Business Environment and CSR Analysis of Calisen PLC Report

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Calisen PLC's business environment, focusing on the impact of innovation and technology on economic productivity and business operations. It examines how Calisen PLC leverages technology to enhance operations, sales, and profitability. The report also delves into the importance of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for the organization, including corporate governance, and the historical context of CSR in the United Kingdom, using the Barings Bank incident as a case study. Furthermore, it outlines the benefits of CSR for Calisen PLC, such as enhanced brand image, increased consumer satisfaction, and the creation of positive societal and environmental impacts. The report concludes with a discussion of the key takeaways and implications for Calisen PLC's future.

Business Environment

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
An understanding based on innovation and technology that impacted the productivity of
economy with particular emphasis on business organisation ....................................................1
Innovation and the technological impact operations, sales and profits related to Calisen plc....3
The importance of CSR for the organisation .............................................................................4
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Business environment refers to all the internal and external factors that affect how the
company's functions in terms of employees, management, customer, demand and supply.
Business environment simply suggest that how well the expectations of the consumers met. In
this discussion, the chosen company is Calisen plc which is a British energy company that has its
headquartered in Manchester, England (Najafi-Tavani and et. al., 2018).
The company provides energy meters and meter reading services. Calisen plc has been
founded in 2002 by Phil Nolan and Bert Pijls. This report includes two task. The first task
includes understanding based on innovation and technology. Also the impact on economic
productivity. In addition to this, the second task involves understanding of corporate social
responsibility for the Calisen plc.
Task 1
An understanding based on innovation and technology that impacted the productivity of
economy with particular emphasis on business organisation
Innovation: In simple words, the meaning of innovation is new combinations and creativity
which also includes the introduction of new products and the services. An innovation is
something original and quiet effective. The openings of the new market, new sources of the
supply are included in carrying out the new organisation in the new market. More effective
processes, ideas and the products are all included in the innovation. In relation with Calisen plc,
innovation simply act as a catalyst that can make the business grow and help Calisen plc in
adapting in the market place.
Technology: It refers to the various techniques, skills, methods and the processes which are
useful for increasing the productivity in an organisation. The utilization of the techniques is an
important factor because it involves the functional achievements and satisfaction for any
organisation. The role of technology in businesses has both tangible as well as intangible effects
and it will simply helps in producing the results of consumer demand. In relation with the
Calisen plc the technological infrastructure affects the efficiency, relationship and culture in
businesses. It simply affected the confidential information and security advantages as well.
Examples on improving the economic growth based on technology and innovation:
1

Technology and innovation is considered to be the major force in the growth under economy and
simply focuses on several features which is highly industrialised (Visvizi and et. al., 2018). The
most important component of the long term economic growth is innovation and technology
1. The development of the steam engine technology in the 18th Century. The steam engine
technology can be simply put in the factories, railways and transport revolutionised. More
recently, the information technology transform the way company produce and sell goods
and services.
2. A research based study by Christine Qiang suggest that from 1980 to 2006, the estimation
of 10% in the economic growth always happened from the increase in broadband
penetration.
3. Taylor Reynolds suggest that the role of communication and the infrastructure is simply
gives economic recoveries.
4.
The technological usage in the Business organisation with their operations
The technological aspects in business creates a several ways from which business needs
technology to be sustained. Technology is one of the major and the important factor for the
growth of every business because it enables in increasing the revenue and to produce the goods
and the services. Technology has a big and effective impact on the business operations.
Technology simply brings growth and operations improvement. The major role of the technology
in businesses is to improve the operations and driven the growth. Without technological aspect,
companies cannot be able to accomplish what they do. Different companies and the industries
which have been rely on the technological aspect improves business communication, the
inventory management, optimizes the production and some effective financial records are all
included in the technological aspect.
Business communication: Technology simply help in the effectiveness and perspectives of
building the business communication. The technicians, field workers needs to have a good
communication skills. The development in the communication and the technological information
help the businesses to remain stay connected at the given time, the increase in the efficiency and
the increase in productivity are all included in the business communication.
2

the optimize management: Technology simply helps in increasing of various opportunities and
optimize the level of production. The small companies simply compete with large organisations
in the operational efficiency for the digital tool and technological equipments.
Efficient operations: A company's operation includes the efficient operations. Technology can
simply play an important role that can help in reducing the workflow, speed enhancement and
automation. The proper technological enhancement helps start-ups as well as entrepreneurs in
saving the money and time that makes the business competitive and way more productive as
well.
Security improvement: Technology simply helps in keeping the data safe and vulnerable. The
business owner become a key to data loss prevention. It simply leads to the gadgets development
and use of the business premises.
Globalization: The technological aspect in businesses gives an effective role in wider reach of
the global market. The technology simply boosted the developmental e-commerce which also
brought some new dynamics in the globalization of businesses.
The IT spread simply makes cheaper production and gives an easy and fundamental way
in enhancing of the economic globalization. The global communications that has high speed
allowed collaborations and trading that can simply incremented on the international trading. The
technological advancement produce many changes and such type of development helps in
completely reformulation of the business. There are some effective technological threats
including phishing, hacking, malicious activities are some of the factors which gives advantage
in benefiting the technological perspective in the business (Eriksson and et. al., 2019).
Innovation and the technological impact operations, sales and profits related to Calisen plc
Technology have been simply revolutionized the ways in which companies conduct
several businesses on the basis of enabling several organisations.
 The small business owners can simply use technology on the basis of reducing the costs
in business. Back office functions, accounting, record keeping are all major factors
included in the operations. The organisation is using various technologies in order to
make sure that they can reduce their accounting records. They have started using
computerised framework in order to make sure that bookkeeping is simple for them and
they can also save their operating cost through it.
3

 In order to achieve profit and productivity, the programs and business software can
simply allow the employees in processing the methods. In relation with Calisen plc,
supervisors can easily create some effective measurable goals to reach and sustain the
company's objectives. The company is also working towards creating various measurable
goals. In order to enhance the profits the organisation have decreased the amount of raw
material which is used by the organisation. The employees of organisation are
successfully providing various innovations in order to use low cost raw materials which
will help in increasing profits for organisation.
 In order to bring the employees to their best capacity the organisation have developed a
training program which is helping employees to learn different skills online.
 The organisation is also using various ways through which they can save energy that is
used. It is a great way to promote the CSR that is conducted by organisation and the
innovation is helping Callisen plc. To enhance their goodwill.
 Use of digital media in order to promote their products and services is another
innovation brought by Callisen Plc. Through which organisation is bringing changes and
achieving more profits.
Task 2
The importance of CSR for the organisation
Define the terms
Corporate governance: Corporate governance in relation to a business organisation refers to a
series of convention methods and procedures which supervise the operations of an organisation
such that the interests of the firms stake holder's are at advantage while also benefiting the
society and various government authorities associated with the company. The committee that
usually supervises corporate governance in an enterprise is the board of directors. The members
of the board of directors are either selected by shareholders or placed by board of members.
Since corporate governance deals with both organisational and social prospects of an enterprise,
it focuses on a broad range of subjects. Calisen Plc have board of members who are taking
decisions in business in order to make sure that all the activities taking place are in benefit for
organisation as well as all its stakeholders.
4

Corporate social responsibility: Corporate social responsibility is a management idea through
which a company seeks to modify it's social and environmental outcome in a way which is
beneficial to the society and the company. This concept helps the company build a more
transparent and responsible enterprise and decreases any negative social consequences created by
the organisation. The social responsibility of a company begins with providing transparent
accounts to their investors. The company gets direct benefits in the form of satisfied consumers
by practising corporate social responsibility. The corporate social responsibility initiatives are
usually adopted by a company at a point of internal stability and stable profitability.
History of the corporate governance in United Kingdom with the following example
The British structure of corporate governance includes various rules legislation and
exercises that are enacted to guarantee that every company functions in a way which value the
interests of the shareholders, and the public to which it sells their products. The government
ensures that a company is held liable for their wrongful activities in relation to management of
the company. The Companies Act (2006) is the main law which deals with effective and lawful
corporate governance in United Kingdom. This act serves as a guideline to conduct lawful and
ethical corporate governance, it outlines various duties and responsibilities which should be
practised by the board of directors of an enterprise if they wish to conduct lawful corporate
governance.
The Barings banks incident is one of the most infamous accounts of failure of a company
due to lack of corporate governance . The Barings Bank was a 200 year old bank in England
which was renowned for credibility among various investors.
The bank faced disastrous collapse in 1995 due to the incurring massive losses which
were the result of unsupervised investments of a Singapore based trader. The trader made heavy
investments on a company and when that company faced sudden loses due to a natural calamity,
the trader was left with a loss which was more than the funds in the bank. This catastrophe made
the establishment bankrupt and resulted in thousands of employees losing their jobs. The bank
was sold to other company at a fee of £1 and the investors were left with nothing. This incident
shows the importance of corporate governance, a system which provides the investors an insight
and degree of control over their company (Miethlich and Šlahor, 2018).
Importance of corporate social responsibility for the organisation Calisen plc
5

Every able organisation performs several programs that create a positive impact on the
society and the environment. Such programs are conducted when a corporate understands the
need to return some of their profits to for the welfare and growth of the community which until
that point has helped the organisation achieve success. These programmes are part of the
corporate social responsibility activities that are undertaken by the organisation (Osman and et.
al., 2020).
One of the primary objectives of corporate social responsibility is to increase and
continuously improve the returns of the company to the society it operates for. This can be
achieved through philanthropy or by incorporating environment friendly techniques into the
operations of the company. Another function of adding corporate social responsibility
programmes into the firms list of operations is to enhance the image of the company as an
organisation which looks after the benefits of the community it markets to. One of the reasons a
company invests in corporate social responsibility initiatives is to attract and sustain talented
employees who are excited to work with a socially responsible corporate.
Some of the core features of corporate social responsibility programs are described
below:
 The policies started by a company to practice corporate social responsibility should be
continuous and regularly checked to look for any area of improvements.
 The programs should be linked to the area of expertise of the establishment and should be
related to the core principles that drive the company
 Various practices followed by the company to improve social responsibility should be
well understood by every employee and shareholder of the company
These are some of the significant features that can be suggest to have an effective
corporate social responsibility must have.
Advantages:
 Increases branding : The incorporation of effective corporate social responsibility
programs increases the organisation's brand worth as the company gets recognised by
consumer beyond profits (Fauziah, 2018).
 Constructs loyal customers: Corporate social responsibility programs help the company
create loyal consumer base. The consumer who sees there values reflected in the
organisations social activities becomes a loyal buyer.
6

 Creates engaged employees: As the employees receive social change in exchange for
working with an organisation, they become more inclined towards working efficiently.
This is directly reflected in the firm’s profits as the employee output increases.
Disadvantages:
 Increase in costs: the various corporate social responsibility policies and practices require
high investments and thus increase the costs of the enterprise.
 Oppose business objectives: The main aim of a business is to generate maximum profit
but investments in social responsibility programs are in direct conflict with that aim, this
can cause disruption in business management.
 Negative Public examination : The failure of corporate social responsibility projects can
lead to huge public bashing of the company
Importance of corporate social responsibility in context with Calisen plc
The overall aim is majorly to achieve the positive impact on the society. Maximising the
shared valuable effect for the owner of the Calisen plc is quiet important and having a overall
fact as well. A CSR agenda is simply to have a fairly consistent corporate world for the effective
decision making process and adoption of CSR oriented activities. The several policies need to be
considered as a core and inseparable component of the overall services and the offerings of the
products (Kim, Udawatte and Yin, 2019).
Archie Caroll's Pyramid of Corporate social responsibility
The Caroll's Pyramid have been developed by Achie Caroll for the profit enhancement.
CSR refers to the business behaviour It includes four types of responsibility including
Economic responsibility: It refers to the production of goods and services to attain maximum
profit. Company should have shareholders and demand a reasonable return of investment. In
relation with Calisen plc, the economic responsibility includes profits, business survive and the
support.
Legal responsibility: Minimum set of rules that have been set on the basis of expected functions
and operational rules as well. This factor is simply based on rules and regulation that can simply
present the ethical codes in the organisation Calisen plc as well. Several features of the legal
responsibility in Calisen plc include meeting some effective legal obligations, supplying of the
goods and services. While supplying their products and services the right to information is used
7

by the organisation and they are also not using any improper medium to promote their products
and services.
Ethical responsibility:The organisation conduct and manage business in an effective and the
ethical manner. Ethical responsibility simply means standards, practices and the activities as
well. In relation with Calisen plc, ethical responsibility includes business integrity, ethical
behaviour and simply recognizing the moral standards (Miller and Akdere, 2019). The
organisation is conducting all the activities legally and in best interest of the society. All the
social norms are fulfilled ethically. Any practice at the organisation is not aiming to fraud
consumers and the requirements of consumers are successfully fulfilled by them.
Philanthropic responsibility: It includes donations, time period and many other things. Callisen
Plc is successfully donating a part of their earning to the society. They are joining hands with a
number of different NGO’s to do so.
CONCLUSION
The discussion is simply based on business environment which helps in analysing several
factors and its major impact in the organisation. The chosen company is Calisen plc which is a
British energy company that has been founded in 2002. The discussion is based on two task in
which one task is simply reflected the understanding of technology and innovation and its major
impact on the organisation Calisen plc. Also task 2 includes the importance of corporate social
responsibility and Archie Caroll's pyramid of CSR which suggest that if Calisen plc uses it then
there will be an effective maximisation in profit.
8

REFERENCES
Visvizi and et. al., 2018. Policy making for smart cities: Innovation and social inclusive
economic growth for sustainability. Journal of Science and Technology Policy
Management.
Najafi-Tavani and et. al., 2018. How collaborative innovation networks affect new product
performance: Product innovation capability, process innovation capability, and
absorptive capacity. Industrial marketing management, 73, pp.193-205.
Ngo and et. al., 2019. Effective sense-and-respond strategies: Mediating roles of exploratory and
exploitative innovation. Journal of Business Research, 94, pp.154-161.
Borins, S., 2018. Public sector innovation in a context of radical populism. Public Management
Review, 20(12), pp.1858-1871.
Yun and et. al., 2019. How does a social open innovation succeed? Learning from burro battery
and grassroots innovation festival of India. Science, Technology and Society, 24(1),
pp.122-143.
Lee, J.M., Joo, S.H. and Kim, Y., 2018. The complementary effect of intellectual property
protection mechanisms on product innovation performance.R&D Management, 48(3),
pp.320-330.
Eriksson and et. al., 2019. A revised perspective on innovation policy for renewal of mature
economies–Historical evidence from finance and telecommunications in Sweden 1980–
1990. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 147, pp.152-162.
Miethlich, B. and Šlahor, Ľ., 2018. Employment of persons with disabilities as a corporate social
responsibility initiative: Necessity and variants of implementation. In Innovations in
Science and Education, CBU International Conference, Prague, 21-23.03. 2019 (pp.
350-355). Prague: CBU Research Institute sro.
Osman and et. al., 2020. Contextualising and critically theorising corporate social responsibility
reporting: Dynamics of the late Mubarak Era in Egypt. Critical Perspectives on
Accounting, p.102166.
Fauziah, F.E., 2018. Diversitas Gender dan Nilai Perusahaan dengan Corporate Social
Responsibility sebagai Variabel Intervening. Media Ekonomi dan Manajemen, 33(2).
Kim, S.H., Udawatte, P. and Yin, J., 2019. The Effects of Corporate Social Responsibility on
Real and Accrual‐based Earnings Management: Evidence from China. Australian
Accounting Review, 29(3), pp.580-594.
Miller, K.E. and Akdere, M., 2019. Advancing organizational corporate social responsibility
(CSR) agenda. European Journal of Training and Development.
9