The presence of technology in businesses and organizations, not to mention in society at large, brings with it new challenges for ensuring responsible use in the E-Business environment. Companies are now addressing a host of technology related issues, including privacy, security, equality, literacy, intellectual property, ethical conduct, etiquette and more. This essay will discuss security, confidentiality and International issues facing three companies internet sites The Body Shop, MaryKay Cosmetics, and Comeclean Beauty Products.
Body Shop
Businesses have the power to do well. That's why The Body Shop's Mission Statement opens with the overriding commitment, to dedicate our business to the pursuit of social and environmental change.' They use the stores and products to help communicate human rights and environmental issues. The management team can bring back an idea for a trading initiative with an economically impoverished community in Mexico or Africa, or find inspiration for a new company commitment, just as 1990 trip to Romania spurred the Romanian Relief Drive (now called Children on the Edge) and a visit to Glasgow led to our partnerships with Soapworks, a local factory that produces our soaps.
Hell on Heels: The Battle of Mary Kay
Mary Kay Ash
Cover of The Night of the Mary Kay CommandosThe purpose of the Site is to provide consumers with information about The Body Shop, the products and stores, the campaigns that they support and the activities the company undertake. In addition, you may be able to purchase products and services through the Site. The Body Shop On-line U.S. GP controls and operates the Site from its headquarters in San Francisco, California, in the United States of America. In no way Bodyshop say or imply that the materials on the Site are appropriate or available for use outside of the United States and we will not be available to fill your order if you require shipping outside of the United States.
Mary Kay Cosmetics
The Mary Kay Cosmetics Company is successful because of their independent consultants. Each consultant manages and markets the Mary Kay brand of products to attract and maintain their customers by providing advice, product selection and customer care. Mary Kay consultants have the option of creating their own websites to invite new customers and inform current customers, but are governed under the established online regulations set forth by Mary Kay Incorporated to protect themselves and their clients. One of these sites, www.Marykay.com/suzie.consultant, an award winner, is independently managed, however, was obligated to follow the set of established Mary Kay Four Point Online Privacy Pledge:
1. We respect our Independent Beauty Consultants' relationships with their customers and will not circumvent it.
2. We empower our Independent Beauty Consultants to foster online relationships with their customers to build their success.
3. Personal information is not sold, bartered or given away without your permission.
4. Personal information has restricted access and is protected with secure login.
This set of ethical online guidelines allows customers to shop with the promise of confidentiality. Personal information is not collected on this website and is only requested for contact information or contest. Your information will not be sold, bartered or shared unless required by law, and e-mail contact is made only in the event of product quality or safety issues.
When it comes to security, Mary Kay Inc. uses advance technology to ensure any personal information you submit is safe with secure sockets layer technology to protect the storage and transfer of your personal information through the use of a digitally secure server identification program. Visitor information is stored in secured databases and is protected from unauthorized access. Since each consultant provides local service, international laws are not a concern.
Come Clean
The Come Clean website: www.comeclean.com is the advertising of cleaning products by Method. Method products are sold in many stores around the world. You can also become a method consultant to sale method products like a representative of Beauty products. Method explains each product on their website thoroughly. Comeclean.com is the webby award winner for the beauty and cosmetic section. The come clean website addresses legal, ethical and regulatory issues by establishing customer privacy policies and procedures. Theses policies keep the customer information secure, and using the information only as the customers would want. Come Clean also has an internet privacy policy. The privacy policy touches on notices of changes, categories of third party entities with whom information may be shared and categories of personally identifiable information collected by Method. Come Clean operates in a number of countries and sales and information follows the laws and guidelines of the country in which the purchase is made.
In-return, customers will shop with the ease and promise of their information being kept confidential. Come Clean security policy demonstrates good ethics and is a model for other internet based web sites.
In conclusion Come Clean, MaryKay Cosmitics, and Body Shop web sites provide a high level of security and confidentiality for their internet customers. International Issues vary from company to company depending on if that company decides to operate in different countries.
References:
MaryKay.com Retrieved January 16, 2006 from: http://www.marykay.com/Default.aspx
Body Shop.com Retrieved January 15, 2006 from: http://www.thebodyshop.com
Come Clean.com Retrieved January 16, 2005 from: http://www.comeclean.com/