Social Responsibility and Issue Intensity (Scenario)

question 45

Multiple Choice

Social Responsibility and Issue Intensity (Scenario)
Rick is president of a company that manufactures secondary wood products for the construction industry. Recently, there have been many reports of a plywood sub-flooring product that has been failing in a number of commercial locations, resulting in several complaints about ruined floor coverings and, in one instance, the partial collapse of a floor, which injured three people. The manager of research and development has asked marketing to stop selling the product while he runs some tests to determine the source of the problem. However, third-quarter earnings reports are due out in two weeks and public knowledge of problems concerning this lucrative product are likely to delay the financing of the company's expansion plans and cause stock prices to tumble. Rick has a dilemma. Should he continue to sell the product and delay research efforts in order to maintain the expansion plans, but risk causing more damage and injury? Or should he immediately stop sales of the product and run the necessary tests, thereby placing the expansion plans at risk and causing potential losses for the company's shareholders?
-If Rick decides to stop sales and investigate the flooring product because he feels a responsibility toward society as well as shareholders,he would be operating under the ________ view of social responsibility.

• A)conservative
• B)socioeconomic
• C)classical
• D)utilitarian

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Definitions:

Required Rates Of Return

Required rates of return are the minimum returns investors expect to receive from an investment to compensate for its perceived risk.

Bondholders

Investors or entities that hold debt securities issued by corporations or governments, entitling them to receive a specified amount of interest and principal repayment.

Stockholders

Individuals or entities that own shares in a corporation, giving them partial ownership and possibly the right to vote on company matters.

Degree Of Operating Leverage (DOL)

A measure that assesses the sensitivity of a company's operating income to its sales, indicating the percentage change in operating income for a percentage change in sales.