Final Examination: MBA CSR Assignment, Semester 2, January 2020

This document provides a comprehensive solution to an MBA Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) assignment. The solution addresses various questions related to CSR, including the implementation of CSR activities by Unilever, the importance of going beyond CSR, the benefits of CSR for businesses, the role of stakeholders in implementing CSR, the function of a business leader's forum, the impact of globalization on CSR, the connection between business ethics and CSR, and the significance of environmental audits in CSR. The assignment solution incorporates case studies, relevant concepts, and academic references to provide a thorough understanding of the subject matter. The document offers a detailed analysis of CSR principles, stakeholder engagement, and the practical application of CSR in a global business context, making it a valuable resource for students studying business and management.

Running Head: BUSINESS AND CORPORATION LAW 0
Corporate Social Responsibility
1/25/2020
Student’s Name

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Section A
Question A
Yes, the five-year plan seems to be sufficient to implement CSR activities by Unilever. As given
in the case study. Under this program, the company has decided to meet most of its green goals
and developed many other programs, which would support in achieving those goals. The most
important step taken by the subjective business under this plan is a reduction in the volume of
CO2 gas from water and energy in manufacturing. Further, the lead area of focus under such a 5-
year plan are programs on handwashing, sanitation, self-esteem, and oral health. It clearly shows
the concern of the company towards society. The plan could not have a clearer objective than
this. As the company has selected significant areas of focus, it is expected that the same would
contribute to the implementation of CSR activities.
Question B
Many environmental challenges such as greenhouse emission and pollution can be seen in
today’s time due to the increasing population. In such a situation, businesses also need to go
beyond CSR. Now, businesses are not only concerned about their activities but they are also
required to ensure the sustainability and global level. Only fulfilling social responsibilities does
not seem enough and therefore businesses need to check that the activities of suppliers,
consumers, and other stakeholders are sustainable in a similar mode. There are many ways in
which a business may go beyond CSR. For instance, the same can contribute to the
environmental targets set by national and international organizations voluntarily. In addition to
this businesses may also go beyond CSR by thinking less about the profits and giving the
company a purpose (Scudamore, 2019). Businesses can set their long term objectives in relation

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to environmental sustainability and may design day to day activities in a manner enabling to
achieve those targets.
Section B
Question 2
When a business works according to the concept of corporate social responsibility, the same get
many benefits of the same. One such benefit is associated with business reputation. The adoption
of CSR sets a positive and responsible image of the business in the eyes of stakeholders. Another
benefit is cost saving. When a business reduces the use of resources such as water and energy to
meet its social responsibility, it also reduces cost for the business. In addition to this, the
company receives fewer penalty notices from regulators which also bring a positive impact on
the financial status of the business. The third benefit is an increment in customer loyalty. In a
2016 Neilson survey, nearly 56% of participants agreed that the lead factor behind a brand is its
social value (Russell, 2018). Customers remain loyal to those brands that align corporate values
with the personal values of customers. In addition to these major benefits, some other benefits
such as access finance, identification of new business opportunities, fewer regulators burden are
some other advantages of the adoption of CSR (nibusinessinfo.co.uk, 2020).
Question 3
Not only the businesses but other stakeholders also help in the implementation of CSR. These
stakeholders include employees, customers, suppliers, business partners, and the government
mostly. In other words, this can be stated that stakeholders also contribute their efforts in
subjective implementation. For instance, the employee contributes to participate in CSR through
their commitment and increased productivity where they create a strong brand image
(Johannsdottir and Olafsson, 2015). Further suppliers help in the implementation of CSR where

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they adopt similar practices in the supply chain. By providing environmentally friendly products
to businesses, suppliers may integrate their efforts (Tekin, Ertürk and Tozan, 2015). Similarly,
the government also plays an important role in the implementation of CSR. It raises awareness
among companies and stakeholders and also builds capacities for businesses so that they can
adopt CSR in their practices. The further government also provide resolutions of issues to
businesses that they find during the implementation of CSR. In this way, it is clear that different
stakeholder plays their role in the implementation of CSR.
Question 5
Firstly, the meaning of a business leader’s forum is required to understand. This is a platform for
those entrepreneurs who are socially responsible and care about people and the planet where they
operate. It is a platform for the interactive exchange of ideas and investment in UAE/India
(itecuae.com, 2020). It makes a healthy interaction between businesses and the government of
both nations. It motivates trade and investment between them and also highlights the
expectations which the government of these nations has from businesses. In addition to this, it
also regulates the behavior of businesses and the manner in which they are required to behave
with their investors and stakeholders. In this manner, the forum supports the social
responsibilities of businesses and ensures the same.
Question 7
Globalization is a concept that allows the business of one country to serve in other nations as
well. This concept has huge implications for CSR. To understand the impact of globalization on
CSR this is to state that the consumer domain is common these days. With an increase of
globalization, expectations of consumers are also getting high and as per international norms
also, businesses have to take ethical, social and environmental issues into account

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(Csrandsustainability.com, 2020). To remain in competition in the market, businesses have to act
beyond their legal obligations and CSR helps in this manner. In the international market where
stakeholders have immense options, they choose those companies that are socially and ethically
responsible. In conjunction with the above, multinational companies also need to pay additional
attention to CSR while making business decisions and strategies to ensure that ethics, social and
moral issues are properly addressed according to the expectation of stakeholders.
Section C
Question 8
Corporate social responsibility is nothing but the approach of businesses to deal with their
different stakeholders in a way that satisfies the need of all. Managers of business are liable for
making business policies and decisions. In such a situation, these people play an important role
in supporting CSR. If business managers are responsible enough and have good business ethics
then CSR remains strong. Business ethics reflect the moral principle and let the business
leaders/managers know the ethical way to deal with a situation. In this manner, the concept of
business ethics and CSR are closely connected. Unless a business has not adopted the principle
of business ethics, the same cannot be assumed considering CSR. Further, Business ethics
provide different theories and confirm that stakeholders are important for each business and the
organization needs to consider their interest in dealings. If business managers adopt these ethical
principles in their behavior and wok accordingly then they make the decision and policies
considering the interest of all stakeholders rather than focusing on profit factors only. It means
they do their activities in the best interest of society, environment, and other stakeholders that
automatically support CSR. This can be understood with the help of an example. For instance

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manager of a business that understands business ethics are more likely to pay attention to social
responsibility rather than those who are not ethical in their actions. On the different side, if ethics
remain missing in the behavior of managers then they cannot be expected to fulfill the
responsibility that their business has towards the society and other stakeholders.
Question 11
As the name implies, Environmental audit is documented, a systematic, objective and periodic
process in checking and reviewing activities and services of the organization to checking
compliance with legal requirements, promoting good environmental practices, fulfilling the
commitment made to departmental environmental policy (epd.gov.hk, 2020). In the heavily
regulated environment of today, environmental audits are no more an option but it is becoming a
necessity. It checks the overall performance of the organization to environmental practices,
triggers new awareness, as well as also generate new practices and policies. Such audits play an
important role in CSR. The reason behind the same is that the environment is one of the
significant aspects of CSR as well as an emerging issue for every business these days. Such
audits help organizations to understand their weak area as well as their mistakes that they have
committed in the past. In this way, by analyzing the results of an environmental audit, the
manager responsible for CSR can understand the area where more focus is needed in the future.
As mentioned above, it also identifies the breach of environmental laws or any wrong measures
adopted by a business. Here this is necessary to state that only the adoption of CSR and
environmentally friendly practices is not enough but an entity also needs to ensure the
effectiveness of the same and here the subjective audit plays their significant role.

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References
Csrandsustainability.com. (2020) How Globalization Affects CSR? [online] Available from:
http://csrandsustainability.com/3-4-3-how-globalization-affects-csr/ [Accessed on 25/01/2020]
epd.gov.hk. (2020) What is an Environmental Audit. [online] Available from:
https://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/how_help/tools_ea/audit_2.html [Accessed on 25/01/2020]
itecuae.com. (2020) Business Leaders Forum. [online] Available from:
https://www.itecuae.com/blf/ [Accessed on 25/01/2020]
Johannsdottir, L. and Olafsson, S., 2015. The role of employees in implementing CSR strategies.
In New perspectives on corporate social responsibility (pp. 383-409). Springer Gabler,
Wiesbaden.
nibusinessinfo.co.uk. (2020) Corporate social responsibility (CSR). [online] Available from:
https://www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/business-benefits-corporate-social-responsibility
[Accessed on 25/01/2020]
Russell, K. (2018) Why CSR: Four Benefits of Corporate Social Responsibility. [online]
Available from: https://www.fronetics.com/csr-four-benefits-corporate-social-responsibility/
[Accessed on 25/01/2020]
Scudamore, B. (2019) Looking Beyond Profit Can Give Your Company Purpose – Here’s How.
[online] Available from: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianscudamore/2019/08/06/csr-impact-
on-business/#502c0683ba5c [Accessed on 25/01/2020]

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Tekin, E., Ertürk, A. and Tozan, H. (2015). Corporate Social Responsibility in Supply
Chains. Applications of Contemporary Management Approaches in Supply Chains.