Contemporary business issues - Essay Example

This paper seeks to critically analyze the way that Tesco has applied the Ethical Trading Initiative Base Code, the objectives and the principles of the Ethical Trading initiative, how the code is enforced and the possibilities of applying the code during the recession. As stated earlier, Tesco has applied the Ethical Trading Initiative Base Code to the suppliers to ensure that the suppliers have adhered to the ETI standards. In this way, the problems that are related to the suppliers can be identified and addressed consequently (Crane & Matten, 2007).

The company has implemented a number of steps to ensure their suppliers meet the standards in the ETI. So as to ensure that the codes are strictly effective in their application, the company has organised buyer training programmes that help the buyers to understand and comply to the best quality. The supply of quality products in a company requires the buyers in the company to be given some proper training so that they are keen in accepting the supplies. In Tesco, the commercial staffs who are involved in buying commodities from the UK are expected to have the understanding of the ethical considerations before they purchase anything from the suppliers.

The company ensures that its employees are made aware of the ethical considerations that should be put in place when accepting goods from a supplier. This is usually done in the job description of the employee (Michael, 2003). The employees usually take a course known as: Buying With Your Eyes Open where the employees are taught ways in which they can identify potential problems and how they can apply purchasing practices thereby minimising ethical risks. The food buyers and the non-food buyers are given the training differently since the requirement specifications of the items are different.

The technical managers are also given some audit trainings so that