Current Issues in Business Ethics and CSR.

ASSIGNMENT  (the question is towards the end of the document)

If you are not sure about anything ask me in class or email me (click on blue).

Assignment learning objectives/outcomes:

• To be able to prepare and write a well-informed sustained argument that clearly shows your voice in response to a set question. This is one of the most valuable skills you can develop at University and make use of for the rest of your life.

• to develop your learning in current issues in Current Issues in Business Ethics and CSR.

• to stimulate your analytical, critical, and evaluative faculties. To put topics into a particular context.

• to help prepare you for the kinds of situations you may face as a future manager.

• to encourage and develop your information gathering and processing skills (investigative skills)

• to be competent at applying relevant theory/literature/best practice to reality

• to encourage and develop your written presentation skills

• all the above as part of a broader aim to produce professional managers with an awareness and understanding of CSR and ethics.

SOME ADVICE BASED ON TWO DECADES OF TEACHING:

The marksheet is on Blackboard. Here are 4 pieces of advice from me based on nearly 22 years lecturing and marking assignments:

BE INFORMED IN YOUR THINKING

display capacity for objective thinking
make use of sources from the course reading-list
alongside sources from the course find some additional academic sources.
demonstrate original thinking
apply thoughtfully theory/literature to the question
INFORMED THINKING demands wide reading

READ WIDELY AND DO JUSTICE TO THAT WIDE READING

meaningful and relevant literature references in text of response
it is essential that you read widely from Current Issues in Business Ethics and CSR reading-list -some additional references through students own literature search but not at expense of ignoring the module literature.
detail beyond lecture-your voice informed by the literature is required.
ensure you reference your sources clearly in the text of your answers and not just in the bibliography.

DEVELOP A COHERENT ARGUMENT

strong attention grabbing
articulate continuous prose developing relevant points
incisive and without waffle
comprehensiveness/relevant/punchy

PRESENTATION:

clear unambiguous English
essay format
reader friendly

ASSIGNMENT TWO:

QUESTION: Essay Question

"In your view a) can the use of so-called sweatshops as suppliers be justified? b) what could a company do to ensure that sweatshops supplying them treat employees humanely and with dignity?

[note: your answer MUST be widely informed by the academic literature. MAXIMUM 2,000 words in essay format.