CSR
Utility Ehics
Instructions:-
Module 3 – SLP
Utility Ethics
In the Module 3 SLP, you will choose an organization with which you are familiar, and you will write a 2- to 3-page paper, in which you discuss the extent to which your organization embraces Corporate Social Responsibility (or CSR).
Required Reading
Read the following article, which provides examples of socially responsible companies (this website includes a number of quite excellent articles pertaining to the merits of CSR). You may also want to explore the optional readings provided below, as they may be useful to your understanding of CSR:
Fallon, N. (2014, December 4). 20 great examples of socially responsible businesses. Business News Daily. Retrieved from http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/5499-examples-socially-responsible-businesses.html
Assignment
In a well-written, 2- to 3-page paper, discuss the extent to which an organization with which you are familiar pursues CSR.
Keys to the Assignment
- In 1-2 paragraphs, describe your organization – what it does, how many employees, how much revenue, etc.
- Select some aspect of CSR, and discuss how your organization employs CSR in its operations.
- What are the specific advantages to your company in its use of CSR?
- If your company does not presently pursue a form of CSR, please identify a specific CSR practice (e.g., environmental consciousness, community welfare, etc.) from which your company would benefit.
- Be sure to use at least two sources from the library to support your discussion and analysis (choose sources that are not included in the Background section of this module).
- Follow the guidelines in The Student Guide to Writing a High Quality Academic Paper
- You are expected to demonstrate evidence of critical thinking – as defined in the Module 2 background materials and the grading rubric.
- Save your completed paper, and upload your assignment before the due date.
SLP Assignment Expectations
Your paper will be evaluated using the grading rubric.
Solution
Utility Ehics
Sanuk is one of the companies that have shown exemplary leadership in incorporating CSR activities into their business operations. The shoe company was founded in 1997 with the aim of creating comfortable shoes using reusable and sustainable products. According to the founder, Jeff Kelley, the objective of the brand is to come up with thoughtful products that show creativity and a level of thoughtfulness towards the global environment (Elizalde, 2014). Deckers Outdoor Corporation bought the company from its founder back in 2011, but they still maintain their CSR outlook which has brought a lot of positive results for the company over the years. There are 45 employees, as at 2016, and revenues for the second quarter of the fiscal year amounted to $17.3 million.
CSR
Sanuk is a company that is built around the various CSR activities that they perform. One of their primary approaches is via the R.A.S.T.A project which supports the global community as well as the environment (Elizalde, 2014). The project is an acronym for Recycled and Sustainable Trade Alliance. Sanuk aims to reduce the environmental impact by creating men’s and women’s footwear by using recycled tires to make the outer soles. The tires that would have gone to pollute the environment are transformed into a product that is usable by a large number of people and hence the environment is preserved. The company’s dedication to environmental protection does not end there since they also use bio-degradable bags made out of corn to ship their products to the customers.
Apart from innovation and sustainability products, the company also focuses on growing and supporting the global community. The company has partnered with another organization called Operation Smile to create positive change in the global community (Elizalde, 2014). Operation Smile is an international medical charity for children where they provide free reconstructive surgery for the children born with palates or cleft lips. Sanuk spends considerable resources traveling around the world to volunteer time and resources so as to help the cause. Sanuk have used their brand image to create awareness for the cause via campaigns and posting news about the charity on their company blog. Apart from raising money for the cause from other sources, a certain portion of their profits goes towards supporting the charity.
Importance of CSR
More companies are incorporating CSR activities into their business strategy since consumers are becoming increasingly aware of where they spend their money (Reeves, 2012). Customers will opt to support a company that displays genuine care for crucial matters in society apart from making a handsome return on investments. Sanuk have had sustainability and CSR in their business model since the company was formed. They don’t merely incorporate CSR into their activities, but they shape their business around CSR.
Sanuk
believes that their sustainability, innovation, and dedication to CSR have
played a significant part in the tremendous growth that they have experienced.
In just a few years, the company has risen to become a major player in the shoe
industry and this rapid expansion could be attributed to the CSR activities
that the business practices (Reeves, 2012). The customers become aware and
support a brand that is making positive changes in society, and that has been a
key catalyst in the growth of Sanuk. CSR has helped the name of the company to
grow quickly as well as their image, which results in creating returning
customers since they are completely satisfied with the product and what the
company represents.
References
Elizalde, C. (2014). SMILE…PASS IT ON! SANUK FOOTWEAR. Our Favorite Companies. Retrieved from https://stakeholderdoce.wordpress.com/2014/10/02/smile-pass-it-on-sanuk-footwear/
Reeves, J. (2012). Six Reasons Companies Should Embrace CSR. Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/forbes/welcome/?toURL=https://www.forbes.com/sites/csr/2012/02/21/six-reasons-companies-should-embrace-csr/&refURL=https://www.google.com/&referrer=https://www.google.com/