BUSP006 Responsible business in society
Essay BUSP006
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- Due 10 Dec by 16:00
- Points 100
- Submitting a file upload
- Available 21 Sep at 0:00 – 12 Jan 2022 at 23:59 4 months
Assessment:
2000-word essay: ‘Using responsible business theory to critique Ford’s sustainability plan’
+/- 10% so 1800 minimum words, 2200 maximum
Ford have recently announced plans to upscale and accelerate their transition to electric vehicles (EVs). This is part of a broader pack of initiatives to improve Ford’s environmental and social performance.
Here you can see as summary of Ford’s integrated financial and sustainability reporting
For the essay you are expected to analyse the following five elements.
Sustainable Value – 400 words
- Analyse Ford’s sustainability reporting in terms of its fit with the sustainable value creation framework (Hart and Milstein, 2003)
- In which of the four segments (1.Clean Technology; 2. Sustainability Vision; Pollution prevention; 3. Product Stewardship) do Ford’s initiatives sit?
- Here I am looking for you to correctly match specific activities e.g. circular economy, human rights, electrification, to a segment. Also take time to critically reflect on any mismatch or shortcoming.
- You only have 400 words so you need to be selective.
Circular Economy – 300 words
- Here I want to you to correctly critique what circular economy is.
- Identify and analyse Fords circular economy activities
- Critique any shortfalls or other possible opportunities to extend Ford’s circularity
- You have limited words so you will need to focus on specific examples.
Human Rights and Ethics – 600 words
- Reflect on the increase in supply chain issues in cobalt in relation to expansion of EV provision.
- Here I want you to go beyond basic description of cobalt and issues. I want you to reflect on the moral hazards presented by sourcing cobalt and think of this as an ethical dilemma using moral philosophical framings
- Analyse this using ONE theoretical perspective of moral philosophy (Consequentialist (Utilitarian); Categorical (Kantian); Virtue Ethics Perspective.
Partnerships – 300 words
- What makes NGO and business partnerships successful?
- Why is this partnership important?
Reporting – 400 words
- For this you will need to reflect on both the full integrated reporting IR report and summary document.
- What targets are they setting?
- Are the targets future orientated?
- Are the targets internal facing or external facing?
- Are they benchmarking these against other goals and stakeholders?
Resources:
For help with the sustainable value creation framework You can refer the following sources:
Hart, S. L., & Milstein, M. B. (2003). Creating sustainable value. Academy of Management Perspectives, 17(2), 56-67.
Cardoni, A., Kiseleva, E., & Taticchi, P. (2020). In search of sustainable value: A structured literature review. Sustainability, 12(2), 615.
The following book chapter gives a good overview of consequentialist and virtue ethics in consumption decision making
http://oro.open.ac.uk/7161/3/Philosophy_and_Ethical_Consumption_Final.pdfLinks to an external site.
How to cite: Barnett, C., Cafaro, P., and Newholm, T. 2005. Philosophy and ethical consumption. In: Harrison, Rob; Newholm, Terry and Shaw, Deirdre eds. The Ethical Consumer. London, UK: Sage, pp. 11–24.
For categorical reasoning the following journal article looking at the Base of the Pyramid gives some good debate.
Hahn, R., 2009. The ethical rational of business for the poor–integrating the concepts bottom of the pyramid, sustainable development, and corporate citizenship. Journal of business ethics, 84(3), pp.313-324.
The following chapter gives some summary of all 3 from a marketing perspective
Garcia-Rosell, J. C., and Moisander, J., 2007,”Ethical Dimensions of Sustainable Marketing: a Consumer Policy Perspective”, in E – European Advances in Consumer Research Volume 8, eds. Stefania Borghini, Mary Ann McGrath, and Cele Otnes, Duluth, MN : Association for Consumer Research, Pages: 210-215.
Additional articles around moral philosophy and consumption might be:
Hansen, U. and Schrader, U., 1997. A modern model of consumption for a sustainable society. Journal of Consumer Policy, 20(4), pp.443-468.
Ballet, J. and Bazin, D., 2005. Can homo economicus follow Kant’s categorical imperative?: A comment. The Journal of Socio-Economics, 34(4), pp.572-577.
Paavola, J., 2001. Towards sustainable consumption: economics and ethical concerns for the environment in consumer choices. Review of social economy, 59(2), pp.227-248.
Pettit, P. (1988). The consequentialist can recognise rights. The Philosophical Quarterl, 38(150), 42-55.
Additional articles around cobalt might be:
Nkulu, C.B.L., Casas, L., Haufroid, V., De Putter, T., Saenen, N.D., Kayembe-Kitenge, T., Obadia, P.M., Mukoma, D.K.W., Ilunga, J.M.L., Nawrot, T.S. and Numbi, O.L., 2018. Sustainability of artisanal mining of cobalt in DR Congo. Nature sustainability, 1(9), pp.495-504.
Sovacool, B.K., 2019. The precarious political economy of cobalt: Balancing prosperity, poverty, and brutality in artisanal and industrial mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Extractive Industries and Society, 6(3), pp.915-939.
Zeuner, B., 2018. An Obsolescing Bargain in a Rentier State: Multinationals, Artisanal Miners, and Cobalt in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Frontiers in Energy Research, 6, p.123.
DeCarlo, S. and Matthews, D., 2019. More Than a Pretty Color: The Renaissance of the Cobalt Industry. J. Int’l Com. & Econ., p.1.
Circular Economy Resources:
Ellen McCarthur Foundation, What is Circular Economy? https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/topics/circular-economy-introduction/overview#:~:text=The%20circular%20economy%20gives%20us,emissions%2C%20waste%2C%20and%20pollutionLinks to an external site..
Ellen McCarthur Foundation Publications. https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/publicationsLinks to an external site.
Reporting:
Chapter 5. Managing Business Ethics: Tools and Techniques of Business Ethics Management. Crane, A., Matten, D., Glozer, S., & Spence, L. (2019). Business ethics: Managing corporate citizenship and sustainability in the age of globalization. Oxford University Press, USA.
NGO Partnerships:
Chapter 10 Civil Society and Business Ethics. Crane, A., Matten, D., Glozer, S., & Spence, L. (2019). Business ethics: Managing corporate citizenship and sustainability in the age of globalization. Oxford University Press, USA.
Rubric
Some rubric
| Criteria | Ratings | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| This criterion is linked to a learning outcomeSustainable Valuecorrectly match specific activities e.g. circular economy, human rights, electrification, to a segment. Also take time to critically reflect on any mismatch or shortcoming | 20 PtsFull marks0 PtsNo marks | 20 pts |
| This criterion is linked to a learning outcomeCircular EconomyIdentify and analyse Fords circular economy activities. Critique any shortfalls or other possible opportunities to extend Ford’s circularity | 15 PtsFull marks0 PtsNo marks | 15 pts |
| This criterion is linked to a learning outcomeHuman Rights and Ethicsreflect on the moral hazards presented by sourcing cobalt and think of this as an ethical dilemma using moral philosophical framings. Analyse this using ONE theoretical perspective of moral philosophy (Consequentialist (Utilitarian); Categorical (Kantian); Virtue Ethics Perspective. | 30 PtsFull marks0 PtsNo marks | 30 pts |
| This criterion is linked to a learning outcomePartnershipsWhat makes NGO and business partnerships successful? Why is this partnership important? | 15 PtsFull marks0 PtsNo marks | 15 pts |
| This criterion is linked to a learning outcomeReportingCritical analysis of the audience and context of targets being reported on. | 20 PtsFull marks0 PtsNo marks | 20 pts |
| Total points: 100 |
