ANALYSIS OF A RETAIL ORGANIZATION IN THE SHOPPING CENTER BUSINESS, IN ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH CLIENTS, VIA CUSTOMER SERVICE, BY USING AN BUSINESS ETHICS THEORY

ABSTRACT

This article exhibits a case study that analyses the managerial ethics of a retail organization, from the shopping centre sector, in its relation with its regular consumer (shoppers), via the Consumer Attendance Service, utilizing the Business Ethics theoretical construct, developed by Lozano (1999). From the methodological point of view, the data were sampled by an interview with managers, and by the application of a questionnaire, based on the 2003 ETHOS indicators of managerial social responsibility. It was utilized, also, the content analysis of the ethics code, of the internal regiment, of the managerial mission and of the consumer assistance manual. Other data were sampled through a systematic observation, a survey of data in the CAS, a research in the PROCON - (Bureau of Consumer Protection), and simulations of service demands in the CAS. We concluded that the company relation policies towards its shoppers, which utilize the Consumer Attendance Service (CAS), manifest the concern of the group in improving the institution image with that public. The company was more concerned with its civil responsibility, to protect itself against eventual juridical problems, in its relationships with its shoppers, than with the values statement and with its insertion in the administrative processes of the researched company sector.

KEYWORDS
Business ethics; Corporate social responsibility; Costumer service; Shopper