Free Essays on Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate Social Responsibility - What does it mean? One of the most frequently asked questions - and probably for all those individuals and organisations dealing with CSR issues is the obvious - just what does "Corporate Social Responsibility" mean anyway? Is it a stalking horse for an anti-corporate agenda? Something which, like original sin, you can never escape? Or what? Different organisations have framed different definitions - although there is considerable common ground between them. My own definition is that CSR is about how companies manage the business processes to produce an overall positive impact on society. Take the following illustration: Companies need to answer to two aspects of their operations. 1. The quality of their management - both in terms of people and processes (the inner circle). 2. The nature of, and quantity of their impact on society in the various areas. Outside stakeholders are taking an increasing interest in the activity of the company. Most look to the outer circle - what the company has actually done, good or bad, in terms of its products and services, in terms of its impact on the environment and on local communities, or in how it treats and develops its workforce. Out of the various stakeholders, it is financial analysts who are predominantly focused - as well as past financial performance - on quality of management as an indicator of likely future performance. Other definitions The World Business Council for Sustainable Development in its publication "Making Good Business Sense" by Lord Holme and Richard Watts, used the following definition. "Corporate Social Responsibility is the continuing commitment by business to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families as well as of the local community and society at large" The same report gave some evidence of the different perceptions of what this should mean fr... Free Essays on Corporate Social Responsibility Free Essays on Corporate Social Responsibility Corporate Social Responsibility - What does it mean? One of the most frequently asked questions - and probably for all those individuals and organisations dealing with CSR issues is the obvious - just what does "Corporate Social Responsibility" mean anyway? Is it a stalking horse for an anti-corporate agenda? Something which, like original sin, you can never escape? Or what? Different organisations have framed different definitions - although there is considerable common ground between them. My own definition is that CSR is about how companies manage the business processes to produce an overall positive impact on society. Take the following illustration: Companies need to answer to two aspects of their operations. 1. The quality of their management - both in terms of people and processes (the inner circle). 2. The nature of, and quantity of their impact on society in the various areas. Outside stakeholders are taking an increasing interest in the activity of the company. Most look to the outer circle - what the company has actually done, good or bad, in terms of its products and services, in terms of its impact on the environment and on local communities, or in how it treats and develops its workforce. Out of the various stakeholders, it is financial analysts who are predominantly focused - as well as past financial performance - on quality of management as an indicator of likely future performance. Other definitions The World Business Council for Sustainable Development in its publication "Making Good Business Sense" by Lord Holme and Richard Watts, used the following definition. "Corporate Social Responsibility is the continuing commitment by business to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families as well as of the local community and society at large" The same report gave some evidence of the different perceptions of what this should mean fr...

Environmental Resources Worksheet Essay Example

Environmental Resources Worksheet Essay Example Environmental Resources Worksheet Paper Environmental Resources Worksheet Paper How do minerals affect society? Minerals have aided in the continuous growth of developing nations and also, had abundant mineral deposits that enabled them to industrialized (Berg, 2013). However, as a consequence of industrialization, these countries largely depleted their domestic reserves Of minerals so that they must increasingly turn to developing countries (Berg, 2013). Also, minerals affect the global economy. For example, China controls more than 90 percent of the global supply of rare earth metals, has also reduced its exports to other countries, in a move that could affect market prices (Berg, 2013). 2. What is the difference between metallic and nonmetallic minerals? Provide two examples from each category and discuss their uses. Minerals are divided into two categories: metals and nonmetallic minerals. Metals are malleable, lustrous, and good conductors of heat and electricity, while nonmetallic teals lack these characteristics (Berg, 201 3) . Gold is a metal used for currency and iron is a metal used for steel buildings. Gypsum is a nonmetal that is used for drywall. Silicon is another nonmetal that is used for electronic devices. Mining 1. How are minerals extracted from the Earth and processed? There are two ways to extract minerals from the Earth, either surface mining or subsurface mining. Surface mining is done when minerals are closer to the surface. Subsurface mining is used when the minerals are too deep to be removed by surface mining. Smelting is the process in which ore is melted at high enraptures to separate impurities from the molten metal (Berg 2013). . What are the different ways minerals can be mined? Provide a brief description of at least three types of mining. What effect does extracting minerals have on the environment? Other than land damage, extracting minerals causes air pollution of the air, soil, and water. Also, it destroys vegetation and causes soil erosion. Possibly most importantly it affects the water supply. Mineral extraction exposes large areas of dissolved toxic substances to precipitation, greatly accelerating polluted runoff (Berg, 2013). Soil . What is your definition of soil? What is soil composed of? Why is soil important to the environment? Soil is the uppermost layer of the Earth and supports life on earth. Soil is composed of four parts: mineral particles, organic matter, water, and air. Soil is very important to the environment because various organisms depend on soil for life and supports virtually all terrestrial food webs (Berg, 2013). 4. What types of organisms are found in soil? Determine the relationship between soil and organisms. Ants, moles, snakes, and earthworms are just a small number of the many organisms that re found in soil. Essentially, organisms and soil depend on each other to remain balanced. Organisms that live in soil provide ecosystem services, such as maintaining soil fertility, preventing soil erosion, breaking down toxic materials, and cleansing water (Verge 2013). 5. What is soil erosion? How can soil become polluted? What effect does soil erosion and pollution have on the environ meet? Soil erosion is the wearing away or removal of soil from the land (Berg, 2013). Being that soil erosion reduces the amount of soil in an area, vegetation growth can become very limited. As result, it disrupts the balance of the ecosystem by eliminating food sources. 6. What is the purpose of soil reclamation? Soil reclamation can be executed by (1) stabilizing the land to prevent further erosion and (2) restoring the soil to its former fertility. To stabilize the land, the bare ground is seeded with plants that eventually grow to cover the soil, holding it in place (Berg 2013). Once the soil is returned back to its original state, the land can be used again. Forestry and Rangeland Resources and Management Strategies 7. Differentiate between government-owned and public lands. Which overspent agencies are involved with government-owned lands? What is the purpose of government-owned lands? Government owned lands provide vital ecosystem services that benefit humans living far from public forests, grasslands, deserts, and wetlands (Berg, 2013). These places include national parks and provide protection for endangered species and flood and erosion control. Public land is available for recreational purposes such as hiking, swimming and boating. 8. Why is the forest an important ecosystem? What is your definition of forest management? What is its purpose? Describe the concept of sustainable forestry. The forest is an important ecosystem because it provides many goods and services to support human society (Berg, 2013). They also provide employment for millions of people worldwide. Forest management is the managing of timber production. The purpose of forest management is to produce as much timber as possible. 9. What effect does the harvesting of trees and deforestation have on forests and the environment? Is there a preferred method for harvesting trees? Explain. Both the harvesting of trees and deforestation result in decreased soil fertility (Berg 2013). The vital minerals that are added by soil are washed away because there are no trees to absorb them. Also, this takes away food sources and shelter for various organisms. This disrupts the delicate balance of ecosystems. Selective cutting, is when a small group of mature tress are individually cut or in small clusters. This means that the rest of the forest is left undisturbed. However, this method is expensive and does not generate timber needed quickly enough. 10. What is a rangeland? Describe rangeland degradation and desertification. What effect does degradation and desertification have on the environment? Is there a referred method for harvesting trees? Explain. Rangelands are grasslands, in both temperate and tropical climates, that serve as important areas of food production for humans by providing fodder for livestock such as cattle, sheep, and goats (Berg, 2013). Degradation is both a natural and a human-induced process that decreases the future ability of the land to support crops or livestock (Berg, 2013). Desertification is progressive degradation that produces desert-like conditions on land that was used previously and was plentiful. 11. What is overgrazing? What effect does this have on rangelands? What strategies can be employed for managing and conserving forests and rangelands? Overgrazing is a situation that occurs when too many grazing animals consume the plants in a particular area, leaving the vegetation destroyed and unable to recover (Berg, 2013). When rangelands are overgrazed, plants die, the ground is left barren, and the exposed soil is susceptible to erosion (Berg 2013). The rangelands have to be taken care of by practicing techniques that are environmentally friendly. Agriculture 12. What is the difference between industrialized and subsistence agriculture? What effect do these methods have on the environment? Industrialized agriculture are modern agricultural methods that require large capital inputs and less land and labor than traditional methods (Berg 2013). Subsistence agriculture supports on the farmer and their family with little reserves. Industrialized agriculture causes pollution and lowers an ecosystems biodiversity. Subsistence agriculture relies on more human and animal labor and has a much smaller impact on the environment. 13. What is one agricultural challenge, other than soil erosion, that society faces? Explain your answer. One agricultural challenge that society faces is the lost of agricultural land. Countries are starting to expand and grow rapidly. With so much space being needed for expansion, this takes land that could have been used for agricultural purposes. The loss of rural land means that food will have to travel longer and use more resources to do so. 14. How would you describe sustainable agriculture? How does it affect the environment? In regards to agriculture, what are the advantages and disadvantages involved with genetic engineering? I would describe sustainable agriculture as agriculture that is better for the environment and leaves less of a footprint on the Earth. It also promotes high diversity. It has minimal long term impacts on the environment by using less pesticides and using biological diversity instead (predator-prey relationship). The advantage of genetic engineering is that any organism can be used and it takes less time to engineer another breed. The disadvantage is that there is yet to be seen what long term effects genetic engineering has on the environment or on humans.

The Human Cloning Nightmare essays

The Human Cloning Nightmare essays If it took 227 tries before the scientists that created Dolly got a healthy, viable lamb, how many tries will it take for a human? And how many deaths and lethal birth defects would it take (www. cs.virginia.edu/ethic 1) Cloning has always been a dream in sci-fi novels and movies and suddenly it is becoming a reality. A horrible reality. The government of the U.S. has banned testing for the cloning of a human. But how can we be so sure that isnt already going on? Although cell cloning may be helpful for medicine may be helpful for medicine in finding diseases and organ donation, I believe human cloning is unethical and should never be done. Human cloning is against many religious beliefs and the results are unpredictable. Cell cloning on the other hand may prove to be beneficial. The majority of religions protest the continual advances in the push for human cloning. Religious arguments are based largely on the traditions and scriptures unique to each faith ( www.cs.virginia.edu/ethic 1) For example, the Roman Catholics believe that every act of human cloning is of evil nature. They believe that cloning violates the rights and dignities of humans, and destroys the divine image of man created under God. In general, most people of the Catholic and other Christian faiths believe that each person holds a human soul, different from one and other. According to these beliefs it is impossible for the soul of a person to be cloned along with the physical being. Similarly, the people of the Jewish religion believe with human cloning comes deception within the family structure. In Jewish tradition, inheritance is passed down through the family lines and cloning would disrupt such practices. This is in accordance to the Jewish viewpoint on mans destiny and inheritance. Inheritance would change from physical characteristics present in the parents and showing in offspring, to...

Project Management 4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Project Management 4 - Essay Example The seventh element involves determining those people who will be used to deliver the message to the intended audience. The eighth element focuses at computation of funds that might be needed to ensure that there is proper implementation of the project plan. The final element involves evaluation of the communication plan to see if the goals and objectives have been realized (United Nations, 2007). The major audience to be involved in the communication plan includes evaluators who may help to assess the effectiveness of communication plan. Some of the information shared with this audience are message to be channeled, communication channels to be used and as amount of financial required to channel the message. The mechanism to be used in pussing urgent information includes online channels. For example emails’ and phone calls while less urgent and useful information may be passed via letters (Mobley, 2005). In addition, the information between employees and organization will be shared on daily basis to ensure smooth learning of the organization. In case the communication turns not to be ineffective the message may be adjusted. In addition, a different channel may be utilized. Some of the technologies that may be used include utilization of organization website, smart phones to mention just but a few. Finally, communication becomes an ethical/legal issue at a point where s ecurity and privacy of the information passed must be observed (Taylor & Dow,

Tesco Plc Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Tesco Plc - Essay Example Through the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR), companies have been forced top look beyond the economic returns of the business but also consider their impact on the environment and community around them. The importance of value creation through positive stakeholder relationships has an impact of significantly increasing the profitability of a firm (Edwards 1998). The increase in environmental legislation and the emerging trends of ethical consumers, the incorporation of social responsibility in the business strategy is more of a necessity in the competitive market. This report seeks to analyze the annual report of Tesco Plc for the year 2011 to investigate the way it accounts for its social, ethical and environmental impact. The report further compares the performance of the company with other companies in terms of environmental policies. Another aspect that is considered in this report is the nature of reporting that the company uses and recommendations for future str ategies to improve on the presentation of the company’s stakeholder’s strategy. 2. Business Review of Tesco Plc in 2011 Tesco is the most dominant retailer in the United Kingdom with a market share of about thirty percent. The company has a presence in several countries. It reported revenues in excess sixty billion in the financial year 2010/2011. The core purpose of Tesco Plc is to accord quality service to customers. The company’s goals are aligned to this vision that is clearly aimed at giving the company a competitive advantage in its market. The company has underpinned its commitment to the community and the environment by having a goal to put its responsibilities to the communities that they serve. To achieve this goal, the company has broken down its policy on environment and social issues into five key performance indicators that it uses to analyze the impact of its strategies. The key performance indicators on the social and environment issues for Tesco Plc for the period ending 2011 are analyzed below. 2.1 Responsibility in Buying and Selling of Products The customers require safe and affordable products. The company also lays emphasis on ensuring that the products that it sells are sourced in a way that is robust and meeting the required standards. Tesco has laid out strategies to help improve its relations with the suppliers through a program called â€Å"Trading Fairly†. However, the impact of this program cannot be quantified because the metrics of measuring the results are not available. In fact, it can be argued that these programs are publicity stunts since the same buying processes were used prior to the introduction of this program are still in place. A case in point is the widely documented practice by Tesco Plc to buy potatoes from the grey market instead of the official supply chain through Tyrells Crisps. The other issue of fair trade has been recently brought to the fore due to the price undercutting by super markets on bananas. The price wars between Tesco and Asda almost brought down the banana industry. The supermarkets opted to lower their margins and in turn reduced the amount they pay to their suppliers. According to Michaels (2004), the demand for cheaper products by supermarkets has become a ruthless way by the supermarkets to exploit the supplier. The net effect of lower supplier prices is that the workers in the farms are paid much less and this impacts negatively on the society. Sainsbury was the first supermarket to announce that it will sell one hundred percent fair trade bananas. Other supermarkets have followed suit but it is worth noting that Tesco was reluctant to commit to this cause. The increased money paid to the suppliers will have a positive impact on the community where the products are sourced from. The style of disclosure of the responsible sourcing and buying of products the Tesco

Can stem cell research promise any improvement in autoimmune diseases Paper

Can stem cell promise any improvement in autoimmune diseases - Research Paper Example Stem cell research promises improvement in autoimmune diseases. The immune system is the body’s main line of defense against invasion by infectious organisms. The body has many cellular components, and the immune system must be able to differentiate components of invading organisms and of its self to conduct its protection functions effectively. Through this, it only attacks the invading components and not its own components. The immune system may fail to recognize and eliminate invading components on time, and this result in infections. However, autoimmune diseases, such as type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis,  occur when the immune system fails to distinguish its own cells or components and attacks them by mistake (Ra, Kang, Shin, Park, Joo, Kim, Kang, Lee, Nakama, Piao, Soh, and Kurtz, 2011). Stem cell research helps explain why the bodys immune system, for some reason, turns against itself. Stem cells helps heal damaged tissues. Researchers have established the use of Haematopoetic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) in the management of malignant and non-malignant diseases (Holbro, Abinun, and Daikeler, 2012). Currently, research indicates that stem cell therapy induces intense healing action in animals with different forms of autoimmune disorders. Stem cells have the unique ability to adjust the immune system to avert pathological responses while at the same time maintain its ability to repel disease (Hugle and Daikeler, 2010). Stem cells and particularly, mesenchymal stem cells, produce anti-inflammatory agents in inflamed tissues. They do not suppress the immune response of the patient’s whole body like immune suppressive agents such as methothrexate and steroids, which present lasting unfavorable effects, and need for lifetime treatment. Instead, the stem cell mediators act locally. Alan Tyndall confirms that more than 1500 patients have received HSCT as

Using Economic Theories to Analysis Apple Inc Essay

Using Economic Theories to Analysis Apple Inc - Essay Example The behavioural process of consumers, suppliers and other business stakeholders of a firm can be thoroughly assessed with the help of appropriate economic theories (Heracleous, 2013). This report aims to interpret commercial success and failure of the famous multinational company of Apple Inc. For making the analysis, the researcher will use theories of economics such as, that of demand and supply, consumer behaviour, absolute advantage, rational choice and market structure (Hutt and Speh, 2013). It is highly rational to conduct this type of a research because the researcher will finally provide specific recommendations based on the analysis, that will help the company rectify few of the business problems. Apple Inc. is a publicly traded company founded in 1976, situated in California. The company engages in providing computer hardware and software products. Popular products of the company comprise iMac, iPhone, iPad, iOperating system and iTunes. At present, the company headquarters is located at Cupertino, California in the United States. The company conducts operations in almost all world economies. The organization was founded by three proficient business leaders, namely Steve Jobs, Ronald Wayne and Steve Woznaik (Apple Inc., 2012). It was estimated that in 2010, the organization owned over 425 retail stores across different marketplaces. The company provides services through both online and offline selling means. In 2012, the net income of Apple Inc. was estimated as US $ 41.733 billion, but in 2013, it was astonishing to note that income of the company had declined to US $ 37.037 billion (Hutt and Speh, 2013). However, the organization experiences huge scale and scope of trade a nd recruits over 80000 skilled workforce around the world. Though the net income or profit is falling, yet the company appears to experience increasing revenue. The revenue of Apple Inc. in 2012 was US$ 156.508 billion, which had increased to US $ 179.91 billion in 2013 (Apple