Case Study Of H.B. Fuller and the Street Children of Central America

Ethics and Responsibilities go hand in hand. With businesses that develop products for the public, the decision making process is crucial. Before one can make a judgement for what is right and wrong, one must understand to a degree the consequences of those actions.

Businesses have responsibilities for the product they manufacture and distribute, but how much responsibility is too much. In this perspective, we will examine the ethical implications of product manufacturing of Product Quality, Pricing, and Labeling and Packaging.

With Product Quality, the responsibilities of a business are simple. Develop a low cost, high quality product that withstands the normal limitations of it’s use. Quality can be defined as doing the right thing, the right way, the first time, and every time. It is important that this is understood from both the consumer and the business perspective. In short, the product will meet customer expectations, priced appropriately, and delivers as advertised. Within the business, producing a product the right way is the most effective, efficient, lowest cost and most valuable way to produce quality results, the first, and every time. Furthermore, product quality implies that all standards are met, with minimal repercussions of poor quality, reducing the amount of rework and waste. As such, businesses who develop products of poor quality are either failing to do the right thing, or doing the right thing, the wrong way.

In Case Study 6.3, H.B. Fullers products can be considered high quality, based on their status as a leading manufacturer of it’s products, and with it’s slew of awards and honors. Although child welfare advocates campaign for Fuller to revise their products by adding noxio...

... middle of paper ...

...Fuller to capitalize on it’s controversy and make use of human weaknesses to sell more of it’s product. From another view, an effective ethical solution can be to restrict the sale of it’s glue to people under the age of 18, or to sell it in larger packages, which would reduce sales to lower income people (children). The company can place limits on it’s advertising and exposure to young children, because we are aware that young children aren’t completely capable of making rational decisions, (I.E. to not get high off glue). Selling glue to a huffing addict is unethical, mostly because one addicted has no choice, but to buy glue. The addicted children do not make a rational decision to buy and misuse J.B. Fuller’s products, but the addiction itself, ensures the sale. Ethical pricing practices can help eliminate some of the buying potential of these children.