Assignment title: Information
Corporate Responsibility
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Clearly explain the various concepts of CR and their potential impact on
organisations;
2. Identify opportunities for value-adding CR within established organisation;
3. Clearly and appropriately communicate in both oral and written forms.
Related graduate attribute(s):
1. UC graduates are professional – employ up-to-date and relevant
knowledge and skills;
1. UC graduates are professional – communicate effectively;
1. UC graduates are professional – use creativity, critical thinking, analysis
and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems;
1. UC graduates are professional – take pride in their professional and
personal integrity.
2. UC graduates are global citizens – think globally about issues in their
profession;
2. UC graduates are global citizens – adopt an informed and balanced
approach across professional and international boundaries;
2. UC graduates are global citizens – understand issues in their profession
from the perspective of other cultures;
2. UC graduates are global citizens – behave ethically and sustainably
in their professional and personal lives.
Assignment 1
Brief: Corporate Responsibility Case Study.
Value: 20%.
End Outcome: A case study based upon a real-world corporate (social)
responsibility program by a company or organisation of your choice, and how it
has lead to socially responsible and commercially viable outcomes for a variety
of stakeholders involved.
Format: Please submit in .doc or .docx format.
Word Count: 1500 words (10% allowable either way).
Please indicate word count on cover.
Due Date: On completion of module 4.This task requires you to research how organisations are developing corporate
responsibility and integrating responsible programs into their wider strategy. You
should choose an organisation or business that is doing so, and explain the role
and function of CR to their business. You should also discuss how these activities
and processes are leading to positive social and internal outcomes from a variety
of perspectives (commercial, customer, market, societal etc). You need to consult
broad, quality secondary data sources to select your case study and understand
their corporate (social) responsibility program. This case study also needs to be
structured, systematic, and must use theories, models, and concepts you have
learned in this subject (Module 4’s content is a good place to start for Value
Creation approaches!).
Your case study may be structured however you think best to present your
analysis. However, within this assignment you should:
1. Describe the scope of the organisation/company. This includes a brief
description of their activities, which sector and industry they operate in and
key products, service and customers. Treat this as a contextualising section.
2. Their Corporate Responsibility Program: what the program and activities
are trying to do, goals and outcomes (if available), and links to wider
business strategy.
3. Analysis of responsibility leading to value creation. This discussion should
include explanation of how these activities and processes are leading to value
creation from a variety of perspectives. You should consider commercial,
customer, market, societal etc. Note: This can be both a positive and negative
evaluation of the value the CR program/activities has provided to the
organisation here.
4. A concise conclusion and evaluation on the value of CR initiatives for
organisations more widely. This can act either in support or defence
of corporate responsibility and investment in a program that targets
soci]al outcomes.
Hints
• This assignment is a great opportunity to put your research ability into
practice. Have a look at the scope of ways in which businesses are adopting
measures of external and societal awareness.
• Try to choose an organisation or business that has some signifcance to you:
is this an industry you are interested or have connection with? This will
lead to a more nuanced analysis.
Additional Information
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners – reflect on their own practice, updating
and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and
academic development;
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners – be self-aware;
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners – adapt to complexity, ambiguity and
change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas;• Feel free to be critical here: when evaluating the case for/against CR
value creation, think about costs, time as well as commercial reasons
(market opportunities and competitors) as to why or why not this program
has been successful.
• Subheadings can be a good formatting and stylistic tool here to segment
your ideas and thoughts. Use them effectively – the best subheadings act
to frame and give context to an entire paragraph, and can subtly convey
contention/evaluation outcomes.
• Ensure that the information you acquire about the organisation is recent
– we ware ideally looking for CR activity from the past four years.
• Think holistically about outcomes here and who was affected by the CR
program: where is the most value being created? Is this appropriate?
How does this link to concepts like the triple bottom line? What about
routes to value creation and some of the models from module 4? Feel free
to evaluate the goals of the CR activity here also.
• Try to explain and structure your analysis against models and concepts
from the unit. Module 4 is a great place to start!
• Submit the report in a .doc or .docx format only.
Ask Yourself
• Explanation of Rationale: Have you explained key rationale as to why
this piece of detail is useful to your case study analysis?
• Application of theories and models: This is one of the most important
aspects of your assignment. You must demonstrate that you understand the
models well enough to apply it to structuring your discussion. Please note:
description and/or critique of the theories can be included IF it is linked to
your case study thoroughly.
• Use of research: Have you looked up a wide variety of sources? Have you
read multiple reports from multiple perspectives? Be wary of the company’s
own statements on their CSR/CR progress, as this will contain bias. Are there
media reports that illuminate market or consumer conditions? Do trade
journals provide research insights here?
• Language use: Try to avoid use of commercial (or salesperson/marketing
language that aims to “boast” the organisation’s achievements).
Remain objective.
• Structured, Organised Response: Does your assignment flow logically
and sequentially? Are the different components of your case study analysis
discussed in a sensible order? Have you made appropriate use of subheadings?Suggested Structure
• Title Page
• Contents Page
• Executive Summary
1. Business Overview/Description
2. CR Program Overview
3. Responsible Value Creation Discussion and Evaluation
4. Conclusion
• List of References
• Appendix
Essay Checklist
Title: Full title of case study, single spaced on the frst page.
Identifcation: Full name and student number, single spaced on the frst page.
Journal Articles: Paper uses a minimum of fve research and/or database
references and all are referenced in the report.
Page Numbers: Pages numbers placed on top right hand corner of each
page, without brackets or full stops.
Presentation and Format: Report type-written or word processed in
12-point font, double spaced, with margins of at least 25mm. Appropriate
subheadings to provide structure to your assignment.
Referencing: Harvard or APA system of referencing is used.
Full reference list – not bibliography – included at end of plan.
Library and Resources: Report includes primarily research databases,
websites and reports, but can include journals, papers and books sourced
from the library or other university resources.Assessment
Criteria Less than 50 50-64 Pass Credit 65-74 Distinction 75-84 High Distinction 85 plus
Demonstrated
knowledge of
concepts and/
or frameworks,
from a variety of
perspectives, of
responsible value
creation.
(30%)
No use of concepts/
frameworks
from unit.
Little use of concepts/
frameworks to assist
and VC focus is
lacking.
Frameworks and
models are used well
to assist discussions
around CR. Good
sense of
VC outcomes.
High competency and
confdent application
of frameworks
and models of
CR. They are used
very well to assist
and VC discussion
from a variety of
perspectives.
Outstanding use
of frameworks and
models to guide
CR exploration.
Developed
understanding
of variety of VC
outcomes.
Appropriate
objective and
critical evaluation/
reflection of the
role a Corporate
Responsibility
program can provide
to an organisation.
(20%)
Missing or inadequate
reflection of role
CR program to
businesses.
Discussion has
underdeveloped
reflection on the role
of CR program to
business.
Satisfactory reflection
on the role of CR
program to business.
Very good reflection
on the role of
CR program to
businesses. Objective
and nuanced.
An excellent and
considered reflection
on the role of
CR program to
businesses. Maintains
nuance and objectivity
in evaluation.
Insightfulness
and relevance
of organisation/
business choice
which adds to
analysis.
(15%)
Choice of case
study poorly linked
to responsible VC
concepts, doesn’t
further discussion.
Choice of case study
is developing: further
reflection could have
boosted relevancy
to VC concepts
from Mod 4.
Good choice of case
study which allows
for appropriate
level of reflection
of VC concepts
from Mod 4.
Very good choice
of case study which
allows for developed
reflection and
exploration of
VC concepts
from Mod 4.
Outstanding choice
of case study which
allows for nuanced
exploration of
VC concepts and
insightful analysis.
Appropriately
researched and
referenced with
adequate use of
broad secondary
source engagement.
(15%)
Poor quality level of
research conducted
to support CR
program development
and integration for
business.
Less use of solid and
reliable research to
support CR program
development and
integration for
business. Research is
less integrated.
Very Good: Mostly
thorough research to
support CR program
development and
integration fndings.
Excellent/thorough
research to support
CR program
development and
integration: beyond
obvious databases
and sources and
across quality
secondary sources.
Outstanding research
to support CR
program development
and integration for
business: well beyond
obvious sources and
high competency of
research ability across
quality secondary
sources.
Arguments are
clearly expressed
using appropriate
language, formatting
and structure.
(10%)
Paper has unclear
expression, incorrect
grammar/spelling.
Requires support for
improvement.
Paper has basic level
of written expression
which requires
additional support
to enhance written
expression, grammar
and spelling.
Paper is written with
good expression,
grammar and spelling
demonstrated. Solid
structure.
Paper is written with
very good expression,
grammar and spelling.
Structure supports
analysis.
Paper is written with
clear and concise
expression with
highly consistent and
accurate grammar
and spelling. Excellent
structure for case
study analysis.
Examples/research
used is appropriately
sourced, cited and
referenced.
(10%)
Paper includes mostly
incorrect citing
and referencing
using APA/Harvard
referencing system.
Paper includes
consistent errors and/
or inconsistencies
with citations and
referencing using
the APA/Harvard
referencing system.
Paper includes very
good citations and
referencing using
the APA/Harvard
referencing system
with some errors and/
or inconsistencies.
Paper includes
accurate citations
and referencing
using APA/Harvard
referencing system
with some minor
errors.
Paper includes highly
accurate citations
and referencing using
the APA/Harvard
referencing system.
Marking Sheet for Assignment