(Photo Credit: quitsmokingtoday7.com)
http://site.ebrary.com/lib/ubc/reader.action?docID=10187339&page=171

After reading the two articles linked above, I found out that exercising social responsibility and making profit tend to conflict with each other in the business world. It seems that companies only have two choices when it comes to the practice of social responsibility – they can either go for the riches (ignoring their conscience, beliefs, and morals) or they can do what’s ethically right (but miss out on what could have been millions of profit). Social Responsibility VS Making Profit: It’s difficult to do both.

“[Businessmen] are capable of being extremely farsighted and clearheaded in matters internal to business, but incredibly shortsighted and muddleheaded in matters outside of business.” (From The Social Responsibility of Business is to Increase Profits)
This quote leads me to believe that a majority of businessmen focus on profit. Their company is the only thing they concentrate on, so matters occurring outside of the business are of no importance to them.

Looking at the second article, I was pleasantly surprised with CVS’ decision to stop selling tobacco. Despite the large amount of profit made from selling cigarettes, they recognized how the purchase can be detrimental to people’s health. This is an act of social responsibility that I appreciate seeing in businesses. They know they will sacrifice millions of dollars of profit because they believe the nation’s health comes first.