M3A1 100 Case Analysis
Case Analysis: What if We All Get Fat?
Carlandra Moss
Excelsior College
November 8, 2014
What if we all get fat? According to the Obesity Society this is already occurring; obesity is a disease that affects more than one-third of the U.S. adult population (approximately 78.6 million Americans). The number of Americans with obesity has steadily increased since 1960, a trend that has slowed in recent years but shows no sign of reversing. Today, 69 percent of U.S. adults are categorized as being affected by obesity or having excess weight (Obesity Society, 2014). Two factors are under consideration: Corporate or consumer responsibility. With the obseity trend seemingly growing, many propose a question that if these high calorie fast food chains should take responsibility for the growing number of obesity or is it all the consumers’ responsibility. Slowly, sandwich shops and healthy eateries popping up everywhere. Do fast food chains such as McDonalds and Taco Bell keep an competitive advantage by taking some responsibility of our overweight society? A huge factor is how these corporations identify and develop their corporate social responsibility (CSR). CSR initiatives are a crucial component of a company’s strategy and the development of sustainable competitive advantage. Stakeholder analysis. Corporate responsibility for consumption-related issues has been on the business ethics agenda for several decades. Some recent consumption-related issues, such as obesity, differ qualitatively from the traditional product liability cases (Schrempf, 2012). Other issues with fast-food diets are countless reports of erectile dysfunction. Obesity is increasing around the world. High body mass index now ranks with major global health problems such as childhood and maternal under-nutrition, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, unsafe sex, iron deficiency, smoking, alcohol and unsafe water in total global burden of disease. The relationship
Carlandra Moss
Excelsior College
November 8, 2014
What if we all get fat? According to the Obesity Society this is already occurring; obesity is a disease that affects more than one-third of the U.S. adult population (approximately 78.6 million Americans). The number of Americans with obesity has steadily increased since 1960, a trend that has slowed in recent years but shows no sign of reversing. Today, 69 percent of U.S. adults are categorized as being affected by obesity or having excess weight (Obesity Society, 2014). Two factors are under consideration: Corporate or consumer responsibility. With the obseity trend seemingly growing, many propose a question that if these high calorie fast food chains should take responsibility for the growing number of obesity or is it all the consumers’ responsibility. Slowly, sandwich shops and healthy eateries popping up everywhere. Do fast food chains such as McDonalds and Taco Bell keep an competitive advantage by taking some responsibility of our overweight society? A huge factor is how these corporations identify and develop their corporate social responsibility (CSR). CSR initiatives are a crucial component of a company’s strategy and the development of sustainable competitive advantage. Stakeholder analysis. Corporate responsibility for consumption-related issues has been on the business ethics agenda for several decades. Some recent consumption-related issues, such as obesity, differ qualitatively from the traditional product liability cases (Schrempf, 2012). Other issues with fast-food diets are countless reports of erectile dysfunction. Obesity is increasing around the world. High body mass index now ranks with major global health problems such as childhood and maternal under-nutrition, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, unsafe sex, iron deficiency, smoking, alcohol and unsafe water in total global burden of disease. The relationship
References: Schrempf, J. (2014). A Social Connection Approach to Corporate Responsibility: The Case of the Fast-Food Industry and Obesity. Business & Society, 53(2), 300-332. doi:10.1177/0007650312449577. Obseity Society. Retrieved from http://www.obesity.org/resources-for/what-is-obesity.html