College of Business Administration

Business Management and the Natural Environment

Discussion Questions for October 06, 1998

Preliminary question: How do we know what is 'true'? What 'counts' as good evidence when we are trying to assess the state of the environment? If we are to err in our assessment of the 'soundness' of the environment, what are the risks of erring on the side of 'conservatism' in our judgements? On the side of 'liberalism'?

1) Edward Abbey compares the growth of the global economy to the growth of a cancer cell saying, "Just as a continuously growing cancer eventually destroys its life-support systems by destroying its host, a continuously expanding global economy is slowly destroying its host - the Earth's ecosystem."
Do you think this is a fair analogy? Is the Earth a terminal patient, or does it (and the human race) have a chance for recovery?

2) In the article "Losing Strands in the Web of Life" the author states that at least 1000 species are now lost each year.
How should, as managers, this concern us? What, if anything, should we do? Is this really a matter for the private sector, or should an issue this large be placed in the hands of the world's governments?

3. To prevent further threatening and extinction of species, the authors argue that "...we must find ways to reduce the size of our own imprint on the planet."
Do you agree that this is the answer? Must we stop growing as a race to save other species or is this just an extension of Darwin's theory of natural selection where the strongest (or in this case, smartest) survive?

4. The passage of NAFTA in 1993 opened up the manufacturing borders within North America, specifically in Northern Mexico. The region is now home to nearly 2000 foreign-owned manufacturing plants, a.k.a. maquiladoras. Lax environmental regulations is a major factor for many companies operating in this region.
Do you think it is wrong for developing nations to get "a leg up" in the development process by allowing foreign investors to take advantage of their environment? If you were a Mexican worker employed by a maquiladora, would you feel differently?

Also, we would like to include the article entitled 'Is Sustainable Use Sustainable?' for discussion.

5. Can a business profit with wildlife and ecosystem management? If resources are priced according to the cost of sustainable use, would anyone be able to afford those resources? Would poverty exponentiate? Are there alternatives to using other resources that may be comparable?

Return to Professor Dunn's home page.