Professional Career Preparation: Ethical Issues and CSR Analysis

This report provides a comprehensive overview of preparing for a professional career, addressing key aspects such as global ethical issues, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and codes of conduct. It examines CSR as a crucial business practice for societal development and includes an analysis of Tesco's CSR initiatives, highlighting both successes and criticisms. The report also explores the importance of codes of conduct in guiding ethical behavior and decision-making within organizations. Furthermore, it discusses the support and guidance available from professional bodies, including NGOs and the Institute of Corporate Social Responsibility. The report concludes with a detailed CPD plan, focusing on the application of codes of conduct, business ethics, and the implications for future career development. It emphasizes the need for transparency and ethical financial practices to maintain stakeholder trust and ensure long-term success.

preparing for
professional career

Table of Contents
PART 1............................................................................................................................................3
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Main Body.......................................................................................................................................3
Global Ethical issue.....................................................................................................................3
Code of Conduct.........................................................................................................................4
Support and guidance available from professional bodies..........................................................4
PART 2............................................................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION:...............................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

PART 1
INTRODUCTION
There are several issues prevailing at global level such as corruption, unethical business
practices and many more. Business owners are required to adopt necessary ethics, policies and
may more in order to operate organisation in an efficient manner (Huff, Zoltowski and Oakes,
2016). In the current report CSR is taken into consideration which is an essential business
practice and need to be follow in an appropriate way to ensure long term survival. CSR is a
concept that is adopted by organisations for overall societal development. In addition, there are
certain code of conducts which have been formulated by higher authorities so that business can
be operated in right manner. In addition, it also comprises support and assistance of regulatory
bodies that helps to undertake CSR activities in an appropriate way. Further, a CPD plan have
been also included in the report to develop necessary action plan for further improvements.
Main Body
Global Ethical issue
Corporate social responsibility is a concept in which companies adopt several policies &
strategies for the well-being of society and to protect environment. In this, managers integrated
both environmental as well as societal concerns (Lent, 2018). Nowadays, CSR has become a
major concern for global economy. There are several organisations that are giving a significant
part of their profit for societal development. For instance, TESCO is providing quality goods to
customers and fulfil its responsibilities towards other stakeholders such as employees, investors
and more. The major strategy of organisation is to provide value and better experience to
customers. Main aim of entity is to make a significant impact on overall society by providing
them standardized product at lower price. It is analyse that organisation is giving significant
contribution to protect environment. For this, it is using effective practices of recycling and
reusing.
In 2004, company faced tremendous criticism from stakeholders to not follow appropriate
code of conduct for environmental and societal development. It is analysed that in 2019, TESCO
got worst rating by customers for its unethical practices (Is Tesco ethical?, 2020). As, company
was using toxic elements for the production of electronic goods. These all practices are
negatively affecting the existing brand image of organisation. Therefore, CSR is an essential

function which need to be perform well at global level. Otherwise, it may hamper current
positing of brand at market place.
Code of Conduct
Code of conducts are the guidelines, rules and responsibilities which are imposed on
companies by higher authorities. It guides to employees to deal with several social ethical and
environmental challenges in an effective manner. In addition, code of conduct also assist human
resource to take better decisions as per predefined values and principals. Code of conduct for
TESCO for its CSR activities is give as under:
It is analysed that TESCO follows clear policies for marketing and pricing of its
products. Managers communicate with consumers from messages, emails, advertisements and
other communication channels in order to provide them clarity about company's approach &
policies.
Company follows appropriate standards for foods and beverages. It ensures to provide
higher quality of products to customers and keep their safety on priority. For this, managers have
established food safety management system within organisation.
In addition, TESCO also adopts effective practices to protect and safeguard the data of its
employees and customers. While receive data from customers, managers follow the predefined
data principals such as protect, appropriate, open and customer benefit.
Here, organisation also uses practice of ethical trading in which it hire such suppliers
who do not share its values & principals with other and people in right way. For this, TESCO
uses Ethical Trading Initiative ( ETI) base code to promote consistent and better global
standards.
Company also adopts appropriate accounting and financial practices to protect the
interest of investors and shareholders in business. In addition, TESCO reports its financial
accounts accurately and maintain transparency that will helps to provide necessary information
to investors on time basis.
Support and guidance available from professional bodies
CSR is consider as a crucial business function which is performed in order to maximize
overall societal development. There are several organisations that provides support to and
assistance to organisations to conduct CSR activities in better manner that are given as under:

NGO: There are several NGO( non profit organisations) that provide support and
assistance to organisation to undertake various CSR activities (Bush, 2016). Main aim of NGOs
is to create huge social impact so they also aid organisations to perform different activities. It is
also analysed that NGO provides necessary funds to small companies to perform CSR function
in an efficient manner.
Institute of Corporate social responsibility: There are several organisations work as a
member of this institute. They encourage members to prepare appropriate strategies to ensure
overall societal development. In addition, it also arranges events and functions to enhance in the
knowledge of member organisation so that they can perform CSR function in better manner.
It is analysed that code of conducts are the rules which need to follow by an organisation
to conduct CSR activities in better manner (Aničić, Divjak and Arbanas, 2016). Here some code
of conducts such as quality products and services, ethical trading, appropriate accounting
practices have been developed by higher authorities. With this, organisations are able to maintain
positive brand image at market place. In addition, there are certain professional bodies &
organisations that provide support and assistance to company to follow Corporate Social
responsibility. In addition, these entities also render funds to carry out CSR activities effectively.
PART 2
CPD PLAN
Area of
Learning
Reflection of Learning Future Implications Action
(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)
Code of
conduct
Code of conduct is basically
a set of rules, norms &
responsibilities of an
organisation. It mainly
clarifies the company vision,
mission, principles & values
It is determined by me that
learning about the concept
of code of conduct will
help me in my future when
I will performing a job. In
addition to this, knowledge
In order to
learn about the
code of
conduct, I will
read the
articles and also

associated with the
standards of professional
conduct. In addition to this,
it also assist staff members
locate relevant documents,
valuable referencing &
other resources associated
to the ethics of company.
of code of conduct assist in
making use of resources in
a proper manner and also
help me in understanding
the principles as well as
values of my future
organisation in a proper
manner.
take online
sessions in time
period of 2-3
months.
This help me in
attaining my
objective and
also assist in my
career. It is
measure by me
by analysing the
actual
performance
with the past
performance.
Use and
purpose of
code of
conduct
The main purpose of code
of conduct is it demonstrate
company integrity, define
expectations to staff
members, decline risk of
being fined and many more.
Learning about the
purpose and use of code of
conduct will help me
career in order to decline
risk of being fined and
misinterpreted. In addition
to this, it will help me in
knowing what
expectations are set for
me because of which I can
set my skills and achieve
future company objective
timely and effective that in
turn leads to attainment of
both personal as well as
professional growth.
For learning
about the
purpose and
use of code of
conduct, I am
taking help of
may mentors
and teachers
and also set
time period for
taking seminars
that is
conducted in a
week. This real
experience will
assist me in
learning about
purpose and
reduce the level
of being fined
in future
organisation. It
will take time of
3-4 months that
assist me to
learn about use
of code
conduct.
Impact of code It is determined that code of It is analysed by me that For learning

of conduct on
business ethics
conduct defines how an
organisation's staff
members act on the
continuous basis. In
addition to this, it mainly
reflects on the core values,
organisational culture, daily
operations and so on.
Moreover, every code of
conduct is unique to the
company it represents.
business ethics plays an
important role in every
organisation that defines
the code of conduct as
well. This will assist me to
execute activities with
proper rules and
regulations that decline
the level of risk and
enhance my performance
level as well.
this, It is
important for
me to
continuously
read articles,
focus on the
changes that
take place in
company and
learn about
business ethics
in the time
period of 3-4
months.

CONCLUSION:
With above discussion, it is analysed that there are numerous global challenges that affect
overall economy of a country. Nowadays, CSR is consider as an essential business function
which create huge positive impact on organisation and may put negative impact if do not
perform in an effective manner. Discussion has been carried out about several organisation and
professional bodies to support CSR activities. Thus, company is required to be have more
transparency in terms of their financial statements so that stakeholders remain aware about its
financial position and invest in company that is really essential for its future growth and success.

REFERENCES
Aničić, K.P., Divjak, B. and Arbanas, K., 2016. Preparing ICT graduates for real-world
challenges: results of a meta-analysis. IEEE Transactions on Education, 60(3), pp.191-
197.
Bush, T., 2016. Preparing new principals: Professional and organisational socialisation.
Huff, J.L., Zoltowski, C.B. and Oakes, W.C., 2016. Preparing engineers for the workplace
through service learning: Perceptions of EPICS alumni. Journal of Engineering
Education, 105(1), pp.43-69.
Lent, R.W., 2018. Future of work in the digital world: Preparing for instability and
opportunity. The Career Development Quarterly, 66(3), pp.205-219.
Meisner, G., 2017. Preparing for a Career in Industrial Physics. APS, 2017, pp.L40-005.
Online
Is Tesco ethical?, 2020, Availability, [Online
through, ]<https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/company-profile/tesco-plc >/