Introduction
Today, there are many famous enterprises that have become famous for successful and competent business in their field. Undoubtedly, several general and essential principles are embedded in the basis of their strategies, approaches, and views on the company’s management. For example, Chiquita, Nestle, and TikTok have a number of both unique features and common characteristics that unite these firms. In this paper, identifying common themes of Chiquita, Nestle, and TikTok is the main topic that will be examined.
An Analysis of the Companies
Primarily, it is worth noting that the above companies have several familiar and common themes that unite them. They can be both positive, enhancing the reputation of the brand, and negative, discrediting the firm’s name. Most often, they include stakeholders and interested parties, ethical and moral approaches, as well as issues related to responsibilities, agency & consent, hierarchy and authority, moral imagination, and human rights. The following main and essential features of the three firms are listed in this essay.
Stakeholders
One of the remarkable similarities between the three large and famous companies is the multitude of stakeholders in almost all countries. Most often, important stakeholders in business include employees of the company, its customers, and suppliers/partners. These are the groups of individuals or legal entities that have certain expectations regarding the results and activities of a particular organization. Any interested party has expectations and the ability to respond to the organization’s actions. Thus, Chiquita, Nestle, and TikTok have reached the international and global levels, and their logos and names are known to every modern person. Undoubtedly, each individual makes an invaluable contribution to the development and improvement of these firms. Accordingly, almost everyone in the world, indirectly or directly, influences the present and future of “corporations.”
For instance, consumers from different countries evaluate Nestle and Chiquita food following individual preferences, cultural traditions, and societal norms. Companies take note of buyers’ reviews and, in some cases, change the structure, composition, labeling, or even the product’s name in certain regions. Such phenomena help enterprises to survive in a competitive environment and “stay afloat.” In addition, the firms’ employees will strive to adapt to modern frameworks and traditions and meet customers’ needs, regardless of the specifics of preferences. This situation will either radically change the circumstances and, for example, change suppliers or make minor adjustments few additions. In turn, TikTok content is enriched by the creativity and talent of bright and artistic personalities. As a rule, user activity and the topic of the most viewed videos can form the further policy and strategy for doing business within TikTok. The company’s employees will do everything possible to retain current users, attract new ones and make the project more ambitious.
Ethical Approaches
In addition, the companies have a number of essential principles laid down in business ethics and morality, as well as a competitive approach to a client or, in other words, a consumer. Undoubtedly, the history of Chiquita, Nestle, and TikTok is quite rich and unique, and it has its own positive and negative moments, ups and downs. It is also worth noting that these firms practiced ethical norms and rules, which were either censured or approved by the public for a certain time.
However, as a rule, the three firms listed above mean by ethical approaches the minimization and prevention of harm to interested parties and the general public. They are guided by such concepts as the rights and privileges of both an individual and a group of people in society. Companies offer a wide range of opportunities for their employees and customers, providing security, freedom, humanity, equality, and justice.
For example, Chiquita introduces only the best, most modern, and innovative technologies into the development of its products. According to the firm, bananas and other products supplied to stores are environmentally safe for consumption. Thus, the foodstuff is not genetically modified; they are 100% free of GMOs and harmful substances. Chiquita monitors its reputation and strives to create only the best impressions of the brand from buyers, suppliers, and partners. Nestle, in turn, follows several principles of the UN Global Compact and struggles in every way with manifestations of problems that infringe on human rights. The company is actively fighting corruption and fraud, creating more and more new and improved methods and means to ensure customers’ safety. In addition, Nestle strives to use only environmentally friendly materials to create, design, and develop its products. Furthermore, TikTok strictly monitors the quality of videos posted by users. If they contain undesirable, “dangerous,” and malicious content that contradicts the rights and freedoms of people, then it is immediately blocked.
Issues
Indeed, as indicated earlier, companies, especially well-known ones, face some problems, issues, and obstacles that need to be considered. Chiquita, Nestle, and TikTok have some difficulties with moral responsibility and obligations. It was noted that these firms have repeatedly shown negligence and irresponsibility towards their consumers, committing those acts or even inaction to obtain certain benefits. For example, Nestle has often been criticized for violating norms, rules, and standards for producing environmentally friendly and safe products, especially baby food. In addition, the company took millions of gallons of water from California rivers to create a water brand, and the natural resources began to be depleted. This company continues to pollute the environment with plastic waste and various harmful substances without caring about any consequences.
Additionally, there was also one death from Chiquita bananas that contained pesticides. However, the researchers noted that this is not the only factor in developing diseases and complications. The places where the company’s bananas are grown have a relatively large number of the primary chemical pollutants of atmospheric air. It was also proved that this firm encouraged and supported terrorism in Colombia, helping paramilitary groups financially and humanely. Hence, there is a possibility that the company continues to maintain secret ties with banned organizations and groups related to illegal activities.
In contrast, TikTok does not observe sufficient precautions and express particular actions to protect users’ personal data. Hence, personal data can be used for the firm’s selfish purposes or transferred to other parties. Accordingly, if the three world leaders do not want to “fall face down in the dirt,” they urgently need to take extraordinary, special measures and actions. It is necessary to identify a kind of “golden mean” to avoid risks and losses on the one hand and, on the other, to establish relationships and a close connection between brand loyalty and consumers.
Moreover, there are some difficulties in the companies in organizing decent working conditions and an atmosphere of harmony and free will. Chiquita workers are still experiencing stress and oppression from employers. Sometimes, they are forced to work in absolutely terrible and unsuitable conditions for productive work, and at times they are subjected to cruel labor exploitation. In addition, Nestle is also not new to the practice of mistreatment of employees and does not disdain to use of child labor. Often, it is teenagers from 12 to 15 years old who extract cocoa beans, which are later used to create chocolate. In addition, several specialists in various regions refuse to work at TikTok due to rather harsh working conditions. For example, they include an extended work period and an irregular schedule that differs from what is fixed at the legislative level. Employees must work 72 hours a week instead of the standard 40. In brief, firms should develop tactics and strategies that do not infringe on the rights of people and do not put employees in severe and harsh conditions if they want to keep good workers.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Chiquita, Nestle, and TikTok, despite the seemingly internal and external differences, have several common features characteristic of each of the firms. At the moment, these companies are world leaders in their industry and have many stakeholders in every corner of the world. They are concerned about their reputation and do everything possible to satisfy the needs and desires of not only customers but also employees and partners. In general, despite many different difficulties, companies are trying to introduce and develop those areas and opportunities that come into contact with ethical norms and human rights. However, throughout the history of the existence of brands, managers, and employees of corporations have faced many obstacles. As a rule, they include a lack of moral principles to some extent, greed and avarice towards consumers, and exploitative working conditions for their workers.