Glossary

Chapter 8
boycott consumer action of abstaining from using, purchasing, or dealing with an organization
consumer fraud intentional deception to derive an unfair economic advantage over an organization
consumerism the movement to protect consumers from an imbalance of power on the side of
business and to maximize consumer welfare in the marketplace
consumers

individuals who purchase, use, and dispose of products for themselves and their homes

Consumers Union (CU) organization that works with regional and federal legislators and international
groups to protect consumer interests
product liability a businesss legal responsibility for the performance of its products
right to choose consumers have the opportunity to select from a variety of products at competitive
prices
right to safety protection of consumers by the obligation of businesses not to knowingly market a
product that could harm them
strict liability concept that an injured consumer can apply this legal responsibility to any firm in the
supply chain of a defective product
The Jungle
novel by Upton Sinclair that exposed atrocities by the meat-packing industry in Chicago
at the turn of the twentieth century

Glossary
Chapter 9
cause-related marketing
business strategy that ties an organizations product(s) directly to a
social concern through a marketing program
community
those members of society who are aware of, concerned with, or in some way affected
by the operations and output of an organization

community relations the organizational function dedicated to building and maintaining relationships
and trust with the community
neighbor of choice

an organization that builds and sustains trust with the community

philanthropy involves any acts of benevolence and goodwill, such as making gifts to charities,
volunteering for community projects, and taking action to benefit others
strategic philanthropy the synergistic use of an organizations core competencies and resources to
address key stakeholders interests and to achieve both organizational and social benefits
volunteerism

when employees spend company-supported time in support of social causes

Glossary
Chapter 10
bioethics
the study of ethical issues in the fields of medical treatment and research, including
medicine, nursing, law, philosophy, and theology, though today medical ethics is also recognized as a
separate discipline
e-commerce the sharing of business information, maintaining of business relationships, and
conducting of business transactions by means of telecommunications networks
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
government entity that regulates and enforces privacy
standards and monitors websites to ensure compliance
identity theft misuse of credit card information, misuse of savings or banking account information,
and the use of personal information to open unauthorized credit card accounts
intellectual property the ideas and creative materials developed to solve problems, carry out
applications, educate, and entertain others; the end product of the creative process
Privacy Act
Law requiring federal agencies to adopt minimum standards for collecting and
processing personal information
reach term used to describe the broad nature of technology as it moves through society
technology
the application of knowledge, including the processes and applications to solve
problems, perform tasks, and create new methods to obtain desired outcomes

technology assessment a procedure that companies can use to foresee the effects new products and
processes will have on their operation, on other business organizations, and on society in general
TRUSTe a nonprofit organization devoted to promoting global trust in Internet technology by providing a
standardized, third-party oversight program

Glossary
Chapter 11
cap-and-trade a program that sets carbon emissions limits (caps) for businesses, countries, or
individuals
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the most influential regulatory agency that deals with
environmental issues and enforces environmental legislation in the United States
genetically modified organisms (GMOs) created through manipulating plant and animal genes so as to
produce a desired effect like resistance to pests and viruses, drought resistance, or high crop yield
green marketing
a strategic process involving stakeholder assessment to create meaningful longterm relationships with customers, while maintaining, supporting, and enhancing the natural
environment
greenwashing involves misleading a consumer into thinking that a product or service is more
environmentally friendly than it is
Kyoto Protocol a treaty among industrialized nations to slow global warming
recycling
the reprocessing of materials, especially steel, aluminum, paper, glass, rubber, and
some plastics, for reuse
sustainability the potential for long-term well-being of the natural environment, including all
biological entities, as well as the interaction among nature and individuals, organizations, and business
strategies