Ethical Business Practices in Covid-19 Period: The Case of Kellogg Company

The Covid-19 pandemic has an impact on the global economy, international business facilities, both global and local trading. Even there are many arguments supporting the opinion that the effects of Covid-19 pandemic on business activities and economies will continue. The development of intervention strategies have harmonized business practices with changing government policies and market trends during the Covid-19 pandemic. In the Covid-19 pandemic, the human factor in businesses has gained more importance than ever before. Consumer awareness and sensitivity have been increased. It has been observed that customers after the pandemic period have preferred the products and services of companies which attach significance ethical practices to their business facilities more than ever before. This study aims to emphasize the importance of evaluating business activities in terms of ethical practices in Covid-19 pandemic. To support the purpose of the study, how Kellogg, one of the functional food industry giants in international markets, integrates organizational codes of ethics and which business practices Kellogg apply more during the pandemic period and how this integration positively contributes to company performance and success have been discussed. The study purposes to provide significant contributions to the literature and to help businesses to overcome the economic difficulties come up with Covid-19 pandemic by practical suggestions.

Covid-19 Salgın Döneminde İş Etiği Uygulamaları: Kellogg Firma Analizi

Covid-19 salgın dönemimin küresel ekonomi ve uluslararası ticari faaliyetler üzerinde kalıcı etkileri olmuştur ve olmaya da devam edeceği yönünde çeşitli öngörüler bulunmaktadır. Covid-19 salgın döneminde dünya genelinde birçok işletmenin değişen piyasa koşulları ve değişen tüketici beklentilerini daha iyi analiz ederek etik uygulamalara son derecede hassasiyet gösterdikleri ve bu minvalde küresel bir bilinç oluştuğu artık yadsınamaz bir gerçektir. Covid-19 salgın döneminde işletmelerde insan faktörü önceki dönemlerde hiç olmadığı kadar önem kazanmıştır. Tüketici bilinci ve hassasiyeti ise gün geçtikçe artmaktadır. İşletmelerde etik uygulamalara önem veren firmaların ürün ve hizmetlerinin ise salgın öncesi dönemdeki taleplere kıyasla daha fazla müşteriler tarafından talep edildiği gözlenmiştir. Bu çalışmada işletme faaliyetlerinin ve işletme yönetim süreçlerinin Covid-19 salgın döneminde eskiye nazaran daha çok etik yönden değerlendirilerek etiğe uygunluk kaygısı taşımasının önemine vurgu yapmak amaçlanmaktadır. Çalışmanın amacını desteklemek için ise, en çok kahvaltılık atıştırmalıklar ve tahıl gevrekleri ürünleri ile bilinen uluslararası pazarlarda fonksiyonel gıda sektörü devlerinden Kellogg Şirketi’nin süregelen örgütsel etik kurallarını pandemiden önceye kıyasla salgın döneminde hangi işletme etik uygulamaları ile daha fazla bütünleştirdiğine değinilecektir. Salgın dönemindeki bu yeni bütünleşme stratejisinin Kellogg’un performansına ve başarısına nasıl olumlu katkıları olduğu tartışılarak; salgın dönemi strateji ve uygulamalarının diğer işletme uygulamalarına entegre edilmesi hususunda çeşitli önerilerde bulunulmaktadır. Çalışma ile hem literatüre önemli katkılar sunulması hem de çalışmanın Covid-19 salgınının işletmelere getirdiği ekonomik sıkıntıları bir takım başarılı etik uygulamalarla aşmaya yardımcı olması beklenmektedir.

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