The Problem: The Case of the Bug Spray As a bio-tech firm, you are concerned ove

Question

The Problem: The Case of the Bug Spray As a bio-tech firm, you are concerned over the outcry against genetically modified food products. A sister division is working on production of genetically modified seeds which will (in your mind) be much more disease resistant and nutritionally sound and another which is concerned with products which will enhance the performance of athletes. However, you have a new twist on the situation. Evidentially, in California which is where one of your test fields is located, there has been an outbreak of a particularly nasty bug which causes leaf blight. The Executive Committee has asked you to consider this situation and give it your considered opinion. The company is not too worried because your product should be resistant to this particular infestation. However, the various other farmers in the area are gathering together to request that the State of California spray all of the farms in the area with a chemical which will take care of the problem but, if the chemical gets on the fields of the organic farmers, the farms will lose their organic status. The Executive Committee of your company has been approached by two groups. One is representative of the traditional farmer which represents about 80% of the market. This group is requesting your support for the general spray to protect their crops. The second group is the organic farmers who represent about 20% of the market. They are concerned that if the general spray happens they will lose their organic certification which takes about 5 years to earn. Thus, they will basically be out of business. The Executive Team has asked you to write a white paper on this issue which will become the official company position

Please complete each section of this worksheet. Some people find that writing the answers out on another page and then "cutting and pasting" them into the worksheet lets you think through the problem better.

Be Responsible

Choose an Option

Select one option to implement within your Division:

1.Support the organic farmers so they can protect their land.

2.Stay out of the fray as you will not be directly affected.

3.Support the local farmers to stop the spread of the disease.

4.Support the local farmers to stop the spread of the disease and lobby for the least invasive method of controlling the disease possible.

2.Explain Your Decision

Now, write an inter-office memo which explains your decision to your colleagues. As you write the inter-office memo, please consider your audience. The purpose of the memo is to inform your colleagues of your decision and the reasons for your choice. The memo should be between 400-600 words long single space. Write the memo so that other team members can see the ethical problem, know what your decision was, and understand the rationale for your decision.

Explanation / Answer

Option 4 :

As this option means

Hi Team,

We are all aware of the situation in California where has been an outbreak of a particularly nasty bug which causes leaf blight, we are immune to this scenario and stand in the crossroads, if we take the correct call it can take our company to a new level.

After a lot of deliberation and discussions we have come to a position to take a call, what stand should Bug Spray take, should we be a silent spectator, promote our brand in isolation and reap the benefit, which will definitely be a boost this time or should we dive into the problem, become partners with the government, be a confidant to 80 % of the general farmers and then become an example in the market.

We as a team think becoming the help to 80% of the general farmers is the right way to move ahead at this time, which means we will have to offer discounted products to 80% of the farmers, we will lose some money this year, some of the lost money will be recoved from the aid provided by the government, but the opportunity is huge as

A small step to lose a few thousand dollars would make us the biggest brand in the entire farming community, when they are suffering we will help them and our divisions will work towards developing products which will be resistant to these bugs. As we have already done these research and developments, it will be very easy for us. We will make sure this is not directly made public but is phased out in a controlled manner and all the other companies using it will have to pay a loyalty all the time.

So, we would become the biggest company and in the long run have a very bright and sustainable future. Hope we all work towards this major change and become the company which want to be.

Let's make it happen!

Thank you

ABC

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