Essay on Ethics

Words: 2963
Pages: 12

4.12 4.13 ETHICS IN MARKETING RESEARCH: MINI-CASE STUDIES – courtesy of Mr. Hicks
PART 1: Read the 4 mini-cases below. For TWO of the following 4 cases,answer the following questionson a separate sheet of paper: 1. What are the relevant Facts? 2. What are the ethical Issues? 3. Offer your opinion on what actions should be taken (at least 2-3 paragraphs)

Case Study 1
Incredible Shrinking Potato Chip Package
Topic: Cost vs. price vs. value issues
Characters:
Julie, Brand Manager for potato chips at a regional salty snacks manufacturer
Dave, Marketing Director for the regional salty snacks manufacturer

Julie has been concerned about the profitability of the various items in her line of potato chips. According to
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Furthermore, the Food and Drug Administration had no laws against the practice. Dave recommended downsizing the potato chips, but he made it clear to Julie that the ultimate decision was up to her. Julie still had her doubts. After all, it would seem that consumers who are in the habit of buying a particular product size generally don’t scrutinize the net weight label on subsequent purchases. If this were true, it seemed to Julie that downsizing would be a deceptive practice.
Author: Geoffrey P. Lantos, Associate Professor of Marketing, StonehillCollege.
Case Study 2
Falsification of Data
Topic: Marketing Research (via research supplier company)
Characters:
Greg, Marketing research analyst
Elizabeth, Project/Work coordinator
Ms. Jordon and Mr. Collins, Co-owners and active managers

Greg is in his second month of employment with XYZ Marketing Research. The firm is a large, well-known, highly respected, very successful supplier of marketing research. Its clients include major companies in many different industries throughout the world. Routine procedure is for Ms. Jordon and Mr. Collins to secure business in the form of research projects. Each project ends with an analyst preparing a written report with marketing strategy recommendations based on his/her interpretation of the data. This report is given to Elizabeth who gives it to Ms. Jordon and Mr. Collins who then deliver the written report, complete with a verbal presentation, to the client.