Reference no: EM132552003

BUGEN 5930 Business, Society and the Planet - Federation University

Task Description

Part A - Resource Summary

This course has provided many resources to support your learning. This task requires you to summarise ONE of these resources from the list below:

Your summary needs to:
• Focus on ONE of the resources from the list above;
• Introduce the author/speaker, their topics/themes and the context of the paper/presentation
• Identify the key argument or perspective being presented;
• State the key findings/points of the paper/presentation (may use dot points for emphasis);
• Briefly discuss the relevance or contribution of this paper/presentation to business management;
• accurately reflect what is in the report/article/website/presentation

Part B - Short Answer Questions

You are required to provide written responses to 3 (three) of the 4 (four) questions below. Each question is worth 10 marks.
Your response to each question should be ¾ - 1 page in length (375 - 500 words).

In preparing your responses to these questions, you may need to access additional materials (articles, videos, reports, quizzes) that are available from the course Moodle page and/or the links in the questions.

Question 1
According to International Integrated Reporting Council (2013, p. 3):
All organizations depend on various forms of capital for their success. These capitals are stores of value that, in one form or another, become inputs to the organization's business model. They are also increased, decreased or transformed through the activities of the organization in that they are enhanced, consumed, modified or otherwise affected by those activities.
a. One of these capitals used by our organisations is natural capital. What is natural capital and how can it be measured?
b. Identify the specific ways in which a large supermarket chain could increase and decrease its impacts on natural capital?

Question 2
In recent years, many countries including Australia, Malaysia, United Kingdom, India and Hong Kong, have seen the emergence of the ‘social entrepreneurship' approach to responsible business.
a. What is ‘social entrepreneurship' and how does this approach improve social, environmental and economic sustainability?
b. Describe in detail one example of a social enterprise and how it is addressing one or more of the UN Sustainable Development Goals?

Question 3
Both Annie Leonard (The Story of Stuff) and the Natural Step (Interface - the Journey of a Lifetime) identify ‘Closing the loop' as being a key strategy for sustainable business.
a. Describe what was meant by ‘Closing the Loop' and how this strategy can assist manufacturing businesses to increase their efficiency and reduce costs.
b. Discuss some of the actions taken by Interface to close the loop in their transition to becoming a more sustainable company.

Question
Complete the Global Footprint Network's Ecological Footprint Calculator Quiz. When responding to the quiz questions, make sure you click on the ‘Add details to improve accuracy' link to ensure your ecological footprint results are as accurate as possible.
Once you have read the results of this quiz, you need to:
• Copy & Paste your quiz results (or take a screenshot) - 2 screenshots required - your results must include:
- The page with your Earth Overshoot Day, and number of Earths we would need if everyone lived like you, AND, click on the See Details arrow/link;
- The more detailed results, which shows your footprint By Land Type, By Consumption Category, global hectares and carbon emissions;
• Reflect on these results:
i. To what extent do you believe your ecological footprint calculator results are (or are not) an accurate indicator of the environmental impacts of your lifestyle? Give reasons for your answer.
ii. To what extent do you believe sustainable consumption is (or is not) important for the health of local and global business activities. Give reasons for your answer.

Part C - Giving Voice to Values

This task requires you to read the (attached) scenario ‘Doing Bad to do Good', from Babson College, and apply the Giving Voice to Values (GVV) framework to respond to the ethical dilemma presented. To demonstrate this application, you need to respond to all of the following questions relating to the scenario. You should aim to write at least 3 pages (1500 words) in response to Part C.

Question C1
Who are the key stakeholders impacted by the ethically questionable behaviour/practice outlined in this scenario and what is at stake for these key parties?

Question C2
What are the reasons and rationalisations that may be used by those trying to justify the ethically questionable behaviour and/or business practice that is causing the main character's ethical dilemma?

Question C3 - 250 words
What are the most powerful & persuasive responses (i.e. levers) the main character could use to respond to these reasons/ rationalizations? To whom should the argument be made? When? In what context? How can they be applied to enable the main character to act on his/her values, in a way that maximises the positive impact and minimises negative outcomes for all stakeholders?

Question C4 - 750 words
Develop a script that applies the GVV framework to this scenario. This script should begin at the point where the scenario ended. This must include dialogue of conversations with one or more key stakeholders in which the main character is able to give voice to her/his values, by using the most appropriate levers to respond to the most likely reasons and rationalisations, to achieve a more ethical outcome for all stakeholders.

Case - Babson Scenario - "Doing Bad to Do Good"

Attachment:- Business, Society and the Planet.rar