Consumer Protection Case Study

ZCMA 6072 BUSINESS ETHICS AND GOVERNANCE

CONSUMER PROTECTION

Question 1:

Critically asses the view that business have a moral duty to put their consumers first.

Answer:

1.0 INTRODUCTION

When discussing a moral duty of business by putting their consumer first, it is crucial to look at it from the angel of providing the safer product to the consumer. In order to make sure the products are safe for the customer to use, business must first know what is the need of the consumer. In term of consumer protection, safety is a commodity that should not be mandated by government, it should be provided through the market instead. Seller in the market, should provide the safety if the consumer demand for it. By having the demand, the price of safety

Hence, the moral duties by the firm towards customers are imposed in the contract between 2 of them. The consumers are considered to enter the contract voluntarily when the consumers buy a product from the business firm. There are 4 main moral duties in term of contractual theory of business firm’s duties to consumers. Those moral duties are:

a. The Duty to Comply

This is the most basic duty of why the consumers enter the contract at the first place. It is the business firms’ duty to provide consumers with a product that fulfill all the promises made by them that trigger the consumers to buy the product. The sellers also have the duty to let the consumers understand the positive and the negative part of the products purchased by the consumers. Hence, the sellers must have corrected the misunderstanding that the consumers had, given the sellers were aware of

According to Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, utilitarianism usually refer to action taken that will give the greatest good for the greatest number of people regardless whether it will harm an innocent people or not. For example, you have to considered the right and needs of the intruder before shooting him with the intend to kill. You have to considered what is the greatest benefits to society as a whole before taking any action to shoot the intruder.

For example, in term of the moral duty, the promotion through the fears of death will give the greatest benefits to society.

4.0 CONCLUSION

It is crucial for the business firms to ensure the consumer will always be a priority by protecting the consumer in every way the firms can. Protecting the consumer is not just about obeying law, it is also requiring business to give safety the priority warranted by the product, abandon the misconception that accidents result solely from consumer misuse, monitor closely the manufacturing process itself and provide full details about product performance.

5.0 REFERENCE

Business Ethics Concept and Cases, Seventh Edition by Manuel G.