sourcing of raw materials etc)) – 3rd option seems most suitable, after arguing for it you can mention the way forward that you have written.
      Conclusion is good.
      You are writing good content but structuring of the answer can be a bit better.
      Keep practicing. 🙂
2. 

   February 12, 2022

   javed laskar

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   1. 

      February 24, 2022

      Staff @CD

      Javed

      Please mention reference ID.
      First, give a brief intro- issue of child labour prevalent in hazardous jobs, against ILO conventions, even large companies such as Apple and Google have been found unaware.
      Part a is good.
      After that your whole answer has become consumer-centric.
      You are not the consumer, you are the ethics/compliance officer of the company and you need to evaluate the options available to you in this case in part c.
      In part b, you need to just give your viewpoint on whether you think customers are aware or not. You can mention that consumers are increasingly aware, have taken upon the role of global citizens, take the help of technology before deciding on buying products, can be seen from dwindling profits of environmentally unethical companies. No need to analyze options available to them.

      In next part mention options available to you ( ignoring, stopping purchase from such mines or holistic review of supply chain(hiring practices, sourcing of raw materials etc)) – 3rd option seems most suitable, after arguing for it you can mention the way forward that you have written.
      Keep writing. 🙂