REVES - Revista Relações Sociais

On the ethics of multilevel marketing based on dietary supplements

Edgar Manuel Cambaza — 2024-11-08

This article explores the ethical implications of multilevel marketing (MLM) in the dietary supplement sector, analyzing issues of transparency, fairness, and the exploitation of consumers and distributors. The objective is to assess MLM through the lens of bioethics, focusing on the principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. The methodology involves a systematic literature review using Atlas.ti software to categorize themes related to unfounded health claims, recruitment practices, and the exploitation of vulnerable groups. The main findings indicate that the current MLM model favors an elite, leaves most distributors at a financial disadvantage, and compromises consumer autonomy and health by selling products with unproven benefits. The conclusion highlights that as it currently operates, MLM does not meet fundamental ethical principles and requires significant adjustments. Recommendations include increased company transparency, stricter regulations, and ethical alternatives such as eliminating recruitment-based structures.

Theranos: the Ethics of Innovation and Deception in Healthcare Technology

Edgar Manuel Cambaza — 2024-09-22

The case of Theranos, a health technology company founded by Elizabeth Holmes, presents a profound ethical dilemma that exemplifies the consequences of misrepresentation in healthcare innovation. This analysis examines the company's fraudulent claims regarding its blood-testing technology, which promised groundbreaking results using minimal blood samples. Initially lauded for its potential, Theranos attracted significant investment and partnerships before facing growing scrutiny due to internal whistleblower accounts and investigative journalism. The ethical issues at the core of this case involve the deliberate falsification of leadership's technological capabilities, which leads to harm to patients and significant financial losses for investors. The methodology of this study involved a comprehensive review of academic literature identified through Google Scholar, applying inclusion criteria that focused on ethical analysis, corporate leadership, and regulatory oversight. The selected documents were analyzed using Atlas.ti to code critical themes such as corporate misrepresentation, stakeholder rights, and regulatory failures. Utilizing a multi-faceted ethical analysis—incorporating utilitarian, deontological, virtue ethics, and rights-based perspectives—this study explores the failures of corporate leadership in adhering to professional and ethical obligations. It critically evaluates the responses by stakeholders, including actions taken by regulatory bodies and law enforcement, and discusses the lessons learned for the broader health technology sector. The study concludes by recommending more robust internal governance, transparent leadership, and proactive regulatory oversight as essential measures to prevent future ethical lapses in the industry. The analysis contributes to understanding ethics' critical role in maintaining trust and accountability within healthcare innovation.The case of Theranos, a health technology company founded by Elizabeth Holmes, presents a profound ethical dilemma that exemplifies the consequences of misrepresentation in healthcare innovation. This analysis examines the company's fraudulent claims regarding its blood-testing technology, which promised groundbreaking results using minimal blood samples. Initially lauded for its potential, Theranos attracted significant investment and partnerships before facing growing scrutiny due to internal whistleblower accounts and investigative journalism. The ethical issues at the core of this case involve the deliberate falsification of leadership's technological capabilities, which leads to harm to patients and significant financial losses for investors. The methodology of this study involved a comprehensive review of academic literature identified through Google Scholar, applying inclusion criteria that focused on ethical analysis, corporate leadership, and regulatory oversight. The selected documents were analyzed using Atlas.ti to code critical themes such as corporate misrepresentation, stakeholder rights, and regulatory failures. Utilizing a multi-faceted ethical analysis—incorporating utilitarian, deontological, virtue ethics, and rights-based perspectives—this study explores the failures of corporate leadership in adhering to professional and ethical obligations. It critically evaluates the responses by stakeholders, including actions taken by regulatory bodies and law enforcement, and discusses the lessons learned for the broader health technology sector. The study concludes by recommending more robust internal governance, transparent leadership, and proactive regulatory oversight as essential measures to prevent future ethical lapses in the industry. The analysis contributes to understanding ethics' critical role in maintaining trust and accountability within healthcare innovation.

Mozambique’s Dilemma in the Transition to Renewable Energy

Adérito Tomé Alfeu — 2024-11-08

This study investigates the challenges Mozambique faces in balancing its rich fossil fuel reserves with the growing global pressure for cleaner energy sources, highlighting the COP26 summit as a turning point in this debate. We explore the conflict between development driven by fossil resources and the demand for sustainable practices, examining the country’s efforts to balance economic development and environmental preservation, such as reforestation projects and conservation programs supported by the World Bank Group. However, Mozambique’s dilemma reflects global environmental concerns, international commitments, and local expectations. The transition to renewable energy requires not only structural changes but also transformations in public perception and policy. Our goal is to analyze how Mozambique can reconcile its development needs with global pressure for more sustainable practices, identifying theoretical and policy options that can guide future decisions. This study adopts a qualitative approach, using bibliographic and documentary research as the main data collection techniques. We highlight the complexity of the dilemma faced by the country and the need for a multifaceted approach that takes into account the economic, environmental, and social interests involved.

Leadership challenges in the civil service: a general education institution in Songo-Mozambique

Tima Sansão Júnior Ferreira — 2024-10-20

This article deals with the challenges of leadership in a public general education institution in Songo, in the province of Tete-Mozambique. Its objectives are to analyse the challenges of leadership in the management of the school, to identify the factors that influence management; to survey the theories on leadership in organisations and; to propose measures to improve management in the school. In terms of methodology, the study is qualitative. The data collection instrument was the structured interview technique, aimed at members of the school's management, teaching and non-teaching staff. The results revealed that school management is based on the norms established by the Ministry that oversees the education sector, although there are cases of some actions that go against these norms carried out by the leadership, which affect the relationship within the institution and with the community. The most prevalent form of leadership is democratic, which in turn has not been exercised in the financial area, where leadership has been autocratic in the decisions made. As a result, measures to improve the school's management were identified, such as holding meetings of a pedagogical nature, as well as the communication process. As a result, it was found that the main challenges for leadership in the management process at the public general education institution in Songo are linked to financial management and communication with both internal and external audiences, which requires a leadership style that allows for joint action in decision-making.

Assessment of the causes of educational decline in the Maghreb countries

Guamra Kiram — 2024-09-17

The education systems in Maghreb countries, including Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia, are experiencing significant deterioration due to a mix of internal and external factors. Internally, challenges such as outdated curricula, poor teacher training, overcrowded classrooms, and inadequate infrastructure undermine the quality of education. These issues are worsened by administrative inefficiencies and insufficient investment. Externally, socio-economic problems like high unemployment, political instability, and limited funding further strain the education sector. Additionally, the rapid pace of globalization and technological advancements outstrip the capabilities of these education systems to adapt. Cultural factors, including societal attitudes toward education, also contribute to the decline. Addressing these issues requires comprehensive reforms, such as updating curricula, investing in infrastructure and teacher training, and shifting cultural perceptions to prioritize education as a cornerstone for national development.

Shoprite Holdings LtdCase Study: Challenges for Expansion in Africa

Kaori Cambaza — 2024-09-16

This study investigates the obstacles faced by the African expansion efforts of Shoprite Holdings Ltd., a South African retailer. Shoprite pursued mergers and acquisitions within its native country but established wholly owned subsidiaries as its preferred entry route for expanding into other African states. As a result, Shoprite significantly increased its operations by expanding to 16 nations by 2020. However, Shoprite currently focuses its operation in ten countries, exclusively in southern African countries and its home country. This study seeks to comprehend the reasons behind Shoprite's rapid withdrawal from multiple African countries and shed insight into the challenges of conducting business in Africa's demanding business climate. The analysis revealed a combination of economic variables, such as reduced purchasing power of customers, currency volatility, increased operational costs, and the economic shocks caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. Additionally, high customer preference for informal markets and social factors were also identified. The findings indicate that Shoprite should prioritize strategic location selection, adopt a lower entry mode, and consider the potential for developing e-commerce as feasible measures. The report proposes that African retail businesses should comprehend the intricacies of the African market and employ strategies for international expansion, entrance techniques, and the significance of adjusting operations to local conditions and regulatory environments. These discussions offer insights to organizations considering international expansion, seeking to mitigate risks, and aiming to optimize their market entry strategy in various locations, specifically Africa.