Special topics - discrimination, environmental leadership

Question 1

Where do the regulatory guidance and requirements regarding workplace discrimination originates from?

Answer 1

Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Question 2

What are the 2 types of discrimination?

Answer 2

• Disparate treatment: intentional discrimination that results when qualified members in a protected class are being treated differently
• Adverse impact: unintentional discrimination that adversely affects a protected class when applied to all employees

Question 3

What is a bona fide occupational qualification (BFOQ)

Answer 3

Discrimination permitted on the basis of religion, sex, and national origin (but not race) necessary for normal business operations.

Question 4

What is the basis of employee law?

Answer 4

• Employee law satisfied is a minimum threshold for ethical behavior.
• Employee law is specific in framing behaviors.
• Employee law is minimum threshold of what a leader needs to know and communicate as a leader.

Question 5

What are the 2 types of sexual harassment and discrimination?

Answer 5

• Quid pro quo: when a supervisor or one in an authority position requests sex or a sexual relationship in exchange for not firing or otherwise punishing the employee or in exchange for favors, such as promotions or raises
• Hostile work environment: inappropriate behavior or conduct that is demeaning and so pervasive as to create an intimidating and offensive work environment (e.g., unwanted touching, unwanted advances, unwanted language, unwanted images, unwanted jokes, unwanted references)

Question 6

What are the four competitive environmental strategies?

Answer 6

• Ecoefficiency (Cost Advantage / Process focus)
• Beyond Compliance (Differentiation / Process focus)
• Cost Leadership (Cost advantage / product focus)
• Ecobranding (Differentiation / Product focus)

Question 7

What is the ecoefficiency strategy?

Answer 7

• Minimize ecological damage and maximize efficiency of the firm’s production processes:
  Less use of energy, materials, and water
  Increased recycling
  Elimination of hazardous emissions or by-products
• Create more goods and services while using less resources
  Applies to any and all businesses
  Ecoefficient choices often preferred by customers

Question 8

What is the beyond compliance strategy?

Answer 8

• Exceed requirements of regulations and laws and visibly commit to natural environment
• Actively obtain badges of honor such as certifications and pledges (e.g., ISO 1400; EMS and various independent stamps of approval)
• Promote firm’s higher standards to customers
• Earn goodwill through shared value among stakeholders and management

Question 9

What is the Cost Leadership strategy?

Answer 9

• Enhance position of firms already competing on low prices through use of
  green materials and recycled inputs
• Drive down production costs essential, no premium price potential
• Motivate firms to experiment and innovate (e.g., lightweight beverage container, low environmental impact packaging, polyolefin substituted with calcium carbonate)
• Maintain strategy that customer priorities are function and cost

Question 10

What is the Ecobranding strategy?

Answer 10

• Marketing differentiation based on environmental attributes of product
• Prerequisites:
  = Consumer must see a clear benefit to be willing to pay for ecological differentiation.
  = Reliable information such as product environmental performance must be available to consumer.
  = Competitive imitation must be difficult (i.e., need innovation or clever marketing strategy).
• Environmental performance must translate to customer value.
• Ecolabeling must be a primary factor in product performance and environmental risk reduction.