QUESTION 3:Choose one of the theoretical approhes considered during the module, apply it to a particular issue or text and discuss how useful that approach is in analyzing, evaluating or questioning your chosen topic.
Ethical Consumer and Fair Trade
Introduction:
Social responsibility and marketing ethics are natively controversial , continues research in this area represents conflicts and challenges addressed to marketers in respect to socially responsible approach to marketing activities(Laczniak and Murphy, 1993; Smith and Quelch, 1996).The aim of the essay is to explain arising phenomenon of Ethical consumption by the use of related theoretical frameworks, as well as explaining Fair Trade and paradoxes of ethical consumption in
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Yet , these efforts alone are not enough to abolish unethical conduct.
Businesses have been relatively passive in investigate their in marketing ethics and are still operating according to traditional business models and process that do not reflect consumer interests and ethical implications of their activity often continue afterthought and are yet to be thoroughly incorporated into management decision-making. The contingency framework can accelerate this pre-emptive approach to ethical decision-making. To embed ethics into firms planning and strategy formulation process , marketers should learn from consumers ethical evaluation of their marketing techniques (Smith and Cooper-Martin 1997). An “ethical execution of the marketing program. In addition to financial , market, and competitive objectives, marketers should include consumer concerns and ethical integrity as important criteria for management decision making . Furthermore, ethics must be matched throughout the marketing planning process from product development, market selection , advertising and promotion execution.
Fair Trade:
The fair trade concept, based on the idea of both economic activity and social development, is replete with ethical and sustainable echoes. Ransom (2002 p 20) asks, 'can the
8. Ask your manager or the Global Ethics Office for help if you have questions about this Statement of Ethics, or if you face an ethical problem.
Ethical consumption is the practice of purchasing products and services produced in ways that minimizes social and environmental damage while avoiding products and services to have a negative impact on society and environment (Ethical Consumerism: 2007). I personally think that the use of ethical consumption is an effective way for social change because it guarantees that producers are paid a stable amount while being protected. Ethical consumption starts with fair trade. Some examples of ethical consumption would be the selling of dolphin meat, fair trade of coffee, cotton and sugar. Another component to ethical consumption is, the social, economic and environmental outcomes (Cole and Brown 2015: 52). In order for social change, the change has to start with the core principles of asking the question, will it benefit socially, economically and environmentally?
Throughout the investigation that we conducted in two different locations we found out that possibly ethical consumerism and awareness is more popular in more affluent locations such as Hebden Bridge due to a higher budget for the average person, in addition I have realised in lime square ethical products are cheaper therefore stillgiving it a chance in todays market. On the other hand we also gathered that the majority of non-ethically produced products are made in LEDC regions therefore ethically produced products could spare people the hardship in certain circumstances . In lime square there is a need for affordable and descent quality products due to lower budgets thus less ethically produced products thus leading to less ethical awareness as people may regard ethical products such as fairtrade (products) to be overpriced thus a less attractive option.
Socially Responsive Activities are the actions of a business that benefits society. There are many activities that organizations can engage in to better society. Environmental Awareness and Community Activities are examples of socially responsive activities that Chipotle happens to support.
What is Fair Trade? According to Dolan (2007) “The fair-trade movement is founded on a ‘politics of reconnection’ (Hartwick 1998:433) between Northern consumers and their Southern brethren, enabling the latter to receive a fair return for their work and decent working and living conditions through equitable trade” (p. 245). In other words, it is a movement that connects consumers of developed countries to producers in developing countries through a system of exchange to help to promote better working conditions for the workers in developing countries. Fair Trade products usually cost more than regular products, but the producers of these products are provided with better working conditions. The major purpose of Fair Trade does not focus on the minimization of costs as otherwise could be observed in the practice of today’s market, but rather it focuses on saving lives and environment. In other words, the purpose of Fair Trade is to create social relationships between the parties of exchange that are not based on the drive of materiality, but are based on promotion of ‘social justice’ (e.g. better working conditions for the workers in developing countries). In this paper, I will outline four major benefits of Fair Trade consisted of self-formation of consumers, recreation of social and economic ties, opportunity for consumers to help out workers in developing countries and establishment of personal relationships between consumers and producers. Three major problems associated
Finally, the report analyse a short opinion survey on what influences consumer purchasing behaviour on a small group of students at GSM campus was conducted. The study reports that while majority of the participants regard ethics as important but response results indicate that the importance of ethics does not automatically influence consumer buying behaviour. The report concludes however that ethical consumerism can be a tool for change in shaping the way companies operate.
Fair trade is exactly how it sounds, fair! It 's a global trade model where products are made by people that are employed in developing countries. The workers are treated fairly, compensated fairly, and typically run their own business. (If a product is fair trade, it was NOT made in a sweatshop. So you can sleep soundly at night knowing you are not contributing to unfair business practices.) Through sustainable employment practices, these farmers, artisans, and crafters are being lifted out of poverty, permanently. They are able to build and create their own sustainable business, teaching them how to use the free market to their advatnage. So you can easily say that fair trade workers positively influence their communities.
Ethical decisions serve as the primary basis for good corporate governance. Proper marketing ethics emphasize the
The term paper is structured starting from conceptual framework, which focuses on defining the term of “fair trade”,
The principal aim of fair trade involves changing the financial status of people in economically disadvantaged areas by offering the best prices for their goods, giving them credit facilities, and marketing their products. The initiative, despite all its benefits, exploits the poor through corruption, many maintenance costs, complex entrance requirements, and locks them out from experiencing critical alternatives and cultivating their entrepreneurial abilities. The trading systems in the world are changing while consumer habits are shifting making fair trade
Trade is the act of buying and selling goods and services. This idea of trade became popular globally, starting the fair trade movement. According to FINE in 2001, fair trade is defined as a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency, and respect that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers - especially in the South (Moore, Wilkinson, Redfern & Snedker). The fair trade movement originated in the late nineteenth century. It began as charitable organizations and political solidarity trading with poor communities in the 1940s until it expanded to become a movement in the 1960s-1970s. The movement was officially created when the leading traders and importers joined forces from multiple different countries. The movement was created to to import goods for trade. Fair trade organizations (backed by consumers) are engaged actively in supporting producers, awareness raising and in campaigning for changes in the rules and practice of conventional international trade (Moore 73-74). The importance of the fair trade movement can be explained by the foundation of the movement, the goals of the movement, the obstacles of the movement, current organizations who follow the movement, and the overall movement itself.
In the past 10 years, consumers that is concerned about ethical issues emerged whom they would directly link with product being consumed and the social problem itself. The social issues being concerned mainly consists of environmental matters, anima welfare, conditions of working labour in third world countries and human rights (Tallontire, Rentsendorj & Blowfield 2001). Ethical consumers would have the responsibility towards the society (De Pelsmacker, Driesen & Rayp 2003).
In the Marketing structure, each candidate offers a particular goal relating to the business model of the product or service, and in what particular manner where the business deal should be executed. Every layer of ethical marketing has dangerous factors that will be elaborated
The following report looks at what the concept of Fair Trade means and the impact that it has on producers, communities and the environment. It then proceeds on to the demographics regarding consumers of fair trade products, who they are and what sort of products do they prefer most. It shall look at why they do or do not opt for fair trade products and will provide advice to retailers on how to improve sales of fair trade goods with a recommendation at end for people on how to do their part in promoting the fair trade cause.
Fair trade is an alternative approach to trading partnerships that aims for sustainable development of excluded or disadvantaged producers in the Third World. It seeks to achieve this by providing better