.
Explanation:
Overall explanation
Below you will find how you can plan and draft the essay. Remember this is an example of one way
you could approach the question. At Level 6 the questions are much more open so your response
may be completely different and that's okay.
Essay Plan
Intro – what is an ethical culture?
P1 – create values and principles – put into writing
P2 – Lead by example
P3 – Transparency, whistleblowing
P4 – Decision making
P5 – Laws
P6 – having consequences for failing to follow the culture
Conclusion – culture isn’t static, Banana Ltd needs to constantly update and review
Example Essay
An ethical culture in the workplace refers to the prevailing set of values, norms, principles, and
practices within an organization that prioritize and promote ethical behaviour and decision-making
among employees and stakeholders. It represents the collective commitment of an organization to
conduct its business in a manner that is morally responsible, socially acceptable, and legally
compliant. An ethical culture sets the tone for how employees interact with each other, make
decisions, and engage with customers, suppliers, and the broader community. Banana Ltd can
achieve this in the following ways:
Ethical Values and Principles:🔹An ethical culture is built on a foundation of clear and well-defined
ethical values and principles. These values guide employees in their actions and decisions, helping
them distinguish between right and wrong. Banana Ltd should engrain these values and principles in
writing by creating a vision statement and creating a formal CSR policy detailing expected behaviour
from all employees and stakeholders.
Leadership and Accountability:🔹Ethical leaders play a crucial role in fostering an ethical culture. They
set an example by consistently demonstrating ethical behaviour and holding themselves accountable
for their actions. Leaders also ensure that ethical standards are consistently applied throughout the
organization. Therefore the leaders of Banana Ltd should lead by example. This may be in gaining
MCIPS qualifications and other certifications that prove their loyalty to ethical issues.
Transparency and Open Communication:🔹Ethical cultures encourage open and transparent
communication. Employees are encouraged to speak up about ethical concerns or violations without
fear of retaliation. Transparent processes and reporting mechanisms promote accountability. Banana
Ltd could implement a Whistleblowing policy for example, so that if any employee knows of areas of
concern, they can escalate this to management, without fear of repercussions.
Ethical Decision-Making:🔹Ethical decision-making is central to an ethical culture. Employees are
encouraged to consider the ethical implications of their choices, even when faced with challenging
decisions that may have financial or competitive implications. For example with Banana Ltd, this may
be actively severing ties with suppliers who are known to employ child labour in the mining of rare
metals.
Compliance with Laws and Regulations:🔹Ethical cultures emphasize strict adherence to laws and
regulations. Banana Ltd should ensure that all activities are carried out within the boundaries of legal
requirements, and violations are not tolerated. For example they should ensure that their HR policies
are in line with the Equalities Act. As a large organisation they should also publish a statement about
removing Modern Slavery from their supply chain, as per the Modern Slavery Act.
Accountability and Consequences:🔹There are clear consequences for unethical behaviour. Banana Ltd
should ensure that accountability mechanisms are in place to address ethical violations, and
individuals who breach ethical standards may face disciplinary actions. For example if a supply chain
manager is caught accepting an ‘acceleration payment’ or ‘ kickback’ they should be fired.
An ethical culture in the workplace is essential not only for maintaining a positive organizational
reputation but also for fostering a healthy, inclusive, and socially responsible work environment. It
contributes to employee morale, customer trust, and long-term business sustainability. It is
important for Banana Ltd to not only implement this culture, but to maintain it and constantly review
it. The area of ethics and sustainability is constantly evolving so Banana Ltd should look to reassess its
policies and processes regularly, and continue to strive to achieve more.
Tutor Notes
- You may have guessed that this question was loosely based on Apple. Apple is a good example of
ethics and supply chain issues and is worth looking into as it’s an excellent example to bring into an
essay on the subject. Here are some links:
-🔹Apple’s Supply Chain Is on a Collision Course With Climate Change (bloomberg.com)
-🔹Apple sees bigger supply problems after strong start to year | Reuters
-🔹Will Supply-Chain Issues Kill the Low-Cost Apple Vision Pro? (pcmag.com)
- Other areas you could have mentioned include: cultures are not static; they are constantly evolving
and improving. So Banana Ltd needs to regularly assess and refine their ethical practices to stay
aligned with changing societal norms and expectations (I.e. what is ethically acceptable one day, may
not be the next). You could have also talked about Banana Ltd's responsibility to the environment and
local communities (particularly concerning the mining of metals). Mining is a really bad industry for
Child Labour.
