Who Should Pay? The Product Liability Debate, Essay Example

Based upon the information that was provided by Doug, it is necessary to conduct an investigation regarding these allegations and to carefully ask questions regarding the production of the Zero Bike. This requires much thought and consideration, as the bike’s model appears to be final, with no modifications expected to take place. This requires the development of new perspectives to improve the safety of the bike, in spite of its oversight and lack of federal regulation on a national level. The safety of the bike is of the utmost importance and requires an effective understanding of the model and its potential impact on the safety of its riders. The pressures in this case involve the ability to investigate the situation quietly so as not to jeopardize employment, but also to seek out a method of managing the condition and how it will impact consumers and their safety over the long term. Problem solving models may be instrumental in addressing this issue because they provide further evidence of the need for action and the development of new perspectives to ensure that there are sufficient opportunities in attempting the solve the problem as best as possible. The steps to problem solving may provide a positive influence on the overall issues at hand and in determining how to tackle the problem in a cost effective manner.

The fee of $5,000 that is required to stock the Zero Bike on store shelves is complex in that it may lead to issues involving product liability for the company over time. By selling the product in its current form on store shelves, this is posing a risk to purchasing consumers, particularly since they will be using the bike as a form of transportation, which unknowingly poses a risk to them under specific conditions. Unfortunately, many manufacturers appear to cry wolf in many cases involving their own products, particularly if they face difficult questions regarding design and safety (Andre and Velasquez). Most importantly, product safety must be a critical factor in bringing products to market, and if these products are known to be defective and could pose a risk to consumers who use them, they must be modified before they are brought to market in order to protect the safety of their users. However, when this is not the case and companies blatantly lie to consumers by bringing products to market with known safety risks, this is a lawsuit waiting to happen that could lead to serious consequences for a company over time (Andre and Velasquez). It is important to identify methods whereby the organization might be effective in address its product safety challenges in a cost effective manner so that consumers do not assume the burden of risk with faulty products that could have a negative impact on the organization over time.

For this company, product safety must be a key priority and not an afterthought, as this poses a serious risk to the overall integrity of the company and its widespread impact on consumers. These concerns are relevant and timely, as there are significant areas of potential that must be address more closely in order to determine the impact of selling the bike without any modifications, as this has clear ethical implications for the organization. In this context, selling the product to market in its current state is a highly risky endeavor that does not provide any real benefits to its users, and in fact, poses a potentially major threat to their safety. This is a highly discouraging premise that must be considered in order to accomplish the objectives sought by organizations seeking to be successful with the products that they sell. In addition, this premise is ethically irresponsible and does not provide the company with any real support for its objectives and in achieving the desired results.

Conducting a cost-benefit analysis at the latency stage may be worth the effort, as Green Move cannot afford to manufacture and sell a product to market that has obvious safety risks. This poses a serious threat to the integrity of the organization if these product safety issues are not addressed in a timely manner. Therefore, a cost-benefit analysis is an essential component of the organization and enables the business to have a greater level of understanding in regards to its responsibility to the consumer population. It is important for the organization to learn lessons from these activities and to recognize how it could jeopardize its overall integrity if it decides to sell a product without a proven safety record. At this stage, the risks of conducting a cost-benefit analysis include the potential disposal of the product if it is proven to be too expensive to address the safety concern in its current state. At the same time, this process also requires a greater understanding of how this product in its current form might pose a safety threat to its customers that must be addressed in a timely manner. Therefore, in this context, the cost-benefit analysis is an appropriate choice.

The issues involving safety in the manufacturing facility in Bangladesh require further examination, as these workers should not be subject to poor and dangerous working conditions, regardless of the pay that is received. In recent years, these issues have become largely influential on a global scale, as organizations such as the United Nations have taken a number of steps to address the importance of working conditions in foreign countries, such as Bangladesh and Vietnam, among others (Voice of America) To be specific, it is known that “Unless a comprehensive set of labor market and social policies are introduced, [Bangladesh] will be unable to maintain its economic momentum and improve living standards in a sustainable way” (Voice of America). Therefore, it is likely that Robert will remain employed at Solar Group because he is earning a decent wage based on national standards, but he must also consider his responsibility to be proactive in monitoring any conditions that have a negative impact on the health and safety of all workers. Most importantly, the organization must make all possible efforts to improve the working conditions in its Bangladesh factory in order to protect the safety of its workers within this environment.

Based upon existing conditions, it is important to recognize the value of developing standards that will be effective in providing support to the people of Bangladesh who work in the factory. They deserve a safe and effective work environment; however, this is a serious challenge on many levels because minimum standards in the country are very low. Therefore, additional considerations must be made so that these workers gain greater respect and support for their needs, while also considering other areas that will have a positive impact on outcomes for the organization and its manufacturing facility. These issues must be addressed in a public forum so that they are well-recognized, in addition to seeking an important understanding of the issues that are relevant to employees who work in these factories on a daily basis. The problems associated with factory conditions are instrumental in shaping the future direction of the events that take place in these facilities, as organizations have a responsibility to their employees to provide a safe and hazardous-free work environment as best as possible to ensure that employees receive the respect that they deserve and often lack in these environments. However, this is not always the case and requires significant support and capital in order to improve these working conditions so that they will have a more favorable impact on employees who work in these facilities, as well as the organizations themselves.

The use of the blog method as a means of promotion for Green Move offers a positive step towards promoting the business in a positive manner. At the same time, this process is likely to improve the brand image of the organization and to make it more visible to the masses. It is unlikely that the organization is highly visible on a widespread basis; therefore, additional considerations must be made that will improve the organization’s growth and visibility on a national scale. A blog format will provide a summary of what the organization is about, including its mission and vision, as well as an opportunity to summarize the product and its overall functionality. This process will demonstrate the importance of new perspectives in aiding the development of new frameworks to ensure that potential customer are aware of the company and its product. The blog itself must be creative, colorful, and thoughtful in order to capture the attention of the type of customers that the company seeks to attract with its product lines. It is likely that by using a blog, traffic to the site will increase and there will be significant opportunities to promote the brand in an open forum with a positive approach to addressing important issues that will impact the organization over the long term.

The offer made to Viktor to improve his overall standing with the lease bid would constitute a bribe if he were to take up the offer. This is an unethical means of doing business and it does not provide any real benefit to the organization. On the contrary, these activities pose a threat to the company’s ethical and moral integrity. No matter the circumstances, bribery is an unacceptable action that should not be tolerated. It is known that “The language of bribery also deceives, implying that what is being offered or expected is of no consequence. But corruption is not a victimless crime; it leads to decisions being made for the wrong reasons. Contracts are awarded because of kickbacks and not whether they are the best value for the community. Corruption costs people freedom, health and human rights and, in the worst cases, their lives” (Kemp). Therefore, it is not surprising that in the case study, if Viktor decides to take a bribe, it is not ethically responsible or appropriate on any level to do so (Rothbard).

A potential expansion into Russia may lead to positive advantages for the organization, and this would be accomplished by acquiring new forms of human capital that would provide increased knowledge for the firm at a more affordable rate. However, working in Russia poses its own consequences; therefore, this decision must be carefully considered before any real decisions are made that could be a detriment to the organization rather than a benefit. Expansion into foreign countries also introduces other legal challenges; therefore, it might not be worth the risk to invest in this space at the organization’s current state.

Green Move has conducted itself in an ethically responsible manner on several levels that require further consideration. The firm requires a significant understanding of the challenges that are associated with these activities, as they appear to be a form of neglect in some ways in the firm has taken no action on the serious concerns that plague the business in its current state. The most disconcerting issues include the lack of movement regarding the safety of the Zero Bike product, as well as the working conditions that exist in its facility in Bangladesh. At the same time, Viktor’s provision of a bribe to obtain a lease on a Russian facility should not be taken lightly, as this type of behavior is not ethically responsible or appropriate on any level. From these perspectives, the organization faces critical challenges with its ability to maintain ethical procedures and a high level of integrity that will carry the company well into the future, thereby making it difficult to address future decision-making in an ethical manner without consideration of these issues.

Green Move may face civil liability as a result of its product safety issues, and if there are any serious consequences, such as death, the company may also face criminal liabilities for the actions that have occurred. This is a difficult circumstance to consider, yet it poses a threat to the integrity of the organization and its overall level of success into the future. It is unlikely that the conditions in Bangladesh will pose civil or criminal penalties; however, it is possible that the bribe paid by Viktor to secure the lease could pose a criminal risk to the organization if it is discovered.

The board must address its product safety issues in the short term in order to prevent possible risk to consumers who purchase the product. This will improve transparency and will lead to ethically responsible behaviors for its employees. Over the long term, conditions in Bangladesh must be considered more closely and should be evaluated as a means of developing new prospects for growth and change that have an impact on these employees, including their working conditions and the wages that they are paid.

As necessary, the government must provide oversight to the organization and address any possible challenges that are associated with product safety and liability on an ongoing basis. One area to consider is expanding the scope of governance regarding solar products so that minimum safety standards are also provided for these items. This will enable the safety concerns to be addressed in a timely manner in order to prevent long-term complications for the firm. It is also important to develop new strategies that will enable the government of Bangladesh to work more closely with companies in order to provide improved working conditions and to protect employees from risk or harm under these conditions, as this will support long-term feasibility within this area.

Works Cited

Andre, Claire, and Manuel Velasquez. “Who should pay? The product liability debate.” 25 April 2014: https://www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/iie/v4n1/pay.html

Kemp, Harriet. “The cost of corruption is a serious challenge for companies. The Guardian http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/corruption-bribery-cost-serious-challenge-business

Rothbard, Murray N. “The ethics of bribery.” 25 April 2014: https://mises.org/daily/2578

Voice of America. “UN: work conditions must improve for Bangladesh to progress. 25 April 2014: http://www.voanews.com/content/reu-un-work-conditions-improve-bangladesh-progress/1792933.html