Critically evaluate a corporation of your choosing from the perspective(s) of business ethics and/or corporate social responsibility and/or sustainability using two contrasting conceptual or theoretical approaches. Write a 3,000-word report on your evaluation.
Corporations in the following industries / sectors should provide rich cases for your analysis, but you can choose other sectors:
• Tobacco industry;
• Oil industry;
• Car industry;
• Domestic and personal electronics, including computing and mobile devices;
• High street retailer of food, clothes or electronics.
Your critical evaluation must be from the perspective(s) of business ethics and/or corporate social responsibility and/or sustainability. For your analysis, select two contrasting conceptual or theoretical approaches. The seminar in Week 8 will review the approaches covered so far. The range of material you analyse could include information provided by the corporation (e.g. sustainability / social / CSR policies and reports) as well as information about the corporation e.g. stories in the media, including specific incidents (scenarios) the corporation has been involved in. However, you must conduct your own analysis of the material.
Structure for the Report:
Introduction.
– The aims or purpose of your report
– A very brief overview of your chosen corporation
– A final paragraph that outlines the next section of your report
Theoretical / Conceptual Approaches and Analysis
Organise this section of your report into two sub-sections with appropriate headings, one for each of your approaches. Each sub-section may include further sub-sections with headings.
– For each sub-section you should:
– Clearly explain the theoretical or conceptual approach that you are going to apply and why it is relevant for your aims / purpose. Include any debates about, or criticisms and weaknesses of, the approach.
– Specify the material you are going to analyse, its source, and why it is relevant for this analysis.
– Systematically apply the analytical approach to your material and explain the findings
Discussion and Conclusions:
– Discuss and compare and contrast the findings from your two analyses, including contradictory findings and what could account for them
– Relate your findings and discussion to the aims and purpose of the report, and specify any conclusions you have reached.