Prior to reading this DQ, please read the CLA1 assignment and understand what the assignment

is asking you to complete. Once you have an understanding of the CLA1 assignment, please
continue to the paragraph below to complete DQ1.
Using the Library Information Resource Network (LIRN), JSTOR, or any other electronic
journal database, research three (3) peer-reviewed articles that can be used to answer your
upcoming CLA1 assignment. Your discussion should summarize the articles in such a way that it
can justify any arguments you may present in your CLA1 assignment and should be different
from the abstract. In addition to your researched peer-reviewed article, you must include an
example of the article researched as it is applied by industry (company, business entity, and so
forth).
Please note: This article summary should not be the only articles researched for your CLA1
assignment. You may (and should) have several other articles researched to fully answer your
CLA1 assignment. The concept of this DQ is to allow students to be proactive in the research
necessary to complete this assignment. You may use your article summary, partially or in its
entirety in your CLA1 assignment.
Important: Please ensure that your reference for the article is in correct APA format, as your
reference in your discussion post. Depending on which electronic database you use, you should
see a Cite selection for your article. In addition, there should be a variety of articles summarized
and as such, students should have different articles summarized. Your summary MUST include
ALL of the following in your DQ post (include every item in the bullet list below, or you will not
receive full credit):
Do these in order:
 In correct APA format, write the Reference Listing for the article.
 Clearly state what the article is about and its purpose (a summary in your own words).
 Describe how you will use it in your upcoming assignment.
 Include the article Abstract in your posting (your summary should be original).
 Repeat for a total of three (3) peer-reviewed sources.

Article 1
Title of the Article- ‘Unpacking the Ethical Product’ by Andrew Crane (April 2001)
Abstract
“Acknowledging the increasing attention in the literature devoted to the incorporation of
ethical considerations into consumers' purchase decisions, this paper explores the notion of an
ethical product. It is argued that ethical issues have long been involved in consumers' product
evaluations, but that there has been little academic investigation of ethics in terms of product
concepts and theories. Ethics are thus examined in the context of the augmented product concept,
and two dimensions of ethical augmentation are identified: direction and content. These
dimensions are set out and discussed at some length, and then they are used to construct an
ethical product matrix. It is shown how this could be used to provide structure and coherence to
examinations of the perceived ethics of any given product offering. The implications of the
analysis offered in the paper are discussed, and a number of limitations of the ethical product
notion are identified. Finally some conclusions and directions for future research are suggested
(Crane, 2001).”
Summary
More and more consumers are involving ethics in their purchasing decisions and are
seeing for more ethical brands. Because of this, ethical companies like Body Shop are
experiencing commercial success and brands like Nike and Shell have hindered sales. Ethicality
in product purchase includes an extensive list composed of items like employee welfare, animal
cruelty, discrimination, fair pricing, product safety, etc. This article by Andrew Crane “unpacks”
ethical production in three parts; ‘ dismantling of preconceptions’, ‘breaking down of ethical
product concept’ and ‘what are ethical products and what are not’. Product is not just its tangible
features but also its attributes and benefits. Ethicality in products can be studied by using ethical
product matrix that forms a horizontal matrix of direction of ethical augmentation in negative,
neutral and positive directions and vertical matrix of content of ethical augmentation in product,
marketing, corporation and country. This matrix breaks down ethics as not being only a
negatively augmented concept that includes production augmentation. This article also claims
that positive augmentation of brand and ethical branding is a problematic concept and the focus
of organizations should be on minimizing ethical pitfalls and not aim for complete ethicality
which is simply not possible (Crane, 2001).
Purpose & Use in the Upcoming Assignment
This paper tries to bridge two concepts of ethical products; identification and
qualification of ethical products and relation between ethics and commercial performance. This
paper also provides information on what factors should be included in assuring that the product
designed is ethical like environmental impact, employee treatment, etc. For this, the paper
suggests concepts, processes and measures like Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), understanding of
legalities surrounding production and product design, certification of ethical claims, etc. which
will help a company be certifiably more ethical. I will use this article in my CLA1 assignment to
explain the processes and considerations during ethical product design. Using the ethical product
matrix will be helpful in ethical product design and I will use it in my CLA1 to explain how
using this matrix as suggested in the article can help avoid different ethical pitfalls and ensure
that production process is fundamentally ethical while also contributing to higher efficiency of
the workforce and the product too because it also includes different elements like making supply
chain more accessible which will help it reduce its environmental impact and be more ethical.
Article 2
Title of the Article- ‘Methodologies for social life cycle assessment’ by Andreas Jørgensen,
Agathe Le Bocq, Liudmila Nazarkina and Michael Hauschild (2008)
Abstract
“In recent years several different approaches towards Social Life Cycle Assessment
(SLCA) have been developed. The purpose of this review is to compare these approaches in
order to highlight methodological differences and general shortcomings. SLCA has several
similarities with other social assessment tools, although, in order to limit the expanse of the
review, only claims to address social impacts from an LCA-like framework are considered
(Jørgensen, Le Bocq, Nazarkina & Hauschild, 2008).”
Summary
Because of increasing conversations surrounding sustainability, many methods are being
developed to assess those environmental, social and economic impacts. One such method is
social LCA which combines elements of environmental impact analysis with analysis of social
impacts. During product system or service system, there are a number of processes that cause
environmental impact. This is usually measured via inventory analysis but can also be measured
by allocation factors based on number of labor hours or value creation. Social LCA (SLCA) also
incorporates elements like labor practices, product responsibility, human rights, morbidity and
unequal opportunities. It is mostly a qualitative indicator usually not measured in grades or
points. Inventory analysis in LCA takes in product specific data of input and output wherein the
methods of value addition are identified and analyzed. This can give insights like shortening
supply chains and inaccurate measurements. This article further illustrates on the other three
steps not included in measurement of social impact which are goal definition and scoping,
impact assessment and interpretation. Inventory analysis is done right after goal definition and
scoping has been done. The calculation of environmental impact is done through all stages of life
cycle of a product so the process is called Life Cycle Assessment starting from collection of
resources, production to disposal of the product (Stevenson, 2018). Adding social impacts like in
SLCA will help realize how a company can be more ethical and sustainable which will
eventually help develop organizational performance (Jørgensen, Le Bocq, Nazarkina &
Hauschild, 2008).
Purpose & Use in the Upcoming Assignment
The purpose of this article is to introduce all the steps in different methodologies of
calculating social LCA. The basic step of goal definition and scoping, inventory analysis, impact
assessment and interpretation is well-explained in the article. I will directly be using this
information in my CLA1 which will help me present a cradle-to-grave analysis of the product as
I can explain environmental impact based analysis of each step right from pre-production to
disposal of a product. I can gain better insights as not only is LCA explained in the article but an
analogous comparison of social impacts in similar framework and methodology is explained
which I can mirror for a real-life example in my CLA1.
Article 3
Title of the Article- ‘Blending CMM and Six Sigma to meet business goals by Gargi Keeni and
M. Murugappan (2003)
Abstract
“Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) blended Six Sigma concepts with the various SW
CMM key process areas, thereby creating a quality management system. This helped TCS
improve its customer focus and sustain process improvement initiatives by explicitly linking
them to business goals. The TCS team implemented the QMS on the lines of Level 2 and 3
requirements of SW CMM, using Six Sigma concepts to reinforce quantitative process and
product measurements and analysis, process improvements for defect prevention, and process
optimization. This article describes TCS's approach, highlighting the benefits gained by blending
Six Sigma and CMM to provide quality deliverables to its customers (Keeni & Murugappan,
2003).”
Summary
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has blended the concepts in Six Sigma and its various
capability maturity model (CMM) especially SW-CMM level 2 and level 3 to form its quality
management system. This provides the organization with a framework for process improvement
in operation management. These help predict capability in schedule, effort and quality which will
be tied to customer expectations and process improvement goals. Blending SW-CMM and Six
sigma helped TCS gain statistical insights regarding software goals and customer needs. It also
helps improve marketplace competitiveness. This blend provides framework to track costs,
schedule, functionality and quality by forming guidelines, automated tracking tools and
checklists. It also provides architecture for information sharing. It also provides statistical
analysis like Pareto analysis and cause-and-effect analysis and help identify process problems
and provide feedbacks for improvement. Six-Sigma is a customer and data centric approach
which when blended with SW-CMM that helps track capacity planning can improve
organizational efficiency by helping software quality management, process management, defect
prevention and improving technological adaptability. For example; this system allows quality
function deployment which can help calculate process potential as per the capacity of the
organization. This customer centric measure is assisted by SW-CMM level 3. This means that tis
system can also be used in effect analysis. All the benefits of the system can help achieve
organizational goals better (Keeni & Murugappan, 2003).
Purpose & Use in the Upcoming Assignment
The purpose of the article is to explain how TCS is blending new technologies like SW-
CMM with classical concepts in operation management like Six-Sigma successfully to better
plan its production plans as per the capacity of the organization. I will be using this article in my
CLA1 to answer how quality of a product or service can be improved without compromising the
capacity of the company. The answer to this can be technological improvement and formation of
innovative operational management strategies which helps ensure that an organization is
producing outputs that match its goal and not just its minimum requirements. I will be bringing
these perspectives in my CLA1 assignment.
References

Crane, A. (2001). Unpacking the ethical product. Journal of Business Ethics, 30(4), 361-373.

Jørgensen, A., Le Bocq, A., Nazarkina, L., & Hauschild, M. (2008). Methodologies for social
life cycle assessment. The international journal of life cycle assessment, 13(2), 96.
Murugappan, M., & Keeni, G. (2003). Blending CMM and Six Sigma to meet business
goals. IEEE software, 20(2), 42-48.
Stevenson, W. (2018). Operations management (13th ed.). McGraw-Hill Higher Education.