Mattel Code Of Ethics

This particular discussion looks into the virtue ethics backed in the case of Mattel, Inc., one of the world's leading toymakers (among whose many creations include the Barbie and Ken dolls). Sethi, Veral, Shapiro & Emelianova (2011) studied the life cycle of Mattel's company-based code of conduct as a specific example of business ethics in the toy industry. In the late 1990's, the cry out for ethical conduct and corporate responsibility on the manner by which multinational corporations (MNC's) conduct their business pushed the issue on the front of public domain, where the outcry is to get the most powerful corporations account for and be responsible for the effects and impact of the manner by which they work for the purpose of profit. In

While the company's volunteered code took everyone by surprise since the ideals presented appeared noble, and above all, highly conservatively praised what was more surprising is that after just a few years, the code was abandoned in practice. I’ve chosen 3 ethical virtues to discuss, justice, honesty and fairness. What is virtue ethics first and foremost and how are these specific virtues put in practice? A definition is in order. Let's begin with virtue ethics. Virtue ethics looks at the character of the person other than the ethical duties, rules or consequences of the action (BBC, 2012). Essentially, it is not just the wrongness of rightness of an action that is important but the character of the person, the manner by which they view the most important elements of what is

Called the Global Manufacturing Principles (GMP), it was released in 1997, covering key issues with regards to the impact of Mattel's business. The authors explained that "...the code covered such issues as wages and hours, child labor, forced labor, discrimination, freedom of association, legal and ethical business practices, product safety and product quality, protection of the environment, and respect for local cultures, values, and