Business Report: CSR Strategies for Unos Property Development Analysis

This business report analyzes the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategies of Unos Property Development (UPD), a company based in Perth, Western Australia, that develops commercial and residential properties. The report addresses the sustainability challenges UPD faces, particularly regarding water and energy efficiency. It examines UPD's efforts to improve its CSR profile through projects like the Perth Skies development, aiming to provide energy-efficient residences. The report reviews existing literature and case studies, such as Josh's house and the Lochiel Park Green Village, to identify sustainable approaches and recommend strategies for UPD. Key recommendations include expanding CSR initiatives, revising existing policies, evaluating stakeholder expectations, and implementing innovative technologies for water and energy management. The report concludes that UPD should prioritize sustainable practices to regain its market reputation and gain a competitive advantage.

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BUSINESS REPORT
Executive Summary
The report was based on the sustainability issues faced by the Unos Property Development. In
this report, specific focus was put on water efficiency and energy efficiency. Relevant findings
from the existing literature have outlined the sustainable approaches that will be suitable for
UPD.
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Table of Contents
Part A...............................................................................................................................................3
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Findings and discussion...................................................................................................................3
Conclusion and recommendation....................................................................................................3
Part C...............................................................................................................................................4
Introduction......................................................................................................................................4
Findings and discussions.................................................................................................................4
Conclusion and recommendations...................................................................................................6
References........................................................................................................................................8
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Part A
Introduction
Unos Property development or UPD is a successful and established company situated in
Perth, Western Australia and excels in developing commercial and residential properties. In the
current days, the company is facing issue with its sustainable development and loss of reputation.
This report will outline the CSR strategies of UPD for regaining their lost image.
Findings and discussion
It was found out that in order to improve their CSR profile, the company was working on
a low- rise and high- density housing project known as Perth Skies development. The intention
behind this project was to offer a reasonable and energy- efficient residence for providing
sustainable living (Proikaki et al. 2017).
It can be discussed in this respect that, corporate social responsibility is in demand in the
contemporary business environment. Therefore, UPD has taken a wise decision in investing
towards sustainable living. In this way, they can continue to flourish their business in the same
way as they have done for the last 35 years. CSR can provide a competitive advantage to UPD in
comparison to the rival companies (Schwartz 2017).
Conclusion and recommendation
From the plan of UPD, it can be recommended that the company will need to expand on a
global scale by effective utilization of their CSR strategies. Their move towards implementing
CSR ventures will help them in merging and acquisition with foreign companies. There will be
several challenges in implementing the strategies, as there will be unexpected and unavoidable
situations. If the company has any existing CSR policies then they will need to be revised and
some new policies need to be incorporated. It will help the company in evaluating the
stakeholder expectations and conduct value generation programs.
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Part C
Introduction
Unos Property Development or UPD is a successful company in the commercial and
residential sector. This company is successfully running their business for 35 years in the Perth
region of Western Australia. The company was successful for a long time in developing
commercial and residential properties in the business environment, but they are facing recent
issues in keeping up with the sustainable practices. It has led to their loss of image and reputation
in the market. The company has only focused in developing their business for all these years;
however, they did not pay attention in implementing sustainable approach for the same. Without
suitable CSR strategies, the company has fallen behind its rival companies in the market and they
are looking for an alternate solution for the same (Döscher et al. 2014). This business report will
help in outlining the relevant strategies as per the problems faced by the Unos Property
Development.
Findings and discussions
A review of the company activities focused on the two major issues of water efficiency
and energy efficiency. The company had only paid attention in spreading and developing their
business, however, they neglected the importance of implementing a suitable sustainable
approach in their business. As a commercial and residential property business, the company was
involved in the wastage of water and energy. Nevertheless, they did not make any attempt in
making up for the wastage of resources. However, when the negative impact was tremendously
felt, the company became aware and took up the project of Perth Skies Development. As per this
project, they had intended to build low- rise and high development housing project to provide
affordable and energy efficient housing project which will be helpful in promoting sustainable
living (Hasanbeigi and Price 2015).
In the light of the problem faced by UPD, the instance of Josh’s house can be used. It was
an innovative and unique housing project in the Hilton area of Western Australia. The two- star
rated homes in the particular area was involved in a positive approach of urban water
management. It was a practice of integrated design and implementation of water using a unique
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high- class media campaign. The intention behind this campaign was to spread a wide range of
knowledge among the public as well as the industry. Byrne, Dallas and Newman (2014) have
stated that the design, which was implemented in the management of urban water, was associated
with water- based components for commissioning the project. Moreover, the ways in which the
whole process was monitored at par with the building designs and a follow- up of the
performance data was carefully examined for access by the larger community.
Therefore, it can be said that if a two- start rated project can take up such an effort for
water efficiency then a successful business as UPD can get involved in similar kind of practice
for saving water. Australia is experiencing drought condition in the recent days, therefore saving
water during crisis will give a competitive advantage to the company and they can get an
opportunity to regain their lost image. It was mentioned in the specific article that the famine and
drought condition have led to an urge among the public and the industries to indulge in the
process of innovation to avoid misuse of water. Therefore, it can be assumed that the highest
probability in the efficient use of water can be best achieved when the industries and the public
will combine to an implement a sustainable approach. An innovative and properly designed
technology will make the practice easy and fast to incorporate in the daily life.
According to Berry et al. (2014) several countries are struggling to find ways on
improving the energy policies by reducing the impact of carbon in housing development. This
article will be helpful in the case of UPD who were struggling to make an impact in terms of
energy efficiency. A review of the case focused on the gap in implementing sustainable approach
by the housing development company. From the specific article, it can be analyzed that the terms
of net zero- energy home and net- zero carbon home can be found relevant as per the issue faced
by the UPD Company. Being a commercial and Housing Development Company, the company
had a negative influence on energy efficiency. However, they did not attempt in reducing the
negative impact on the energy resources and therefore, had to lose their reputation. In adherence
to this issue, it can be stated that the Lochiel Park Green Village in South Australia took a simple
strategy in creating zero- energy homes in an almost zero- carbon estate. It was a brilliant
approach in developing energy efficient homes of varying sizes and it was helpful in conserving
energy, at the same time reducing the negative impact of carbon. UPD can think of such similar
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approaches to get back their lost image in the market by acting on energy efficiency (Gillingham,
Rapson and Wagner 2016).
Pierson and Hlavacs (2015) have stated in their article that climate change is a major
issue faced by humankind. There is constant increase in greenhouse gases due to lack of energy
efficiency measures. UPD has fallen prey to the rising issue of water and energy scarcity and
they should implement sustainable approaches in order to save their reputation.
Conclusion and recommendations
From this report, it can be concluded and recommended that UPD, being a successful and
established company in the commercial and housing development sector should endorse
sustainable approaches for taking care of water and energy related issues. As they have started te
project of Perth Skies Development for sustainable living, similarly they should take up water
management approached by using innovative technologies. The review of the literature will help
them in considering the sustainable approaches that will be beneficial for an affordable living.
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References
Berry, S., Whaley, D., Davidson, K. and Saman, W., 2014. Do the numbers stack up?
Lessons from a zero carbon housing estate. Renewable Energy, 67, pp.80-89.
Byrne, J., Dallas, S. and Newman, P., 2014. Optimising Residential Water Efficiency–The
Josh’s House Project. In Oz Water’14 Conference proceedings. Australian Water
Association.
Döscher, H., Geisz, J.F., Deutsch, T.G. and Turner, J.A., 2014. Sunlight absorption in water–
efficiency and design implications for photoelectrochemical devices. Energy & Environmental
Science, 7(9), pp.2951-2956.
Gillingham, K., Rapson, D. and Wagner, G., 2016. The rebound effect and energy efficiency
policy. Review of Environmental Economics and Policy, 10(1), pp.68-88.
Hasanbeigi, A. and Price, L., 2015. A technical review of emerging technologies for energy and
water efficiency and pollution reduction in the textile industry. Journal of Cleaner
Production, 95, pp.30-44.
Pierson, J.M. and Hlavacs, H., 2015. Introduction to Energy Efficiency in Large-Scale
Distributed Systems. Large-Scale Distributed Systems and Energy Efficiency: A Holistic View,
pp.1-16.
Proikaki, M., Jones, N., Malesios, C. and Evangelinos, K., 2017. Exploring perceptions on the
importance of corporate social responsibility in industrial areas. Progress in Industrial Ecology,
an International Journal, 11(1), pp.3-15.
Schwartz, M.S., 2017. Corporate social responsibility. Routledge.
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