Mattel Social Responsibility

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is defined as the voluntary activities undertaken by a company to operate in an economic, social and environmentally sustainable manner.

1. The decision facing Mattel is whether to continue to produce their products internationally where cost are low, or produce them in the United States where costs are significantly higher but quality is better. Mattel might want to even reconsider going global if there sales are decreasing more internationally than in the United States. Mattel needs to determine how many of the products produced internationally were recalled versus the amount of products produced in the United States that were recalled. Mattel also needs to decide how they are going to advertise their products in a way that will convince consumers in the external environment to buy their products, without having any

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a corporate initiative to assess and take responsibility for the company 's effects on the environment and impact on social welfare. CSR may also be referred to as "corporate citizenship" and can involve incurring short-term costs that do not provide an immediate financial benefit to the company, but instead promote positive social and environmental change.

Mattel, Inc. (“Mattel”, “the Company”) is a leading American toy company that designs, manufacturers, and markets a broad variety of toy products world-wide which are sold to its customers and directly to consumers. In 1945, Ruth and Elliot Handler and Harold “Matt” Matson founded “Mattel” out of a garage workshop in Southern California. Though Mattel’s first products are picture frames, Elliot soon developed a side business in dollhouse furniture made from picture frame scraps. Encouraged by the success of the doll furniture, the founders re-focused the company’s emphasis to toys. Currently headquartered in El Segundo, Southern California, the company operates under the vision of “creating the future of play.”

In the years of 2006 through 2007, Mattel recalled approximately 14 million toys (Gilbert & Wisner, 2010). These toys were later proven to have had excessive levels of lead. Some of the toys contained small detachable magnets that were later proven to be choking hazards and some fatal if swallowed. Many lawsuits and regulatory actions were charged to Mattel. The toy maker suffered a severe loss to its reputation and also violated many ethical standards.

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is the continuing commitment by business to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families as well as of the local community and society at large.

Based in California, Mattel, Inc. designed, manufactured, and marketed a broad variety of toy products. The company’s core product lines included Barbie fashion dolls, Hot Wheels die- cast vehicles, Fisher-Price preschool toys along with Disney toys and games like Scrabble (Johnson, 2010). Summer of 2007, Mattel, a global leader in toy manufacturing was faced with a tough challenge of restoring their consumer confidence following several recalls of their toys made in China. Mattel known for possessing the gold standard of testing and safety of its products came under scrutiny for several infractions with their toys. One of which had unacceptable lead levels in the paint and another contained a magnet that could un-attach and

Memories of playing with Barbie and her dream house or racing Hot Wheel cars are most often thought about when reflecting on your childhood. Have you ever stopped to think, where those toys were made, or if the company making them is ethical? Most consumers do not however the leaders at Mattel do. Mattel’s leaders know they have an ethical and social responsibility to their customers. Their goal is to produce toys that are not only safe but also made at ethically run production facilities.

Though Mattel has embarked on the Global manufacturing Principles (GMP) and regular social audits, Mattel cannot intensively monitor the business processes and activities of its partners. There is no guarantee that its business partners will completely comply with Mattel’s corporate social responsibility (CSR), ethical business conducts and product safety requirements. Mattel somehow could be facing legal actions and criticisms from various stakeholders around the world.

Mattel ­ Case Study ­ Dolls facing new challenges on the global market I. Executive Summary Mattel produces and sells various toys around the world and among these Barbie fashion doll is the flagship. This product was criticized from more aspects from other cultures of Aisa where the lifestyle Barbie represents is not commonly accepted. On the other hand privacy issues were raised by parents regarding the digital marketing activity of Mattel, as rights of children are related in this market. Mattel needs to consider whether these challenges are related specifically to the lifestyle Barbie represents, whether the lifecycle of Barbie can be expanded in a changing global environment. Or the issues are the signs of a general change regarding

Mattle’s weaknesses in their global manufacturing structure hit them hard (Ferrell & Hartline, 2011). Many lost trust in the established toy brand for their lack of responsibility (Ferrell & Hartline, 2011). However, Mattel has made strides through its social responsibility initiatives to make sure such events are less likely to occur in the future (Ferrell & Hartline, 2011).

CSR is the Company Social Responsibility. It can be defined as the responsibility of the company towards the community and the environment in which it operates. It is way through which the social, economic and environmental imperatives balance of the company can be achieved and at the same time the expectations of the stakeholders can be met.

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) encompasses business practices involving actions that benefit the organization and the stakeholders, which comprises of the society (Schermerhorn, 2012).

Sony Corporation’s is one of the world’s largest corporations. Sony was founded in 1946 with its headquarter in Japan. It produces a variety of products, such as consumer’s devices, gaming, and communication devices. Its invention of the portable tape recorder was the break that the company needed in order to grow and enter other markets. (Corporate Info, 2015). Corporation’s main purpose is to achieve the highest profit and to satisfy the stakeholder involved (Krishnan, 2011). This encapsulated in the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR). In this regard, it is important to examine Sony Corporation in terms of its adaptation and implementation of their social performance. Traditional business models have allowed companies to grow and expand since the focus is on the good of the businesses to the exclusion of everything else. This selfish regard for other stakeholders have taken its toll on people and the environment, hence, the call for greater responsibility and accountability from corporations, especially those that operate in many parts of the world (Seong-Tae and Lee Sang-Yoon, 2012). In line with this, this essay will examine Sony’s Social performance regarding to the environment, employment and human right issues, and the impact on company stakeholders and society. The stakeholder in this paper will be the shareholder, consumers and the employees in whom they share their business with.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is part of the reality of doing business. CSR is also known as corporate science, corporate citizenship or responsible business. CSR is important for both business as well as society. CSR is all about how a company is able to show and manage its positive impact on the society. CSR is able to earn its own name in the world of business.