You have just joined a large business that is planning to produce its first sustainable development report. You've been asked to write a memo to your Director of Strategy about your impressions of two recent SD reports from major organisations. Produce a memo (800-1000 words) reviewing what you see as the strengths and weaknesses of these reports. Please select two from: Unilever, M&S, Rio Tinto, Shell, IKEA and John Lewis Partnership. Such corporate reports are all accessible via the company website. We'd prefer you to keep to the ones mentioned, as this provides a good range of sectors. However, if you have particular interest in a different one and a special reason for tackling it, then do let us know. A critical memo on a corporate or public agency SD report should cover at least these points:
What understanding and assumptions about SD and corporate responsibility are displayed in the report?
Does the report cover all the aspects and issues that you would expect to find? What is missing?
Does the report offer a convincing analysis of challenges, progress and problems? What is impressive, and why? What is not convincing, and why?
What are the issues confronting the sector in question, in your view, does the report deal with them?