Challenges and Solutions in Corporate Social Responsibility

This report discusses the challenges faced by companies in conducting corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities and provides possible solutions. It explores the concept of greenwashing and its impact on CSR. The report also highlights the importance of following a code of conduct and the guidance available from professional bodies. Additionally, it emphasizes the significance of continuous development in CSR.

Preparing for a Professional
Career

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..............................................................................................................................................3
PART 1.......................................................................................................................................................3
Introduction of challenge/ issue chosen...................................................................................................3
Code of conduct that can assist in resolving the issue.............................................................................4
Guidance available from the professional bodies....................................................................................4
Conclusion...............................................................................................................................................5
PART 2.......................................................................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION...........................................................................................................................................8
REFRENCES..............................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
There are several challenges are present at global business environment which
significantly affect the performance of an organization (Kreitzer and Klatt, 2017). In the present
report, numerous issues that are faced by companies in operating business are discussed along
with possible course of action which needs to adopt by them in order to ensure long term
sustainability. In addition, different code of conducts is also included in the following report.
Lastly, it also includes guidance and support provided by professional bodies along with its
possible impact over business setting.
MAIN BODY
PART 1
Introduction of challenge/ issue chosen
Corporate social responsibility refers to an activity which is performed by managers in
order to ensure social welfare and development. There are several philanthropic, activist,
charitable and volunteering practices are associated with this function. Nowadays, organizations
have to face numerous challenges to maintain adopt effective CSR practices. Here, Green
washing considers as a major problem for in conducting CSR activities (White and Forgasz,
2016). It can be easily understating with an example of Marks and Spencer where organization
asked people to bring the clothes that they are not using in order to undertake recycle practice.
Main motive of company behind this practice is to protect environment by minimizing pollution
and used wastage in an efficient manner. In this, they produce new clothes by using existing
ones. However, the main practice was entirely opposite and this approach was misleading to
customers. it is analyzed that there was higher pollution generated through its factories which
adversely affect environment.
It is monitored that skyrocketing incident of green washing also put significant impact
over environmental friendly activities of organizations. With this, trust of customers as well as
investors in company is also adversely affecting. At initial level, it was found that buyers have
started to trust over the activities of Marks and Spencer and it also provided higher competitive
edge to entity. They believed that company is really concerned about environment thus adopting

environment friendly practices. But, later on when they got to know reality whole scenario
changed. It put negative impact over the existing goodwill of brand. Therefore, there are several
renowned organization that are not really concern about environment & society and just adopt
CSR activities to build higher brand image at market place. On another side, some other
companies are really putting remarkable efforts for overall economic and societal well being.
Code of conduct that can assist in resolving the issue
Code of conduct comprises several rules, regulations and compliances which are meant to be
follow in order to operate business in an efficient manner. There is several code of conducts for
public, private as well as nonprofit companies. Apart from this, all the entities regardless their
size need to follow some code of conducts which are mentioned as under:
 It is analyzed that primary code of conduct is that an organization has some predefined
roles and responsibilities towards society, economy, environment and other elements.
 Here, transparency is essential to protect the interest of various internal as well as
external partiers in business (Lee, 2018). It is the corporate social responsibility of a
company to provide necessary information to investors, shareholders, customers,
employees and other parties. It plays a major role in building trust among stakeholders.
 Respecting and promoting human rights is also considered as a significant code of
conduct. In this, company requires to provide higher quality products as well as services
to customers so that their interest can be protected. In addition, it is also helpful to
maintain strong brand image of organization at market place.
Therefore, there are numerous code of conducts some of them are made by organizations
themselves and also by legal authorities to maintain business operations in an efficient manner.
These rules are necessary to follow to sustain at market place for longer run.
Guidance available from the professional bodies
The main guidance for CSR activity is received from the international institute of
sustainable development ( IISD). This body provides numerous valuable suggestions to
organizations so that they will be able to use resources in better way. It provides
recommendations regarding international trade economy, climate change, renewal resources,
energy measurement and many more(Greer, 2017). The institute helps Marks and Spencer to
conduct its business operations in more ethical manner. There is a lot of information available on

the website of this body that it has gathered through different projects. Along with this, it also
provide necessary financial support and conduct several campaigns with an aim to guide
multinational as well as small companies to conduct CSR activities in an appropriate way.
Conclusion
After analyzing numerous policies made by different professional bodies along with
several code of conducts that are formulate to operate business in predefined manner. This will
help a company like Marks and Spencer to get higher competitive advantage by creating positive
brand image in society. It is analyzed that professional bodies provide necessary support to
companies in terms of finance as well as policies which will further help to undertake CSR
activity for betterment of society and overall economy. In addition, different codes of conducts
are essential to protect the interest of different parties associated with organization.
On the other side, these bodies also issue some guidelines which are mandate to follow
by organization in order to meet with legal formalities. Further, code of conducts may harm
business data of company as here it is essential to maintain necessary transparency related to
financial position of entity which may sometime disclose its confidential data to unauthorized
parties.
PART 2
Continuous development plan (CPD) refers to the process which is adopted by an
individual to acquire new skills and abilities with an aim to enhance in knowledge. It can be
gathered by formally and informally while an individual work in organization (de Ramírez,
2017). In addition to the learning, it also comprises their future implication and necessary action
which is taken by an individual to gain innovative skills and experience. In the field of CSR,
there are some codes of conducts and an individual is suppose to aware with those. For this, CPD
plan is given as under:

CPD Plan
Area of Learning Reflection of
learning
Future Implications Action
Greenwashing
practice
I learned during the
module that
greenwashing acts of
CSR activities are
misguide &
misleading to
customers.
Here, It is analyzed
that people are not
aware about the
inappropriate
practices which are
used by companies
on the name of
promotion &
advertisement and put
a great impact on the
mind set of
customers. In future,
when I will be
working as an
professional it will
help me to perform
efficient activities for
the betterment of
society. In addition, it
will help me to take
right decision at work
place.
In this regard, primary
objective is to improve my
knowledge by 30 % in
upcoming 5 months in context
of greenwashing activity.
Policies of
professional bodies to
guide in CSR
Here, policies are
made by professional
bodies for the
Nowadays, the
business environment
is dynamic and there
Here, my objective is to
enhance my research skills
with 15 % in upcoming 3

acativities development and
enhancement of
society, environment
and overall economy.
In this module, I
learned about several
policies which are
dynamic in nature
and necessary to
analyse on constantly
to monitor necessary
cahngrs and modify
the strategies of
company
accordingly. It
provide me great
knowledge about
CSR activities and its
significance for the
betterment of society.
are several changes
have been made on
regular basis. In
addition, professional
bodies make several
modifications in
current policies for
this it is crucial for
me as well as
business
organizations to
understand these
changes and act
accordingly. It will
help me to improve
my future
performance and
undertake necessary
activities at work
place. Further, I will
be able to ensure
maximum growth and
development of
society by getting
proper knowledge of
these policies. This
will help me to first
analyze situation
effectively then lead
to take effective
decision to resolve
months so that I will be able
to analyze policies of
professional bodies in an
efficient manner.

the issues CSR issues
faced by company in
better manner.
CONCLUSION
From the above discussion, it is monitored that corporate social responsibility is the
moral responsibility of an organization which need to undertake in an efficient manner. In
addition, there are several challengers have been faced by companies in order to conduct CSR
activities effectively. Discussion has been carried out about code of conduct, rules and
regulations which are crucial to follow by company so that business can sustain at market place
for longer run. Further, there are several professional bodies which prepare effective policies and
provide necessary support to entities to undertake CSR functions in ethical manner. Besides this,
Continuous development is crucial for an individual to enhance in knowledge and potential that
is essential for future development and growth.

REFRENCES
Books and Journals
de Ramírez, C.K., 2017. 3 Preparing Students for the Workplace. Language for Specific
Purposes: Trends in Curriculum Development, p.55.
Greer, T.W., 2017. Career development for women veterans: Facilitating successful transitions
from military service to civilian employment. Advances in Developing Human
Resources, 19(1), pp.54-65.
Kreitzer, M.J. and Klatt, M., 2017. Educational innovations to foster resilience in the health
professions. Medical Teacher, 39(2), pp.153-159.
Lee, C.C. ed., 2018. Counseling for social justice. John Wiley & Sons.
Schoone-Jongen, T.G., 2016. Shakespeare's Companies: William Shakespeare's Early Career
and the Acting Companies, 1577–1594.
Tarvydas, V.M. and Hartley, M.T. eds., 2017. The professional practice of rehabilitation
counseling. Springer Publishing Company.
White, S. and Forgasz, R., 2016. The practicum: The place of experience?. In International
handbook of teacher education (pp. 231-266). Springer, Singapore.