THE CASE OF SAMSUNG RECALL: A GALAXY OF TROUBLES

SUBMITTED BY

MBA 593 R1 Christian Leadership & Ethics

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 THE SAMSUNG RECALL: A GALAXY OF TROUBLES

INTRODUCTION

The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 saga serves as a cautionary story within the annals of commercial

enterprise ethics. Released in 2016 as a top-rated smartphone contender, the Note 7 Fast has

become popular for its faulty batteries, leading to overheating, fires, and ultimately, a worldwide

recall and product discontinuation. This situation delves into the ethical dilemmas confronted by

Samsung, its missteps in managing the disaster, and the lessons learned for prioritising product

protection and rebuilding customer consideration.

Key Ethical Issues

1. Public safety vs. income: ought company income be prioritised over capacity damage

because of faulty merchandise? How can businesses make sure of safety measures

without restricting innovation?

2. Transparency and Communication: Did Samsung adequately inform customers and

regulators about the battery issues? How can companies rebuild trust after a major crisis

involving safety concerns?

3. Corporate Social Responsibility: Does Samsung have a moral obligation to minimise

harm to consumers, even if it comes at a financial cost? What steps can businesses take to

demonstrate social responsibility in the face of product recalls?

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 THEORIES FOR ETHICAL DECISION-MAKING

The Galaxy Note 7 case presents a valuable opportunity to apply various ethical frameworks to

analyze the situation and propose solutions. Here are three relevant topics and theories:

1. Deontological ethics: focused on adhering to universal moral principles regardless of

consequences, offers another valuable lens through which to analyze Samsung's actions.

The principle of respect for persons emphasises the inherent worth and autonomy of

people, worrying that businesses deal with their customers with honesty and equity. In

this context, Samsung's preliminary attempt to downplay the battery problems and

postpone consideration may be seen as a contravention of this principle. Transparency

and open conversation become paramount within a deontological framework, ensuring

that purchasers are empowered to make knowledgeable decisions about their safety.

Additionally, the precept of justice calls for organisations to act impartially and closer to

all stakeholders, which include employees, suppliers, and buyers. Samsung's emphasis on

safeguarding its brand image and financial interests at the expense of consumer safety

may be interpreted as a violation of this principle, necessitating a more balanced strategy

that prioritises ethical behaviour over short-term advantages.

2. Utilitarianism: with its emphasis on maximising ordinary well-being, gives a compelling

framework for analysing the ethicality of Samsung's movements. From a utilitarian

attitude, prioritising the instantaneous, keeping in mind Note 7, notwithstanding

capability financial losses, can be considered the most ethical course of action. This

decision could reduce harm to customers by rapidly eliminating a doubtlessly dangerous

product from the market, ultimately maximising basic societal well-being. However, a

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 nuanced utilitarian method might additionally recollect the lengthy-term financial

outcomes for Samsung and its personnel, in addition to the trickle-down consequences

for related industries. Placing a balance between on-the-spot safety and long-term

monetary well-being turns into a crucial task.

3. Virtue ethics: A complementary viewpoint emphasises the formation of moral character

and exemplary behaviour. In this framework, Samsung's movements are assessed based

on whether they encompass virtues including honesty, courage, and compassion. The

shortage of transparency and proactive communication at some stage in the preliminary

don't forget can be visible as a loss of honesty and bravery, essential virtues for any

agency in search of building trust with its stakeholders. Moreover, the capability to

disregard the protection and well-being of clients, specifically in the rush to compete with

Apple, will be interpreted as a loss of compassion, a virtue essential for any organisation

working in a social context. By cultivating those virtues in its corporate culture, Samsung

can attempt to move closer to ethical selection-making that prioritises the well-being of

all stakeholders and fosters long-term consideration.

Manager's Proposals

1. Prioritise protection above all else. Throughout the product's lifetime, impose stringent

multi-layered safety tests in conjunction with objective third-party assessments to ensure

that the highest standards are fulfilled (Crane & Matten, 2010).

2. choose to promote extreme transparency: Encourage a culture of open communication,

issue recognition, and effective stakeholder communication, including with customers,

regulators, and the public (Crane & Matten, 2010

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 3. enhance supplier relations and oversight: do careful provider due diligence, establish

robust, exceptional management systems, and maintain close cooperation to prevent

future product protection violations (Seuring & Müller, 2008).

4. Invest in crisis planning and hazard management: strengthen risk management

frameworks and elaborate disaster response plans to reduce capacity issues and ensure

that issues are handled appropriately when they occur (Coombs, 2010).

5. Awareness of ethical decision-making: incorporate moral considerations into all facets of

corporate operations, giving customers' well-being and responsible behaviour precedence

over immediate profits (Crane & Matten, 2010).

Subject: Guidelines to Improve Product Safety and regain customer trust

Respected CEO,

As a manager, I recommend the following adjustments at the organisational level:

1. Implement a preliminary and total recall of all Note 7 devices affected by the incident.

2. Form an unbiased disaster outreach team to provide an open and consistent dialogue with

all stakeholders.

3. Conduct a thorough examination to determine the core cause of the battery problems and

implement strong preventive measures.

4. enhance first-rate testing and control tactics by investing in independent testing and

implementing multi-layered security checks at some point in the product development

approach.

5. Invest in the development and research of safer battery technology, as well as the creation

of risk-free products.

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These movements are crucial to proving our commitment to protecting the public and creating an

awakening of loyalty among our clientele. By putting ethical standards first and enforcing the

adjustments, I can keep Samsung's position as a leader in the generation sector and prevent you

from similar difficulties in the future.

Sincerely,

Manager, Samsung Galaxy

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 CONCLUSION

The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 debacle stands as a stark testament to the moral and financial

pitfalls of prioritising income over patron safety and accountable commercial enterprise

practices. with the aid of neglecting its obligation to ensure product safety, failing to speak

transparently with stakeholders, and prioritizing opposition over customer nicely-being,

Samsung confronted enormous financial losses and reputational damage (Cho & Kim, 2020; Lee

& Hong, 2017). But within the ashes of this crisis lies an amazing possibility for study and

positive transformation. With the aid of embracing the proposed solutions, Samsung can embark

on a journey of ethical reawakening. Imposing rigorous safety measures, prioritising

transparency, and proactive conversation, fostering a tradition of moral selection-making, and

making an investment in sturdy hazard control practices will no longer only prevent future

tragedies but additionally rebuild public agreement with and solidify Samsung's role as an

accountable chief in the tech industry (Bhattacharyya & Mehrotra, 2020; Park et al., 2018). This

path to moral redemption requires unwavering dedication. Integrating moral issues into each side

of the operation, from layout to advertising to customer service, is critical to ensuring that the

Galaxy Note 7 incident isn't always merely a footnote but rather a catalyst for nice alternates

(Crane & Matten, 2020; Weaver et al., 2019). By prioritising people over income, Samsung can't

only regain its position but also grow to be a beacon of ethical management, setting a precedent

for responsible corporate conduct that future generations can analyse and construct upon.

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 REFERENCES

1. Hwang, J. H. (2017). Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 recall: A case study in product safety

crisis communication. Corporate Communications: An International Journal, 26(4), 441-

458.

2. Cho, C. H. (2017). A case study on the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 recall: Crisis

communication strategies and lessons learned. International Journal of Business

Communication Studies, 8(1), 1-10.

3. Park, J. S., & Kim, S. H. (2017). The fall of the Galaxy Note 7: An analysis of the failure

from the perspective of crisis management. Public Relations Review, 43(1), 105-113.

4. Sims, R. R., & Brinkmann, J. (2016). Ethics and business: An introduction. Routledge.