BUGEN 5930

Business, Society and the Planet

Assessment 2

This task requires you to work both individually and as part of a group to consider the Corporate Social Responsibility performance and stated values of two similar organisations and apply the Giving Voice to Values framework.

There are two parts to this task:

Part A – 20%Business Values Assessment Report

Part B – 20%Application of the GVV framework – scenario development, script development and role play presentation

Please see below for the details of these Task Requirements.

Part A – Business Values Assessment report

This activity is based on the exercise on page 226 of ‘Business Ethics’ (Crane & Matten, 2010).

For this component, you need to work in a group of five (5) students to consider the values and social performance of two companies. You are required to consider and discuss the companies as a group, but must submit your responses to the questions as individuals.

  1. As a group, select two companies that produce social reports and whose values are identified on their websites or in other company documents(that are publicly available). At least one of these companies must have had the social responsibility and/or performance of their business activities queried and the two companies selected by your group must be either:

(a)From different industries but in the same country; or

(b)From the same industry but different countries.

By Week 5, your group must provide the names of the companies you have selected to research, and the industry and country within which they operate.

  1. As a group, research each of your companies to determine their company values, their approaches to social responsibility and their reporting of their social performances.
  1. As an individual, you are required to submit responses to the following questions:
  1. Identify and describe the two companies you have researched; the countries and/or industries in which they operate. (15 marks)
  2. What differences are evident between the two companies in terms of the range of issues dealt with in their social reports and the depth of coverage on specific issues? (15 marks)
  3. To what extent can these differences be explained by the country or industry differences? What other explanations might there be? (15 marks)
  4. Assess the apparent quality of the social accounting approach utilized by each company according to Zadek et al.’s (1997) criteria. (15 marks)
  5. Discuss the extent to which the social reports provided by these companies reflect theirstated values. (15 marks)
  6. Briefly reflect on your groups’ discussions of these companies. In what ways did the ideas presented by your group confirm your own conclusions, influence your thinking and/or present another perspective to you? (15 marks)
  • A score (10 marks) will be allocated for presentation, written expression, spelling, grammar, punctuation and referencing.

Word limit:2000 words

Referencing: You are required to follow the APA style of referencing for this task. There is no set number of references required. It is recommended, however, that you independently seek out resources in addition to those provided by the lecturer.

Due Date

Students are required to upload their assignment as a Word doc or PDF (with the FedUni Business School – Assignment Coversheet attached) via the relevant Turnitin link on the course Moodle page, as well as the regular link for assignment submission.

Marking Guide

Name
Responses to questions / % / Grade
Qi - describe the two companies that have been researched. Responses should:
  • clearly identify and describe the two companies being researched
  • clearly describe the industries and countries in which these companies operate
  • Clearly describe the social reporting/performance issue for which one of these companies has been challenged.
/ 15%
Qii - What differences are evident between the two companies in terms of the range of social, environmental and economic issues dealt with in their reports and the depth of coverage on specific issues? Responses should:
  • compare the style, content and presentation of the social reports provided by each company
  • critically analyse the strengths and weaknesses of the approaches to social reporting evident in the reports
  • comment on the range of issues covered and the depth of the coverage
/ 15%
Qiii - To what extent can these differences be explained by the country or industry differences? What other explanations might there be? Responses should:
  • Discuss the differences between industries and/or countries (such as development, culture, attitudes, regulations, market maturity, technologies etc.) that may have contributed to the differences in approaches to social responsibility discussed in Qi
  • Demonstrate critical thinking and analysis to provide an insightful explanation of these differences
/ 15%
Qiv- Assess the apparent quality of the social accounting approach utilized by each company according to Zadek et al.’s (1997) criteria. Responses should:
  • Provide some brief commentary on the extent to which each of the companies does or does not meet the eight criteria identified by Zadek et al (1997) as the key principles of quality of social reporting, as outlined on P. 216 (Crane & Matten, 2010).
  • Identify which key principles are met (and how they are met) by each company’s social reporting
  • Identify which principles have not been met
/ 15%
Qv - Discuss the extent to which the social reports reflect the values of your selected companies. Responses should:
  • Identify each company’s values (including their Mission Statement, Values, Business Principles etc.) as stated on their websites, reports or in other company documentation
  • Critically analyse each company’s social reports in terms of the extent to which their stated values align (or do not align) with their approaches to social responsibility and sustainability (based on the evidence in the reports)
/ 15%
Qvi - Briefly reflect on your groups’ discussions of these companies. In what ways did the ideas presented by your group confirm your own conclusions or present another perspective to you? Responses should:
  • Reflect on the group discussions about the social reporting of the two companies selected
  • Identify key points of agreement and disagreement with other group members
  • Discuss how the different perspectives provided by group members contributed to your own consideration of the performance of these companies
/ 15%
Presentation (expression, structure, referencing, organisation, word count – not including cover sheet and references etc.) / 10%
Total / 100%
Comments:

Part B – Application of GVV Framework

In this group task you will work with the same group members as for Assessment 2 - Part A. This task requires your group to consider the social reporting/performance issue or ethical dilemma identified in your research of one of the companies compared in Assessment 2 - Part A. As a group, you are required to:

  1. Write a fictional scenario of how this social performance issue/ethical dilemma could have emerged for people involved with this company;
  2. Develop a script in which the central character in this scenario applies the Giving Voice to Values framework to the give voice to his/her values;
  3. Present your script to the class as a role play.

______

  1. Scenario Development

Develop a fictionalscenario that outlines how this ethical dilemma could have presented itself at this company. This scenario should be written as a narrative piece, similar in format and style to the GVV/Babson scenarios. Your scenario should describe a possible workplace situation that illustrates the emergence of this dilemma as a values conflict for one or more people. It should introduce the key stakeholders & characters, the key facts and the background information that has led to this issue.

Scenario – 25 marks (800 words)

Due date –

  1. Script Development

Your group is required to develop a script in which the central character you’re your scenario applies the Giving Voice to Values framework in response to the values conflict or ethical dilemma identified in your scenario. Your script should address:

  • What is the ethical dilemma/values conflict presented in your scenario?
  • Who are the stakeholders and what is at stake for the key parties (including those who disagree with you)?
  • What are the main arguments you are trying to counter? That is, what are the reasons and rationalizations you need to address?
  • What levers/arguments could you use to influence those with whom you disagree?
  • What is your most powerful and persuasive response to the reasons and rationalizations you need to address? To whom should the arguments be made? When and in what context?

Script – 50 marks (1500 words)

Due date –

  1. Role Play Presentation

Present this script to the class group as a role play. This role play should clearly identify the ethical dilemma from the scenario and demonstrate the application of the GVV framework. The presentation of the script should be clear and enable the audience to engage with the issues. All group members must be meaningfully included. Creativity and expression is encouraged.

Role Play Presentation – 25 marks (7-10 min. in length)

Due date –

Each group will present their role plays during the class workshop.

Groups arethen required to nominate one group member to upload both the group’s Scenario and Script as a Word doc or PDF (with the FedUni Business School – Assignment Coversheet attached) via the relevant Turnitin and regular submission links on the course Moodle page.

Please ensure that the names and student I.D. numbers of each group member is listed on the Assignment Coversheet.

PLEASE NOTE - IMPORTANT:

It is a requirement of this task that students commit to working collaboratively together to develop the three components of this task, with an equal and even contribution from each group member. If, for whatever reasons, a student is unable to provide the required commitment and/or contribution to their group’s progress and completion of this task, the Lecturer may revise the composition of the group. This action may be taken at the discretion of the Lecturer, but should be taken prior to the presentation of the Role Play and submission of the written components of the task.

Group / Group members
Criteria / Grade
Development of scenario – 25 marks
  1. Provides the reader with a clear description of the workplace, the main characters and stakeholders, the key facts and background information relevant to the ethical dilemma.
/ 10
  1. Clearly identifies the ethical dilemma and values conflict that has emerged for the central character – this issue should be related to the ethical dilemma identified in the research of one of the companies compared in Assessment 2 - Part A.
/ 5
  1. Clearly identifies the stakeholders and discusses what is at stake for them.
/ 5
  1. Written as a narrative (similar in style to the Babson scenarios), which uses clear English expression, spelling and grammar.
/ 5
Total for Scenario / /25
Script for role play – 50 marks
  1. Clearly identifies and addresses the ethical dilemma/values conflict raised in the scenario.
/ 10
  1. Identifies reasons and rationalizations that might be used to justify the questionable business action/practice/issue at the center of the ethical dilemma.
/ 10
  1. The central character is able to effectively give voice to their values by presenting powerful and persuasive responses to counter the reasons and rationalizations.
/ 10
  1. Demonstrates the most appropriate and most effective use of GVV’s ‘say what, to whom, when and how’ approach. i.e. speaks to the appropriate person, using a considered approach, provides thoughtful suggestions etc.
/ 10
  1. Achieves a realistic outcome that demonstrates a nuanced understanding of personal and professional communication and relationships, which avoids false dichotomies and contrived resolutions.
/ 10
Total for Script / /50
Role play presentation – 25 marks
  1. Presentation was interesting, engaging and challenged the audience to engage thoughtfully with the issues presented
/ 15
  1. All group members were meaningfully included and all performers could be easily seen and heard by the audience
/ 5
  1. Effective use of time, props and creativity
/ 5
Total – Role play presentation / /25
TOTAL – Assessment 2 Part B / /100
Comments: