Corporate Social Responsibility: A Professional Development Report

This report delves into the realm of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) within a professional development context. It begins with an introduction to professional development, emphasizing its role in maintaining professional credentials. The report then provides a comprehensive analysis of CSR, exploring the reasons why businesses should embrace it and the challenges they face in implementation. A significant portion of the report is dedicated to a reflective journal entry, employing Gibbs' reflective cycle to analyze the student's personal skills development through the research process. This includes an examination of communication and research skills, emotional responses, and teamwork. The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of CSR for both corporations and society, providing recommendations for future professional development, and outlining an action plan for improvement.

PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
Reason why business should practice Corporate social responsibility........................................1
Challenges related to performing CSR........................................................................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
Reflective journal using Gibbs reflective cycle...........................................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Professional development refers to learning for earning and maintaining the professional
credentials like academic degrees related to the formal coursework, informal opportunities for
learning in the practice and attending conferences. It is described as an intensive & collaborative
and ideally incorporating evaluative stage. The report will be covering an analysis about the
requirements CSR including the challenges faced in complying in the current dynamic and
competitive business environment.
TASK 1
Reason why business should practice Corporate social responsibility
(covered in PPT)
Challenges related to performing CSR
(COVERED IN PPT)
TASK 2
Reflective journal using Gibbs reflective cycle
The complete research was about identifying the importance of CSR for an organisation.
I have found that the issue is on fire for all the corporates. They are facing criticism and other
issues even after performing well in the business. So the reason behind these issues is the
responsibilities of corporates towards society. They are making high profits and are negligent
towards the environment and social issues. They do not recognise that they are living in society
that do not belongs solely to the business. They have to understand and return what they are
taking from the society (Hildebrand, 2018). Resources are scarce and it is important that they are
utilised in the best possible manner, causing least harm to the society. Corporates are required to
come together for saving the environment and conducting programmes for the development of
society as a whole. I have found that there are corporates that are solely focused towards making
profits they do not adopt any practice for the social welfare. They have the thoughts that
company is focusing over satisfying the demand of consumers and adopting these practices
acquires costs of business (Rowe, 2017). Also I have some do not have the required resources for
carrying out the CSR practices. This stops them to carry out such practices. The compliance of
these practices have various benefits both to society and company therefore an understanding of
the concept is required to be developed.
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Description:
The above research has along with the knowledge and understanding about the key
concepts and practices of corporate social responsibility developed my personal skills. For
carrying out the research I have developed an understanding about the importance of
communication skills. They are very important in carrying out the research in any field or any
matter. A person who cannot communicate well with other would bot be able to identify the real
cause and problem that is going on related the topic of research. Carrying out the research I
found that I am having communication skills that I though to be good. At this level the
communitarian skills possessed by me are not enough. A higher level of communication is
required for dealing with the corporate world. I have found that verbal communication is not the
only factors that is considered when communicating with one another (Schmidt, 2017).
There are various types of communication that are equally important for an individual.
Communication consists of oral, non verbal, body language, gestures expressions and written.
Carrying out the above study that corporates give more importance to written communication
instead of verbal communication (Davies, Curtin and Robson, 2017). This is because it involves
decision or some instruction for that should be in writing so that there could be written evidence
of the instruction given. After that I started written communication for the matters that may be
required as evidence in future for referrals. Apart from this while having direct communication
with other it is important to consider the body language. It plays an important role in identifying
certain facts about the communication such as the interest level of the receiver by his postures or
gestures. They convey more than the written words therefore it could not be ignored. Importance
these communication types was realised while carrying out the above research. This also made
me realise that there is so much that I still have to achieve and improve. I will take steps for
making my communication skills better.
After the communication another skill that I developed was research skills. I had an
interest area in researching the facts and figures related to the given topic. I learned the research
methods how does the research is committed what measures are required to be taken, what are
the things to be kept in mind for the research. The communication possessed by me helped in
adequately researching about the CSR practices and its importance in the organisational context.
I found that for research to be accurate and reliable the sources from which the information is
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gathered are of great importance. I learned that only authorised books and journals should be
used so that the outcomes derived from the research are accurate. My seniors helped in
developing my research skill by giving proper guidance for area. I visited some corporate offices
where my communication skill helped me to get the real thoughts of the corporates behind the
CSR Practices. All are having the CSR practice in their organisation as per the beliefs and values
of owners towards the society and environment. I pen downed the interviews with some of these
owners and executives which helped me in drawing conclusions. Further books and web are of
great importance for any research. All the data and information related to the research is
available on the web. This made me realise that there is no requirement of number of resources
for carrying out research at this time. Research could be conducted even by sitting in a room.
Feelings:
I had gone through number of emotional behaviours during the research. Prior to this
research I thought I had good communication skills. At the time of interacting with big
corporates I felt anxious as they are very much conscious about the words to be used, manner of
meeting, their body language. I also felt anxious as they were high professionals running large
empires. However they were very cooperative and helped in becoming comfortable by general
discussion and then coming to the actual point. I was nervous when I was not able to get the
appointments from the corporate executives for the interview. But the next I received the calls
for the meetings which made me feel relaxed. The seniors helped me in carrying out the research
when I was down or was frustrated when required results were not obtained. They guided me in
proper manner and helped me in building confidence about the research. I realised it is important
to have control of the emotional changes during doing any work. A positive attitude towards the
work is must to be kept for coming at required results.
Evaluation: The above research also helped me in evaluating the other skills. Research cannot
be carried out all alone. It was a group project and for achieving the desired results team work is
must. By carrying out the research I released I have efficiency skills of working with others or in
a team. This collaboration helped in making this project a success. Team work requires
participation of each and every member, every one in my team was given the opportunity to
share his views for getting new ideas and methods of doing research. The intellectual
communication skills helped me in making research through the web sources checking its
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authenticity and reliability. The team work was going good because of the communication skills
and habit of listening the problems or issues of concern. When you are able to interact with each
other effectively trust is developed and they support in achieving the objectives and research.
Conclusion: I realised that though I was good at communication skills, researching, team work
and intellectual skills there is much more to be enhanced in relation with the above. Improving
these will further help me in professional courses and work in life. I found that I am good
communicator and understand the problems of my members but was not good at solving their
issues (Ramia and et.al., 2016). This makes it quite important for me to develop the problem
solving skills. Along with the same I was no able to manage the time efficiently and effectively.
Time is very important factors and one should have an adequate management of time. Works are
affected in absence of time management. These are the two areas which I want to develop for
becoming more successful in carrying the research.
Action plan:
Developm
ent
Objectives
Priorit
y
Activities to
be
undertaken
Resources Target
Start
Date
Target
End
Date
Criteria for
Success
Time and
self-
management
Medium .I would be
taking classes
and lecture for
time
management
(Markham,
Gentile and
Graham, 2017).
I would be taking
classes through
online lectures.
1/10/17 1/12/17 I would be
able to
management
my work on
time.
Problem-
solving skills
High This is
developed by
learning and
gathering more
and more
information.
Interaction with
people give new
ideas and
thoughts.
Internet sources,
books, and
interacting with
others.
28/6/17 13/8/17 This is judged
by the success
attained in
satisfying the
person whose
problem is
being solved
or suggestions
are made.
CONCLUSION
From the above research it could be concluded that CSR is an essential for the corporates
and society as whole. Companies should take steps for ensuring that they are complying with the
CSR practices. CSR practices are important as they have various benefits like increasing the
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brand awareness, recognition increasing employee and customer engagement, retaining
customers and employees. There are some challenges in complying with the CSR practices but
these should be overcome by them. Business and society should come together for complying
with the practices of corporate social responsibility.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Hildebrand, J., 2018. Bridging the gap: A training module in personal and professional
development. Routledge.
Ramia, E. and et.al., 2016. Mapping and assessment of personal and professional development
skills in a pharmacy curriculum. BMC medical education. 16(1). p.19.
Davies, K., Curtin, M. and Robson, K., 2017. Impact of an international workplace learning
placement on personal and professional development. Australian occupational therapy
journal.64(2). pp.121-128.
Rowe, G., 2017. Personal and professional development. The Handbook for Nursing Associates
and Assistant Practitioners. p.40.
Markham, M.J., Gentile, D. and Graham, D.L., 2017. Social media for networking, professional
development, and patient engagement. American Society of Clinical Oncology
Educational Book.37. pp.782-787.
Schmidt, M.K., 2017. Personal and professional development through internship engagement.
In Field-based learning in family life education (pp. 39-49). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
[Online]. Available through : <>.
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