Preparing for a Professional Career: CSR, Ethics and Conduct Codes

This report assesses ethical business issues, focusing on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as a contemporary challenge in the global business environment. It introduces CSR, explains codes of conduct for addressing related issues, and examines support from professional bodies like BSR and ICRS. The report evaluates the impact of these codes and support systems on both the company and the community, considering positive and negative aspects. It concludes by highlighting the importance of CSR and professional conduct in maintaining ethical and sustainable business practices. A CPD plan outlines the importance of CSR, Codes of Conduct, and Professional bodies and their impact on business.

Preparing for a
Professional Career

TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART A...........................................................................................................................................3
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
1. Introduction of the issue/challenge.......................................................................................3
2. Explaining the code of conduct that can assist in resolving the issue..................................4
3. Discussing the support and guidance available from the relevant Professional Bodies
Organisations...............................................................................................................................4
4. Assessing the impact both the support from Professional bodies and codes of conduct can
have on the issue..........................................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
PART B...........................................................................................................................................7
CPD Plan.....................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

PART A
INTRODUCTION
In this report, ethical business issues along with a contemporary ethical challenge that the
global business environment faces will be assessed. This report will outline the introduction of
the ethical issue of Corporate Social Responsibility and the code of conduct that can help in
resolving or addressing the issue. The report will then examine the support and guidance that
can be gained from the relevant Professional Bodies and the effectiveness of these bodies and
their advices will be examined. Further, the positive and negative impacts will be evaluated
that the suggested code of conduct and support from the Professional Bodies can have on the
issue from the perspective of community as well as the company.
MAIN BODY
1. Introduction of the issue/challenge
One of the most important issue or challenge that the companies have been facing these days is
their adherence to Corporate Social Responsibilities. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
refers to the management concept of organisations in terms of their practices and policies that
they undertake to create a positive influence on the society, environment and world as a whole.
It is the organisation self regulation in which integrates its environmental and social concerns
in the activities and operations of their business. The tremendous rise in awareness among
people for protecting the environment has put a lot of pressure on the businesses to fulfil their
CSR to as it plays a prominent role in the perception of the brand among the customers, the
organisation’s attractiveness to the customers, investors, employees in terms of acquiring and
retaining talented and efficient employees and all these contribute to the overall success of the
business(Latapí Agudelo, Jóhannsdóttir and Davídsdóttir 2019). The company can implement
their CSR efforts by taking environmental initiatives, volunteer projects, doing charity work
and following ethical labor practices. Many manufacturing companies and industries have been
adding to the issue by disposing their wastes in water and their operations also cause air and

water pollution leading to environmental damage and sometimes also force child labour and
inequality in workforce.
2. Explaining the code of conduct that can assist in resolving the issue
Some of the major codes of conduct that the companies can follow to resolve the issue are -
Respect for Human Rights which will bind the employers to prohibit forced labor and also
child labour and comply to the labour rights. Under this code of conduct, the company
should also honour and respect the diversity in their workforce and not discriminate on the
basis of caste, age, gender, disability, etc. It should ensure equal working and employment
opportunities to all the employees and avoid any complicit in human rights abuse(Codes of
conduct, 2022). The Conservation of Adequate Working Environment will ensure that the
company maintains a safe and healthy working environment for the employees wherein
minimum wages are secured along with appropriate working hours. Global Environment
Conservation, in which the company promotes environment promotion by evaluating the
impact of their business activities on the environment and try to reduce pollution, energy
usage and emission of greenhouse gas and use the resources efficiently and promote
recycling. Ensure Social Responsibility in the Supply Chain, under this code of conduct, the
company will ensure that they share responsible guideline for procurement among the
suppliers as well as sellers to ensure adherence to CSR throughout the supply chain.
3. Discussing the support and guidance available from the relevant Professional Bodies
Organisations
Some Professional Body Organisations working to encourage the company to fulfil their
Corporate Social Responsibilities and provides support and guidance to the organisations to
formulate their policies in a way that they can adhere to their CSR are Business for Social
Responsibility (BSR) and Institute of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (ICRS).
These organisations have their in-house professionals, academics, business experts and
consultants that provide guidance to the businesses to conduct their operations in a way so
as to support their environment and society along with fulfilling their business goals. These
professional organisations help the businesses to keep abreast of latest local, regional and
global knowledge and practices that are mandatory or important for the businesses to
follow to fulfil their CSR(Professional Bodies, 2022). The professional bodies also conduct

programs, conferences or even publications on a wide range of CSR issues related to the
workplace, community, social equity, sustained development, business ethics, marketplace,
environment or even global economy. They help the companies by providing information,
services and programs that can be used by companies to implement practices and policies
that would contribute to a responsible, sustained and long term success of their business.
They also set professional standards for companies and recognise their achievements in
terms of their CSR.
4. Assessing the impact both the support from Professional bodies and codes of conduct can
have on the issue
The codes of conduct formulated by the companies in context of CSR have various affects
on the company and the community. The code of conduct may be binding to the company
which creates a guideline for all the employees to follow to adhere to the company’s CSR
while it also has a limitation as preparing the effective codes can consume lot of time and
skills, these also have enforcement obligations and the company can face have cultural
obstacles. The codes of conduct impacts the community in a good way as the businesses are
establishing the codes on conduct and following them for the betterment of the
environment and the society(Effects of code of conduct, 2022). The Professional Bodies
help the businesses to formulate better practices and policies that can help them grow
sustainably and offer expert and professional advices to the businesses to fulfil their social
responsibilities. The suggestions can sometimes not be in alignment with the company’s
policies and culture, hence it may create an issue for the organisation. The professional
bodies create a positive impact on the community by promoting fulfilment of CSR among
the businesses.
CONCLUSION
In this report, the contemporary ethical issue of Corporate Social Responsibility will that the
global business face is highlighted. A proper introduction along with an example of a company
that reacted positively to the issue and another example of how a company enhanced the issue
is outlined. Some codes of conduct are stated that the companies can follow to remain ethical

and professional to the company’s CSR. The report then outlined some Professional Bodies or
Organisation that provide support and guidance to the companies in context of policies and
practices that should be implemented to adhere to their CSR. The report then concluded with as
assessment of impact of codes of conduct and the professional bodies have on the issue.

PART B
CPD Plan
CPD PLAN
What do I want to
learn?
What will I do to
achieve this?
What resources or
support will I need?
What is my success
criteria?
(Identify topics of
learning from
module)
(Detail what you have
learnt about the topic)
(identify how learning
will assist in future
studies and career)
(SMART target identifying
how learning will be
implemented)
Corporate Social
Responsibility – its
types and importance
for the organisation,
community and
environment
Prior to attending the
module, I had an idea of
what the Corporate Social
Responsibility is through
some studies, however I
did not completely
understand the importance
of fulfilling these for the
companies as well as
community.
I will be able to use this
knowledge when I get
into business and when I
will have to adhere to
these responsibilities
myself.
The aim of understanding the
importance of CSR for the
business as well as
community and environment
is quite specific and I plan to
learn more about it by the
end of this year and
implement it in the required
areas of learning as well as
career.
Codes of Conduct –
their use and purpose,
how they are formed
and their impact on the
business and its ethics.
Before attending the
module, I knew what
codes of conduct are,
however I did not fully
understand how they are
used, how are they
formulated and how they
Understanding the
importance and use of
Codes of Conduct will
not only help me
upgrade my knowledge
as a student, but will also
help me in the future as
My target of obtaining all the
related information about
codes of conduct will be
completed when I can
effectively answer any
questions related to it and
use it in wherever required.

can be used by businesses
to address their business
and global ethics and
resolve the challenges of
adhering to its CSR
an employee or even a
businessman while
working as a better
understanding of these
will help me in formation
of better ethics and
adhering to them
effectively in terms of
the business’ Corporate
Social Responsibilities for
environment,
employees, etc. as well
all other aspects.
Professional Bodies-
how they operate,
their membership and
impacts on business.
After attending the
module, I got to know a
lot more about the
professional bodies than I
knew earlier. How they
function, how the
businesses become a part
of these bodies by taking
memberships and the
affect they have on the
business and even the
society.
The acquired knowledge
about the professional
bodies will help me when
I get into a similar field of
career where various
professional bodies are a
part of the business
world.
The thorough knowledge
about these professional
bodies can be acquired in a
few months and I can test my
knowledge using feedbacks
from others and answering
various questions through
different sources and
evaluate my understanding of
the topic.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Latapí Agudelo, M. A., Jóhannsdóttir, L. and Davídsdóttir, B., 2019. A literature review of the
history and evolution of corporate social responsibility. International Journal of
Corporate Social Responsibility. 4(1). pp.1-23.
Online
Professional Bodies. 2022. Available through;< https://www.edie.net/uks-first-professional-
body-for-corporate-responsibility-and-sustainability-launched/>
Codes of conduct. 2022. Available through:< https://www.guyson.co.uk/sustainability>
Effects of code of conduct. 2022. Available through:< https://smallbusiness.chron.com/ethical-
differences-workplace-20017.html>