Preparing for a Professional Career: Business Challenges, Code of Conduct, and Professional Associations

This report discusses the challenges faced by businesses, including Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and the importance of a code of conduct. It also covers the role of professional associations in preparing for a professional career. The report includes examples from companies like Google and Mark and Spencer, and provides a CPD plan for developing skills and knowledge.

PREPARING FOR A PROFESSIONAL
CAREER

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
Part- A..........................................................................................................................................3
Presenting Business Challenges.................................................................................................3
Describing Code of Conduct......................................................................................................4
Presenting Professional Association...........................................................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
Part B...........................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
Business can be define as legal entity that deal with purchase and selling of goods
and commodities. Along with this, there are various ethical issues that has been faced by
the business such as harassment at work as well as technology and privacy. All this issues
can be damage the reputation of firm in the competitive market. Furthermore, the present
report will discuss about the global challenges that has been faced by the business. Along
with this, the study will also provide the company with the ethical code of conduct that
can be useful in dealing with the global business challenges. Lastly, it will throw light on
the CPD plan.
MAIN BODY
Part- A
Presenting Business Challenges
The most common business issues that has been faced by the organization is
Corporate Social Responsibility that refers to the initiative taken by the firm in order to
benefit the society. There are mainly three type of initiative that has been done by the
companies such as social, economic and environmental. However, most of the
organization was not following this policy but due to demand of customer many
companies has started taking this integrative. Along with this, CSR has contributed in
attracting more and more customer as well as helped the firm in sustaining in the
environment. The CSR policy impact on the business in both positive as well as
negative way (Salvia and et.al., 2019. ). In recent studies it has been found that most of
the consumer has decided to purchase more product form the companies that are
socially responsible. In addition to this, it helps the firm in attracting top talent as well
as helps in satisfying the employees. For Instance Google has been the classic example
of CSR as it a lot of initiative towards protecting the environment. However, there are
negative impact on small business such as it has to spend more on conducting activities
that directly affect the operational cost. Along with this, organization has to face high
competition. Along with this, there are various challenges that has been faced by
business is working condition that damage the working environment. Furthermore, it
can be solved by developing heathy working culture that will help the company to

increase the moral of employees. (Hur, Moon and Kim,2020. ) However, due to bad
working culture it negatively affects the overall productivity of the firm.
Describing Code of Conduct
It is define as common policy that has been followed by the organization in
order to sustain in the business environment. Along with this, theses policy laid down
the moral and ethical standard that employees has to follow while interacting with the
customer. Furthermore, 5 common code of conduct that need to be followed by the
organization is integrity, objectivity, confidentially, professional competence and professional
behaviour. This is very important for the business as it helps in defining the company
culture quickly (Franco and et.al., 2020). Along with this, it helps in building healthy relation
with the customer that contributes in increasing the sales. In addition to this, it
represent the ethical values that are being followed by the firm as well as build
transparency for healthy business relation.
For instance, Mark and Spencer follow code of conduct such as maintaining the
privacy of the data that has share by the customer. Code of conduct helps in resolving the
issues quickly as it applied on all employees so it is mandatory for them to follow. For
instance, Mark And Spencer follow values such as honesty with their customer that has
contributed in building healthy relation with them. (Avgerinou, Bertoldi and
Castellazzi,2017) However, if any business follows the code of conduct it can protect
itself form any global challenges.
A company has to build their CSR policy with code of code of conduct such as
environmental practice to ethical labour practice. However, it is necessary that employees
and stakeholders understand the company's code of conduct as it will intact with other
parties. Along with this, before implementing the ethics company size, location and
industry need to be consider and code should clerically define belies, values and other
principle. Such as employees rights, environmental protection and safety.
Presenting Professional Association
It is known as professional organization that deal with particular profession as well
as develop the interest of an individual and company engaged. Along with this, this
type of association are non- profit in nature. However, this type of organization main aim
is to safeguard the public interest if any wrongful act has been committed by the

organization (Silal, 2021.). Moreover, this company setup the ethical code of conduct that
need to be followed by the professional business in order to reduce the affects of business
issues. Along with this, the aim of these association are to advance particular profession,
advance the interest of an individual engaged in that a profession. As well as to maintain
public interest in the profession.
However, it has been created in order to monitor and regulate the policy practice
of industry professional. In addition to this, it is divide into three part such as
professional association,t regulatory bodies and learned societies. For Instance, Mark and
Spencer can take help of ACS that is known as Association of Convenience stores that
aim at supporting retailer through effective lobbying, comprehensive advice and
information. Along with this, it provide with various opportunity for retail sector so
that it can improve their performance in this sector. (Ferronato and Torretta, 2019) In
addition to this, various innovative opportunity helps in bringing wealth benefit to the
partners that are connected with the ASC membership. However, the aim of this
organization is to take the issues of retail sector to the government so that proper
action can be taken. Moreover, it deals with the issues related to business rate, regulation,
planning etc.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it has been concluded that there are various external and
internal factor that develop opportunities and challenges for the company. Along with this,
all the issues can negativity impact on the business as it can affects the performance of
the firm in the competitive market. Along with this, it has summarized about CSR
policy that has been most common global challenge for the business. It has been describe
as tentative that has been taken by the firm in order to protect the environment form
hazardous substance.
As well as to develop the societies by opening educational institution. However, it
affects in both positive as well as negative manner such as it increase the operational
cost of the firm as well as increase the competition. Lastly, it has thrown light on the
code of conduct that has been define set of ethics that help company in guiding towards
the right direction.

Part B
CPD Plan
AREA OF
LEARNING
REFLECTION OF
LEARNING
FUTURE
IMPLICATION
ACTION
Code of conduct is
define as set of
standards that
company has to
follow in order to
sustain in the
environment. Every
organization has
their own code and
it should be according
to the values
(Sharma and et.al.,
2020.). Moreover, a
well written code of
conduct define and
clarifies company
mission, values and
principles. Along
with this, it need to
be followed by each
employee and
stakeholders. As it
empower employees
to handle ethical
Through out the
assessment I have
learn about the
global challenges that
business has to face.
Along with this, I
have analysis that
CSR, Labour rights
can be major issues
for the company.
However, I had
knowledge about
Code of conduct.
During the assessment
I have learned that
code of conduct can
affects in both
negative and positive
way. Along with
this, I was feeling
good while learning
about the business
ethics as it easy to
understand (Peña
For future
implication I have
top develop
communication skill
in order to interact
with other people.
Along with this, I
have to develop
good research and
search skill as it
will help in
getting accurate
information regarding
the task (Asio, Riego
de Dios and Lapuz,
2019.). In addition to
this, I will make
use of various
media platform in
order to enhance
my knowledge. For
learning more about
the business I
have to work in
SMART GOALS
S: To increase the
knowledge.
M: To Spend 1 hour
for reading the blog.
A: To gain practical
knowledge of
business.
R: To develop new
learning skill.
T: To draft a
research paper in 1
week.

dilemmas they
encounter in everyday
work. It impact on
the business in
positive way as it
helps in concerning
with decision making.
However, breaching
code of conduct ma
result in breaching
laws and regulation.
As well as damage
to our reputation.
Miguel, N., Corral
Lage, and Mata
Galindez,2020.). In
addition to this, I
have to develop
research skills as it
will help in
improving my
weakness.
company so that I
can have practical
experience.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Asio, J. M. R., Riego de Dios, E. and Lapuz, A. M., 2019. Professional skills and work ethics of
selected faculty in a local college. Asio, JMR, Riego de Dios, EE, & Lapuz, AME
(2019). Professional Skills and Work Ethics of Selected Faculty in a Local College.
PAFTE Research Journal. 9(1).pp.164-180.
Avgerinou, M., Bertoldi, P. and Castellazzi, L., 2017. Trends in data centre energy consumption
under the european code of conduct for data centre energy efficiency. Energies. 10(10).
p.1470.
Ferronato, N. and Torretta, V., 2019. Waste mismanagement in developing countries: A review
of global issues. International journal of environmental research and public
health.16(6). p.1060.
Franco, S and et.al., 2020. Are you good enough? CSR, quality management and corporate
financial performance in the hospitality industry. International Journal of Hospitality
Management. 88. p.102395.
Hur, W. M., Moon, T. W. and Kim, H., 2020. When and how does customer engagement in CSR
initiatives lead to greater CSR participation? The role of CSR credibility and customer–
company identification. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental
Management. 27(4). pp.1878-1891.
Peña Miguel, N., Corral Lage, J. and Mata Galindez, A., 2020. Assessment of the development
of professional skills in university students: Sustainability and serious
games. Sustainability.12(3). p.1014.
Salvia, A. L. and et.al., 2019. Assessing research trends related to Sustainable Development
Goals: Local and global issues. Journal of cleaner production.208. pp.841-849.
Sharma, K and et.al., 2020. Conservation and people: Towards an ethical code of conduct for the
use of camera traps in wildlife research. Ecological Solutions and Evidence.1(2).
Silal, S. P., 2021. Operational research: A multidisciplinary approach for the management of
infectious disease in a global context. European journal of operational research.291(3).
pp.929-934.
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Online references
A, B., 2018. [Online]. Available through <>
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