Overview
3 Discussion responses with references
Initial information: Assume you are a manager and you have just discovered that an overseas contractor, who is a major supplier for your company, has recently been revealed as operating with poor working conditions for employees (uses child labor, pays low wages, requires long hours, provides no benefits, etc.).
Review two other classmates’ internal communications in your group. Identify areas of success and suggest areas that could be improved. What changes could be made to your peers’ messages to make the communications more effective based on your interpretation of the message? Remember to keep the tone of your comments positive and constructive. You are reviewing the communication, not the person. Consider the following questions in your response:
- How effectively do you think this message is framed?
- How effective is the business logic?
- How effective is the tone?
Support your critique with appropriate resource citations.
Student 1-
To: ABC Company Staff <[email protected]>
From: Baylee Bacon <[email protected]>
Subject: Urgent: Supplier's Ethical Violations and Our Response Plan
Dear Team,
I am writing to inform you all of a concerning new development regarding one of ABC Company's major suppliers, Prime Parts Manufacturing. After some investigation, it was discovered that Prime Parts Manufacturing engaged in unethical business practices such as poor working conditions for their employees and also child labor. These businesses practices, which include low wages and long working hours, do not align with ABC Company's core values or ethical standards.
Since the beginning, ABC Company has prided itself on prioritizing matters such as transparency, integrity, and corporate social responsibility. Although Prime Parts Manufacturing has been a key supplier of ours for some time now, ABC Company is making the executive decision to seek an alternative supplier(s) whose core values and business practices align more closely with our own. The actions taken by Prime Parts Manufacturing are inconsistent with the values upheld by ABC Company and do not reflect the standards and opinions of ABC Company, its employees, or its affiliates.
This decision is effective immediately. Any outstanding bills ABC Company has with Prime Parts Manufacturing will be honored as long as the parts have already been received. Pending orders have already been canceled and any future orders for parts previously supplied by Prime Parts Manufacturing will be replaced by the alternative supplier(s). In further response to this discovery, ABC Company is taking the following actions:
- A thorough investigation into the extent of these unethical business practices taken by Prime Parts Manufacturing as well as a definitive timeline of how and when the events took place. In order to prove our commitment to transparency with our affiliates and customers, ABC Company will exercise due diligence in gathering all the relevant information and working with the proper authorities as needed.
- A thorough review of current vendor contracts to ensure that ABC Company's core values continue to align with the core values and business practices of its existing suppliers. Additionally, any new supplier(s) that ABC Company intends to contract with will be vetted through this review process also.
- Internal and external communication with employees, affiliates, and customers to ensure that all parties involved understand the current situation as well as the proactive and preventative measures being taken by ABC Company. Our goal is to assure all involved parties that this issue does not and is not likely to occur again with key suppliers of our manufactured goods. It is imperative that we remain consistent and transparent in our messaging.
Although changing course so suddenly is not ideal, we want this transition to be as smooth as possible. We also want this transition to affect our customers as little as possible, but we do understand that in some cases this may not be entirely realistic or possible. Transparent communication is crucial to preserving our integrity with the customers who will ultimately be affected.
This situation with Prime Parts Manufacturing is a good reminder of how crucial it is for ABC Company to continuously vet and monitor our supply chain to ensure we are delivering quality manufactured goods to our customers and affiliates who rely on us to do so timely, practically, and ethically.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly. I will continue to provide updates as ABC Company works through this transitional process.
Thank you for your attention to this matter and to your continued commitment to maintaining the high ethical standards adopted by ABC Company and its affiliates.
Best regards,
Baylee Bacon
Communications Manager
ABC Company
Student 2-Liz
It has come to our attention that there are some discrepancies with all employees benefits and rights. The company does have a policy indicating that we cannot use underage children to work in the company. The department of Labor has been laws against this. We need to make sure that all children that are of age can work during the legal time they are allowed to. We should make sure that the job does not interfere with their education. Anyone that is working full time will need to be given a right to elect medical benefits for their themselves and their families. Please make sure that when employees are working over their 8-hour shift, they get paid overtime for the hours that are being worked. The goal of this is to make sure that everyone in compliance and to make sure that the morale of the employees high. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call our office for guidance. Thank you.
Student 3-
MEMO
To: Executive Team, Procurement Department, Compliance Team
From: Altina Amen, Operations Manager
Date: November 6, 2024
Subject: Concerns About Overseas Supplier Labor Practices
Overview
The company has recently received information that China Limited, one of our overseas suppliers, is alleged to have concerning labor practices. These practices include child labor, below-standard wages, excessive working hours, and inadequate employee benefits. The allegations mean this supplier does not adhere to our company's ethical and sustainable business operation standards. Our firm's ongoing commitment goes beyond producing high-quality products and services; we are also committed to maintaining high social responsibility and integrity standards. Therefore, our suppliers' labor practices may negatively affect our brand's reputation, impacting our customer positioning and adherence to global ethical standards.
Strategic Goals
We have commenced an investigation into the validity of these allegations. Our Compliance and Procurement teams are working diligently to ensure that we have accurate information. Pending the results of our inquiry, we have ceased all future orders with China Limited. This will give us time to evaluate alternatives and avoid adverse effects on our supply chain. If the claims are substantiated, we will collaborate with China Limited to address these concerns and develop an action plan with specific benchmarks and dates for improvement. If the company fails to meet our criteria, we will permanently shift to other suppliers who align with our company standards. We must reassure our staff, customers, and all stakeholders that we value ethical integrity by establishing and maintaining internal and external communication of our efforts to address the situation.
Closing
We believe honoring our ethical obligations ultimately improves our organization, fosters consumer trust, and promotes a fair and just corporate environment. The possible ramifications for all team members involved in supplier sourcing, vendor management, compliance, and brand management are a well-acknowledged fact. Therefore, we are committed to assisting you and keeping you well informed about the situation.
Thank you for your continued dedication and commitment to our shared values.
Best Regards,
Altina Amen