Research Article
Analyses on Monsanto’s Business Ethics Issues and Practices of Corporate Social Responsibility
1 Yonsei University
Published: January 2016 · Vol. 20, No. 4 · pp. 1-26
Full Text
Abstract
Mosanto is a leading multinational corporation where its vision is set to increase productivity and enable sustainable agriculture for the future demographic increase by utilizing the company’s agricultural solution products. Monsanto has achieved a great managerial success through fast innovation, research and development and its flexibility. Also, they have involved in various corporate social responsibility(CSR) activities such as providing scholarships, granting research funds for non-profit organizations, and supporting water resource conservation, among many others. However, on the opposite side of its success story, Monsanto has exposed to the general public through a series of negative media coverages on some management strategies performed in several countries including India and Argentina. For example, their chemical products such as PCB and Agent Orange have caused environmental pollution and deteriorated welfare of human being. Monsanto has also been exposed to media coverages because of violation of GMO safety and fake advertising, etc. At the same time, Monsanto has exerted much effort to recover their reputation as a global company by actively participating in corporate social reasonability activities, contributing their resources to society through creating jobs and conducting various CSR activities. In this case study, we analyze Monsanto’s business practices conducted in India and Argentina from the perspectives of theories in business ethics and corporate social responsibility. In particular, we analyze two Monsanto’s business practices using prescriptive theories and the four stages of social responsibility. This study provides useful insights to various interestedparties surrounding a corporation and emphasizes the importance of understanding continuous monitoring and cooperation between companies and interested parties to ensure substantiality and human wellbeing.
