WHAT NOT TO PRODUCE 1
Discussion Thread: What Not to Produce
Eric Castro
School of Behavioral Sciences, Liberty University
BUSI 620: Global Economic Environment
What Not to Produce
The statement that "a company should produce and sell any product as long as there is a
market for it" raises critical ethical concerns concerning corporate accountability, societal effect,
and the larger implications of consumer demand. While determining market demand is
important in business planning, firms should also evaluate whether the items they provide to
the market adhere to ethical standards and do not hurt persons or society.
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To begin, the demand for a product should not be used to justify its production,
especially if the product has known negative impacts. Cigarettes and alcohol, for example, are
legal and in high demand, but they carry serious health hazards that corporations must
mention. Cigarette smoking is a primary cause of cancer and other chronic illnesses, affecting
both smokers and nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke (Carreras et al., 2019).
Similarly, excessive alcohol use impairs cognitive function and the capacity to make informed
judgments, generating issues about safety, health, and social well-being (Renu et al., 2023).
Given these consequences, businesses must combine market demand with social responsibility,
ensuring that they do not abuse consumer habits at the expense of public health.
Moreover, from a biblical perspective, ethical considerations in production align with the
principle that resources should serve humanity’s genuine needs rather than fueling harmful
behaviors or idolatry. Isaiah 44:15-17 illustrates the misuse of resources when wood, a valuable
resource for warmth and sustenance, is diverted to create idols—objects of misplaced devotion
that ultimately mislead and harm. This perspective encourages companies to assess the purpose
and impact of their products, asking if they contribute positively to society or if they
inadvertently become modern “idols,” leading consumers into detrimental dependence.
The concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) reinforces the notion that firms must
examine the societal implications of their goods. Companies that follow a CSR framework accept
responsibility for the consequences of their activities, including any possible harm their goods
may cause. According to research, customers are increasingly valuing companies that exhibit a
commitment to ethical principles and social responsibility, implying that CSR-aligned actions can
be strategically helpful to a company's reputation and success (Curras-Perez et al., 2023).
Finally, while market demand is a key consideration in business strategy, organizations
should follow regulatory norms and standards to help limit harm. Managerial economics
focuses on reconciling profit objectives with regulatory compliance, demonstrating that ethical
issues and company strategy can—and should—coexist (Baye & Prince, 2022). This method can
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help the organization avoid long-term liabilities and boost its image by ensuring that its services
are useful rather than damaging.
In conclusion, while demand may signal an opportunity, it should not be the entire basis
for a company's product selections. Ethical concerns, regulatory compliance, and possible social
repercussions must all be considered while making these decisions, ensuring that company
activities adhere to both legal norms and a sense of community duty.
References
Baye, M. R., & Prince, J. (2022). Managerial Economics and Business Strategy (10th ed.). New
York, NY: Richard D. Irwin, Inc.
Carreras, G., Lugo, A., Gallus, S., Cortini, B., Fernández, E., López, M. J., Soriano, J. B., López-
Nicolás, A., Semple, S., Gorini, G., Castellano, Y., Fu, M., Ballbè, M., Amalia, B.,
Tigova, O., Continente, X., Arechavala, T., Henderson, E., Lugo, A., . . . Pérez, P. (2019).
Burden of disease attributable to second-hand smoke exposure: A systematic review.
Preventive Medicine, 129, 105833. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2019.105833
Curras-Perez, R., Alvarado-Herrera, A., & Vera-Martínez, J. (2023). Comparing the effects of
consumers’ perceptions of companies’ corporate social responsibility initiatives in
emerging and developed markets. Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics,
35(11), 2748–2764. https://doi.org/10.1108/apjml-09-2022-0761
Isaiah 44:15-17 (NIV). (n.d.). Bible Gateway. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?
search=Isaiah%2044%3A15-17%20&version=NIV
Jones, C. R. (2022). The ethics of production: Balancing profit with societal welfare. Business and
Society Review, 128(1), 25-41.
Renu, K., Myakala, H., Chakraborty, R., Bhattacharya, S., Abuwani, A., Lokhandwala, M.,
Vellingiri, B., & Gopalakrishnan, A. V. (2023). Molecular mechanisms of alcohol’s effects
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on the human body: A review and update. Journal of Biochemical and Molecular
Toxicology, 37(12). https://doi.org/10.1002/jbt.23502
Response #1 Britney
You present a convincing view on innovation as a driver of corporate sustainability,
particularly in the current economy, where creativity may generate new opportunities and
contribute to long-term success. Your idea that organizations should seek to be trendsetters
rather than merely responding to demand is consistent with current managerial economics
strategy theories. As Baye and Prince (2022) point out, effective businesses frequently
anticipate consumer requirements rather than just responding to them. Businesses may obtain
a competitive edge while simultaneously broadening their consumer base by inventing and
creating demand for totally new product categories, as demonstrated by your examples of
DoorDash and others.
The notion of soft releases on social media to assess popularity represents a more
datadriven product development strategy. Soft launches provide organizations with a low-risk
way to test goods with real customers and gather meaningful feedback, a method that has
shown particularly beneficial in lowering launch risks (Smith & Levenson, 2023). The epidemic
intensified this tendency, forcing businesses to quickly adapt and satisfy emergent demands, as
seen by DoorDash's growth to facilitate social distancing. According to research, agile
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approaches to product introduction can improve operational efficiency and allow organizations
to respond more flexibly to customer feedback, which is consistent with Gelei and Dobos's
(2020) conclusions on the importance of erratic demand and feedback cycles.
While innovation is frequently risky, as you mentioned, it is critical to building long-term
benefit. When a company launches a new product or service, they acknowledge the possibility
of failure. However, this trial-and-error process is beneficial because businesses learn and adapt,
improving their offers to better match consumer wants. For example, Dyson's multiple
prototypes before mastering their vacuum technology demonstrate how iterative feedback may
improve product quality and lead to commercial success (Rong et al., 2024).
From a theological standpoint, the idea of using one's skills and talents to create
something unique, as mentioned in Exodus 35:35, is consistent with the concept of respecting
God-given gifts via creativity. Businesses demonstrate stewardship of their creative talents by
developing new goods or services that benefit society. This biblical worldview stresses that each
human is endowed with distinct abilities intended to be utilized for good, a philosophy that
extends into the business world as organizations tailor their services to add value to their
customers' lives. (NIV, n.d.).
References
Baye, M. R., & Prince, J. (2022). Managerial Economics and Business Strategy (10th ed.). New
York, NY: Richard D. Irwin, Inc.
Exodus 35:35 (NIV). (n.d.). Bible Gateway. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?
search=Exodus%2035%3A35%20&version=NIV
Gelei, A., & Dobos, I. (2020). Investigating the phenomena of sporadic demand from a
managerial perspective: A path to operational efficiency. Journal of Business Research,
119, 75-84.
Rong, H., Liu, W., Li, J., & Zhou, Z. (2024). Product innovation design process combined Kano and
TRIZ with AD: Case study. PLoS ONE, 19(3), e0296980.
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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0296980
Smith, L., & Levenson, R. (2023). Social media and soft launch strategies: Maximizing brand
impact in digital spaces. Journal of Marketing Trends, 15(4), 225-238.
Response #2 Stefan
Stefan,
You provide a nuanced viewpoint on the ethical issues of product creation, particularly
for commodities that may harm customers or society, such as tobacco and alcohol. Your
argument that the key problem is not the presence of market demand, but rather the
company's ethical responsibilities, is consistent with the central discussion in business ethics. As
Baye and Prince (2022) note, businesses do not function in a vacuum; rather, they are ingrained
in society, and their activities have far-reaching consequences. This means that corporations
must strike a balance between profitability and social responsibility, considering the possible
societal implications of their goods.
You make an excellent point regarding leaders with a biblical worldview, who may regard
the decision to develop potentially dangerous items as ethical. The Bible promotes moral
discernment, as evidenced in Deuteronomy 30:19, which instructs people to "choose life, so
that you and your children may live." This implies that CEOs should think about how their
business decisions match with a life-affirming viewpoint, a philosophy that applies to the things
they make and sell (NIV, n.d.). When businesses intentionally make things that might cause
harm, they face a fundamental moral quandary that necessitates reconciling customer choice
with the obligation to promote well-being.
However, as you mentioned, there is also the issue of consumer autonomy. Even if a
corporation chooses not to make harmful items, demand may still exist, potentially leading to
illegal markets. Research backs up your thesis; product limits typically do not remove demand,
but rather drive it into unregulated regions, resulting in unexpected consequences (Johnson et
al., 2023). Rather than explicit prohibitions, giving customers with accessible, factual
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information about potential risks—such as health warnings for tobacco or alcohol—allows them
to make educated decisions, preserving their liberty while satisfying the company's ethical
commitments.
Furthermore, your reference to Adam Smith's concept on the significance of informed
markets is very significant in this context. When corporations are open about the possible
hazards of their products, they enable customers to make decisions that are consistent with
their personal beliefs and expertise. This strategy not only respects consumer freedom but also
fits with a commitment to ethical marketing practices, resulting in increased trust and long-term
customer connections (Lubasz, 2024).
References
Baye, M. R., & Prince, J. (2022). Managerial Economics and Business Strategy (10th ed.). New
York, NY: Richard D. Irwin, Inc.
Deuteronomy 30:19 (NIV). (n.d.). Bible Gateway. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?
search=Deuteronomy%2030%3A19&version=NIV
Johnson, G. A., Shriver, S. K., & Goldberg, S. G. (2023). Privacy and Market concentration:
Intended and unintended consequences of the GDPR. Management Science, 69(10),
5695–5721. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4709
Lubasz, H. (2024). Adam Smith and the “free market.” In Manchester University Press eBooks.
https://doi.org/10.7765/9781526184177.00008
Write a graduate-level discussion post: View the following video and provide your
comments.
Jeff Van Duzer - Why Business Matters to GodLinks to an external site.
Must meet the following requirements:
1. All key components of questions are answered.
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2. Major points are supported by the following: reading & study materials; good examples;
thoughtful analysis; and properly formatted citation.
3. provide 4 citations and sources within last five years. Must use the textbook as the fifth
citation (Baye, M. R., & Prince, J. (2022). Managerial Economics and Business Strategy (10th
ed.). New York, NY: Richard D. Irwin, Inc.)
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