Navigating Social Responsibility in Technology Leadership

1 Session 3: Case Study By: Halle Ross Colorado Christian University BUS-474A Prof Mark Plaiser 2/4/24

2 Session 3: Case Study Social responsibility represents many aspects of making this world a better place. Good deeds equal increased business for companies. The case study being read is about high-level leaders at an organization that makes and sells technology such as computers, smartphones, and tablets. One high-level executive named Derek brings up a concern whether or not people are the cause of texting and driving, or are the devices themselves the problem. Does this make the company at fault if the products are at fault? There are many things the organization can do to act socially responsible and encourage consumers to use their products safely. It’s up to the industry leader to inform buyers about how to they can act responsibly. It is also up to them to set a positive example by practicing moral and ethical leadership. More importantly, the top leaders are responsible because one must be the example, they would like others to follow, including their subordinates. “Strategic leadership of ethics and social responsibility includes leading by example” (DuBrin, p. 153, 2019). When a leader or someone high up has high ethical values, the subordinates will also usually adopt them too. One way an organization like this one can promote safe usage of their products is by informing. Not only informing their employees, but their consumers too can be beneficial. At the end of the day, anyone’s life could be taken by a distracted driver. Informing could be simply training their employees by going over statistics of distracted driver accidents. Another thing they can do is train employees on how to give consumers safety tips. Such as pulling over on the side of the road to take an important call, silencing the phone when driving, or activating car mode are all options that hugely reduce the risks of texting and driving. Talking about the legal

3 matters involving the issue like “48 states have banned texting and driving and legal action will be taken if you are found guilty”. Derek has a negative perspective about the usage of smartphones, so maybe he should be released form his job title of marketing manager. Maybe there is a different position that is more fitting for his point of view, such as a safety educator or a company policy maker. He is obviously passionate about promoting safe use of their products so giving him a title that better suits him could be an option. I do not believe Derek should be released form the organization entirely. “High ethics and social responsibility are sometimes related to good financial performance” (DuBrin, p. 162, 2019). Being socially responsible is great for business and others in the company such as Olivia and Raphael should follow suit. Derek shows good ethical and moral analysis by discussing the social responsibility of the company to safely educate consumers on how to use their products. He is also looking at the bigger picture and considering how the lives of others could be affected by their products. Derek thinks about external issues that go above and beyond his job title. He does not only consider the company’s financial success and how they can benefit. He is someone who possesses good morals and values because of this. Financial success does not always mean success, in fact it can mean the complete opposite. The CEO needs to redefine what success means to the company, and place a higher emphasis on consumer safety. Raphael and Olivia seem to have their own personal thoughts about the work the company is doing. They believe they are doing impactful work because they can make people’s lives easier by using their products. The CEO, Raphael, speaks about how larger organizations have laid people off as a result of their products, and sees it as a positive thing because it benefits the company. Even though his perspective is positive, they are not considering the negative

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4 effects and potential risks of their products. Leaders should constantly ask themselves what they can be doing to improve. Ethics is not only about what society accepts, but going beyond that into what is truly right and wrong. I think that creating a “pause button” is beneficial in making moral or ethical decisions as leaders. Stopping to take a moment to breathe and think gives us time to practice how we want to respond, especially during challenging scenarios. In the video, she also talks about how we are all born into this world with courage, sometimes we just have to find it. Derek chose to use a “pause button” when he spoke about something that was not being acknowledged. It could actually even damage his reputation as marketing manager. But, because he was passionate about the safety of others and creating a positive change, he used his voice and spoke up. Utilizing the “pause button” can be extremely beneficial to leaders and managers. It is easy to speak before thinking without thinking of the consequences. This is potentially dangerous because the brain does not have enough time to process the reasoning behind what they are going to say. A “pause button” allows for rational and logical thinking to take place instead of impulse. Leaders should utilize this because their employees will follow suit and begin to use their own pause button during difficult situations. Social responsibility is about using morals and ethics to make the right decisions that will have a positive outcome on everyone. Choosing to do the right thing is not always easy, in fact in can be extremely difficult at times. Neither is standing up for what you believe in, in a room full of others who may disagree. Derek showcased this when he spoke up about his safety concerns with the company’s products. “ According to one definition, courage (also known as bravery, will, and fortitude) is the ability to confront fear, pain, risk, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation” (Laurie, 2020). Standing up for what you believe in allows you to be true to your values and can

5 create positive change. Be the change you want to see in the world by being socially responsible and a leader like Derek.

6 References DuBrin, A. J. (2019). Leadership: Research findings, practice, and skills (9th ed.). Laurie, G. (2020). What does it look like to have true courage? . Crosswalk.com. https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/what-does-it-look-like-to-have-true- courage.html

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BUS-474A session 3 case study

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