Social Criticisms and Ethical Considerations in Marketing
The world of business is one that continues to generate a lot of ethical concerns with regard to business practices. Due to increased competition and the need for maximization of profits, some businesses have been seen engaging in unethical practices which ignite social criticism. The practices range from marketing activities such as pricing, promotion and advertisements, to violation of privacy rights among customers. These unethical practices, in one way or another, end up being exploitative and detrimental to the consumer. It is therefore important for them to be subjected to social criticism in order to bring back sanity and fairness in the business world. This paper will focus on …show more content…
According to Smith (2000), regulation of deceptive and misleading online advertisements “can be done through the use of screening software or through measures which require Internet Service Providers to monitor the material being publicized on their networks,” as well as through criminalization of intentional misleading information to the consumer (p. 8). More importantly, companies behind the controversial advertisement should be held liable for any negative effect the consumer might suffer. For instance, the Nivea advertisement ended up being banned and the company was fined for advertising misleading information. Although internet monitoring continues to be a major challenge across the world, there should be strict advertisement regulations which companies should be compelled to adhere to. More importantly, companies engaging in online advertisements should be responsible and accountable when it comes to sharing of misleading information merely for higher …show more content…
According to Taneja and Saxena, (2014), it is an ethical obligation for companies acquiring or being acquired to consider the fate of their employees as acquisition normally results to loss of employment. This ends up affecting the families of the person who has lost employment, especially where the person was the sole provider. It is therefore important for companies to consider other factors apart from elimination of competition being posed by the company targeted for acquisition. Consequently, the fact that some companies do engage in hostile acquisition, such as through purchasing of the target company’s shares through dubious means, raises ethical questions (Roberts, Wallace and Moles, 2003). Acquisitions should be friendly whereby each party is engaged through fair negotiation processes in order to come to an agreement. This way it will be possible for both companies to consider and accommodate all factors in order to avoid unnecessary social
The world of business is one that continues to generate a lot of ethical concerns with regard to business practices. Due to increased competition and the need for maximization of profits, some businesses have been seen engaging in unethical practices which ignite social criticism. The practices range from marketing activities such as pricing, promotion and advertisements, to violation of privacy rights among customers. These unethical practices, in one way or another, end up being exploitative and detrimental to the consumer. It is therefore important for them to be subjected to social criticism in order to bring back sanity and fairness in the business world. This paper will focus on …show more content…
According to Smith (2000), regulation of deceptive and misleading online advertisements “can be done through the use of screening software or through measures which require Internet Service Providers to monitor the material being publicized on their networks,” as well as through criminalization of intentional misleading information to the consumer (p. 8). More importantly, companies behind the controversial advertisement should be held liable for any negative effect the consumer might suffer. For instance, the Nivea advertisement ended up being banned and the company was fined for advertising misleading information. Although internet monitoring continues to be a major challenge across the world, there should be strict advertisement regulations which companies should be compelled to adhere to. More importantly, companies engaging in online advertisements should be responsible and accountable when it comes to sharing of misleading information merely for higher …show more content…
According to Taneja and Saxena, (2014), it is an ethical obligation for companies acquiring or being acquired to consider the fate of their employees as acquisition normally results to loss of employment. This ends up affecting the families of the person who has lost employment, especially where the person was the sole provider. It is therefore important for companies to consider other factors apart from elimination of competition being posed by the company targeted for acquisition. Consequently, the fact that some companies do engage in hostile acquisition, such as through purchasing of the target company’s shares through dubious means, raises ethical questions (Roberts, Wallace and Moles, 2003). Acquisitions should be friendly whereby each party is engaged through fair negotiation processes in order to come to an agreement. This way it will be possible for both companies to consider and accommodate all factors in order to avoid unnecessary social