Poll Results for November 1st

Over the last couple of months, we've been asking blog visitors to give their opinion on who, within the supply chain, bears the responsibility for ensuring goods are made in a socially responsible manner.  The results were interesting...

• 25% of respondents felt that retailers and brands, who often have the power to demand compliance from their suppliers, should carry the brunt of the responsibility.
• None of the respondents put the responsibility solely on the factories that employ the workers, nor solely on the middlemen who partner with factories.
• A further 25% of respondents placed the responsibility on the shoulder of consumers, who can presumably drive the demand for socially responsible goods.
• The remaining 50% of respondents felt that all of the above entities within the supply chain have a role to play in ensuring goods are produced in a socially responsible manner.

What conclusions can we make from the results of this poll?  Perhaps nothing that we didn't already know or believe.  But perhaps we should also think about what stakeholders were missing from this survey...

Government.  Governments were not included in the poll options because they are not direct players in a supply chain.  However, what responsibility do governments have in ensuring that (a) there are adequate laws and regulations to protect workers from exploitation, (b) such laws have consequences enough to deter exploitative behavior, and (c) such laws are adequately enforced? 

Workers.  While this is most certainly a controversial viewpoint, there are some who would argue that workers have at least a modicum of responsibility to demand better working conditions.  Obviously their socio-economic situation, fear, feelings of hopelessness, and distrust often stand in the way of them reporting exploitative behavior to authorities.  But worker testimony regarding working conditions is often the best way to root out exploitation within the supply chain, since their testimony carries so much weight and legitimacy.

Investors.  Again, since investors are not direct players in the supply chain, this was not one of the poll options.  However, few can deny that in the end it is all a money game, and those who control the money (both institutions and individuals) often control much more than just the purse strings and can sometimes dictate the strategic direction of the companies in which they invest.

Are there other stakeholders we haven't considered?  Given these other stakeholders, would the poll results be similar?  Do all of these stakeholders bear equal amount of responsibility or do some carry more responsibility than the others?

Amidst all of these new questions, we invite you to participate in a new poll, featured on the right menu bar of the blog, the results of which will be presented at the beginning of December.  Happy voting!