Business Ethics Case Studies – Corporate Responsibility
and Ethical Dilemmas UPDATED 2025/2026 NEW!! WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTION NEW!!
Case 1 Monsanto - involves the world's largest seed producer; Monsanto holds seventy to one-
hundred percent of the crop share on various crops. The company has achieved this large
market share by crea ng Gene cally Modified (GM) Seeds. Due to the fact that Monsanto has
patented their seeds, farmers must (unnecessarily) purchase new seeds each year - addi onally
Monsanto's patents limit innova on and restrict compe on within the gene c seed industry.
Case 1 Monsanto Problems 1 - The chemical in their seeds could poten ally be harmful when
consumed by humans, birds, insects and amphibians. Other problems have been a result of
Monsanto's ques onable business prac ces; Monsanto dumped toxic waste for forty years into
a creek in Alabama and also disposed of Polychlorinated biphenyls in a landfill.
Case 1 Monsanto (against) - Monsanto has created a monopoly against their compe tors. They
also persuade developing countries to use GMOs. Possible alterna ves: release research on
Monsanto's products so people have the right to know if they are consuming a GMO food.
Case 1 Monsanto (for) - GM crops have saved farmers billions by preven ng loss and increasing
crop yields. Their seeds have revolu onized the agriculture industry. "herbicide roundup" which
kills weeds but spares the crops.
Case 2 Starbucks - "Starbucks' Mission: Social Responsibility and Brand Strength," focuses on
whether or not Starbucks makes ethical decisions as a company. Starbucks has put a lot of effort
into building the image for their company to be ideal. For example, their employees, the
environment, and their communi es are all aspects that the company takes into account when
making decisions.
Case 2 Starbucks (for) - large emphasis on how important employees are to the company. they
have many benefits including health insurance. The image that Starbucks has created for itself is
that it cares about the environment and the rela onships that they are crea ng with who they
, are receiving their supplies from. They try to reduce waste by offering $1 reusable cups to their
customers as well as making cups that are completely disposable so less waste will affect the
environment. Not only is Starbucks concerned with their employees and the environment, but
also what their customers want. They have been introducing a be7er variety of drinks and food
that are more health conscious to reach a wider market of customers. It is apparent that
Starbucks is concerned with the concept of "people first, profits last."
Case 2 Starbucks (against) - the CEO of the company makes around $9,200 an hour as
compared to the average employee making $8.79 an hour. The fact that the CEO makes over
one thousand mes the amount of the employee is wrong. Although they do put a lot of effort
into the company and have gone to school to be7er themselves, they need to think about the
people who are trying to live off of that rate of $8.79 an hour. Starbucks uses generally modified
organisms (GMOs), which can be harmful for the environment as well as personal health.
Case 3 Walmart - is a mul na onal corpora on and an icon of American Business. While their
mission is to help people save money and live be7er, the company has received plenty of
cri cism, specifically, regarding its treatment of employees, and safety issues. Sam Walton
opened the first Walmart Discount Store in 1962, and it is stated that much of the success can
be a7ributed to its founder.
Case 3 Walmart (for) - "EDLP" is what walmart has established for its target market and should
not be punished for this.
Case 3 Walmart (against) - Walmart has been accused of failing to provide health insurance,
and a new policy eliminates healthcare coverage for new hires working less than 30 hours a
week. Walmart was placed the lowest among discount stores and department stores on the
American Customer Sa sfac on Index. Women account for more than two-thirds of all Walmart
employees, but make up less than 10 percent of store management. An internal study showed
the company paid female store managers less than males in the same posi on. Many products
are produced overseas where factories do not have ideal condi ons (factory fires). Bribery
scandal in Mexico.
and Ethical Dilemmas UPDATED 2025/2026 NEW!! WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTION NEW!!
Case 1 Monsanto - involves the world's largest seed producer; Monsanto holds seventy to one-
hundred percent of the crop share on various crops. The company has achieved this large
market share by crea ng Gene cally Modified (GM) Seeds. Due to the fact that Monsanto has
patented their seeds, farmers must (unnecessarily) purchase new seeds each year - addi onally
Monsanto's patents limit innova on and restrict compe on within the gene c seed industry.
Case 1 Monsanto Problems 1 - The chemical in their seeds could poten ally be harmful when
consumed by humans, birds, insects and amphibians. Other problems have been a result of
Monsanto's ques onable business prac ces; Monsanto dumped toxic waste for forty years into
a creek in Alabama and also disposed of Polychlorinated biphenyls in a landfill.
Case 1 Monsanto (against) - Monsanto has created a monopoly against their compe tors. They
also persuade developing countries to use GMOs. Possible alterna ves: release research on
Monsanto's products so people have the right to know if they are consuming a GMO food.
Case 1 Monsanto (for) - GM crops have saved farmers billions by preven ng loss and increasing
crop yields. Their seeds have revolu onized the agriculture industry. "herbicide roundup" which
kills weeds but spares the crops.
Case 2 Starbucks - "Starbucks' Mission: Social Responsibility and Brand Strength," focuses on
whether or not Starbucks makes ethical decisions as a company. Starbucks has put a lot of effort
into building the image for their company to be ideal. For example, their employees, the
environment, and their communi es are all aspects that the company takes into account when
making decisions.
Case 2 Starbucks (for) - large emphasis on how important employees are to the company. they
have many benefits including health insurance. The image that Starbucks has created for itself is
that it cares about the environment and the rela onships that they are crea ng with who they
, are receiving their supplies from. They try to reduce waste by offering $1 reusable cups to their
customers as well as making cups that are completely disposable so less waste will affect the
environment. Not only is Starbucks concerned with their employees and the environment, but
also what their customers want. They have been introducing a be7er variety of drinks and food
that are more health conscious to reach a wider market of customers. It is apparent that
Starbucks is concerned with the concept of "people first, profits last."
Case 2 Starbucks (against) - the CEO of the company makes around $9,200 an hour as
compared to the average employee making $8.79 an hour. The fact that the CEO makes over
one thousand mes the amount of the employee is wrong. Although they do put a lot of effort
into the company and have gone to school to be7er themselves, they need to think about the
people who are trying to live off of that rate of $8.79 an hour. Starbucks uses generally modified
organisms (GMOs), which can be harmful for the environment as well as personal health.
Case 3 Walmart - is a mul na onal corpora on and an icon of American Business. While their
mission is to help people save money and live be7er, the company has received plenty of
cri cism, specifically, regarding its treatment of employees, and safety issues. Sam Walton
opened the first Walmart Discount Store in 1962, and it is stated that much of the success can
be a7ributed to its founder.
Case 3 Walmart (for) - "EDLP" is what walmart has established for its target market and should
not be punished for this.
Case 3 Walmart (against) - Walmart has been accused of failing to provide health insurance,
and a new policy eliminates healthcare coverage for new hires working less than 30 hours a
week. Walmart was placed the lowest among discount stores and department stores on the
American Customer Sa sfac on Index. Women account for more than two-thirds of all Walmart
employees, but make up less than 10 percent of store management. An internal study showed
the company paid female store managers less than males in the same posi on. Many products
are produced overseas where factories do not have ideal condi ons (factory fires). Bribery
scandal in Mexico.
