Business Result Upper-Intermediate Unit 5: Ethical Business
By the end of this unit, students will be able to
• talk about ethical business
• plan arrangements and respond to invitations
• talk about decisions, plans and predictions.
Context
Consumers are increasingly affected in their choices by how they perceive the ethical behaviour of companies.More and more of us are asking questions about well-known brand names such as: Where are the products made? How much are the staff paid? What are their working conditions like? What is the source of the raw materials and are they environmentally friendly? Is there a huge financial imbalance between the company’s profits and its struggling supplier in the developing world? Being ethical has become a PR issue with consumers, governments and pressure groups all watching businesses carefully for signs of ethical or unethical practices.
In response, many companies have policies on corporate social responsibility (CSR). The central idea of CSR is that corporations should make decisions based not only on financial factors but also on the social and environmental impact of their activities. Company websites generally outline CSR activities, e.g. health and safety policies, projects with the local community and environmental initiatives. The impact on the employee is that they could be asked to become involved in charity work or raise money for a good cause, or concern for the environment may lead to changes in working practices. During the course of this unit, you might want to find out from students if their employers’ ethical approach has had an effect on their working lives.
This unit presents vocabulary to enable discussion of ethical issues. The context in Business communication follows a company wishing to promote its ethical ethos and allows students to practise language for explaining future plans and making invitations/recommendations. In the Talking point, students discuss corporate standards, then consider a list of personal standards to help take care of their own ethical position regarding work.
Starting point
1. What effect (positive or negative) can companies have on the environment and the local community?
2. Do you know any of the companies that are well known for their social responsibility? Is this a selling point for the company?
3. Do you know of any companies that have a public image problem because of their activities?
EXTRA ACTIVITY
Ask students to visit the websites of a few companies they are familiar with and to look for information about the company’s ethics. For example, most oil companies will offer information on work they are doing to help the environment. Similarly, companies such as The Body Shop have clear ethical positions. This mini-research project will work especially well with pre-work learners. Ask them to report back in the next lesson on what they discovered.
Working with words
1. What are the characteristics of an "ethical business"?
2. Read the text about a company called Patagonia. In what ways is the company an ethical business? How does this compare to your ideas in 1?
Our Reason
for being
Patagonia grew out of a small company that made tools for climbers. Mountain climbing is still at the heart of our business, but we also make clothes for skiing, snowboarding, surfing, fly fishing, paddling and trail running. All of these are silent sports. They don't require a motor or the cheers of a crowd - the rewards come from connecting with nature.
Our values reflect a business that was started by a band of climbers and surfers, who love wild and beautiful places. This means that we act responsibly and take an active part in the fight to repair the damage that is being done to the health of our planet.
We acknowledge that the wild world we love best is disappearing. That is why we share a strong commitment to protecting natural lands and waters. Caring for the environment is very important to us. We donate our time, services and at least 1% of our sales to hundreds of environmental groups all over the world who are working to protect and restore the environment.
But we also know that our business activity - from lighting our stores to dyeing shirts - creates pollution as a by-product. So we work steadily to reduce the impact we have, and do more than simply comply with the regulations. We use recycled polyester in many of our clothes and only organic, rather than pesticide-intensive, cotton.
Staying true to our principles during thirty-plus years in business has helped us create a company we're proud to run and work for.
1. How have the company's founders influenced what the company does now? 2. What does the company have a commitment to? How do they show this commitment? 3. What points are made about the manufacturing process? 4. Why are the owners proud of the company? 5. Do you or would you buy products from companie's like Patagonia? How important is it for you to buy products from ethical companies?
Do you know of any rules in your country governing issues such as pollution and the environment? Is your company or field of business affected by these rules?
Listen to a radio presenter questioning Shamsul Aziz, a spokesperson
for a leading gas and oil exploration company. Answer questions 1—4.
1. How would you describe the interviewer's style?
2. How does the spokesperson react to the questions?
3. What does the company do for ...?
a its staffb the
environmentc the local communities where
it operates
4. Do you think the company is doing enough for the environment and local community?
Think of an action or a situation to explain the meaning of each noun.
Example:Bribery - paying money to a government official to get planning permission for a new building.
Communication Activities
Read about the two companies and discuss how
ethical you think
they are,using
some of the
nouns and
adjectives from exercises above.
1. When you have an overseas trip for work or you are preparing for someone to visit, how important is the planning stage? What can go wrong with the preparations?
Hummingbird Teas focuses on speciality teas from countries such as China, India and South Africa. The unique selling point of the business is its ethos. It sources teas from small, local farmers and supports fair trade. It has recently brought in Clare, a PR consultant, to help raise its profile. Clare has been organizing a trip for reporters from ethical consumer magazines to see Hummingbird's operation. She is meeting with the reporters to give details of the trip.
2. Read the Context and answer the questions.
1 What is Hummingbird Teas?
2 What is its USP?
3 Where does it buy its tea?
4 Why does it need Clare?
5 Who has been invited to see the operation?
Listen to Part 1 of the meeting between Clare and the reporters. Make any necessary changes to these notes.
Trip planned to China or South Africa (to be confirmed)
Trip to China (Not South Africa) is confirmed
Five days travelling around different tea plantations
Four days at one tea plantation
Opportunities for sightseeing will be provided
No opportunities for sightseeing
Two possible dates for trip: February and March
Two dates February 15th - 20th, need bookings by January 10th and one in May
two internal flights
A lot of road travel and one internal flight
Listen again. Complete these phrases for explaining the plans and arrangements for the trip.
Our Reasonfor being 
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