Reference no: EM132300431

Ethics and Governance

Assessment - Research Essay

Assessment Task 1: Overview

Assessment Criteria
o Key issues relating to the question have been developed
o Original and clear argument
o Logical and convincing discussion
o Ideas and assertions substantiated through use of high quality reference material and key academic perspectives/views used to develop arguments
o Appropriate Harvard style referencing (in text and list of references)
o Number and quality of references
o Clear and comprehensive written style (spelling, grammar, syntax etc.)

Assessment Task 1: Essay Topics

Canvas> Assignments> Assessment Task 1 - Research Essay

Research Essay - 2000 words

Think of writing this research essay as participating in a debate. You are required to choose one (1) of the following three statements (Topics 1, 2 or 3) and argue either in the affirmative (for) or the negative (against). In arguing your case you are required to anticipate the response from the alternative argument and counter those arguments in your essay.

The three assignment topics have been finalised, of which you are required to pick one of the following:

Topic 1: Clearcast and Iceland Foods Xmas Advertisement

In late 2018 Clearcast, the organization who clear ads for broadcast on UK TV, banned an ad by the Iceland Foods with a pro-environmental message. Clearcast claimed it banned the ad because of the political nature of collaborating with Greenpeace. Do you think it is legitimate for corporations to engage in public discourse on social and political issues? (Answer this question using course literature and concepts).

Topic 2: Don't Be Evil Google
In 2018 Google changed its code of conduct de-emphasizing the famous ‘Don't Be Evil' motto. Is this a risky approach for Google and does it suggest that the company has softened its stance on ethical misconduct? (In answering this question reference the course literature - but also consider Google/Alphabets corporate governance arrangements).

Topic 3: Colin Kaepernick and Nike

In 2018 Nike designed an advertising campaign featuring Colin Kaepernick's (#TakeAKnee) protest against racial inequality and police brutality. What do you think Nike is doing here and is it ethical? (Answer this question using course literature and concepts).

Reading Pointers:
• Briscoe, F., Chin, M. K., & Hambrick, D. C. (2014). CEO ideology as an element of the corporate opportunity structure for social activists. Academy of Management Journal, 57(6), 1786-1809.
• Chin, MK, Hambrick, DC, Treviño, LK (2013) 'Political Ideologies of CEOs: The Influence of Executives' Values on Corporate Social Responsibility', Administrative Science Quarterly, Vol.58(2), pp.197-232
• Lawton, T., McGuire, S., &Rajwani, T. (2013). Corporate Political Activity: A Literature Review and Research Agenda. International Journal of Management Reviews, 15(1), 86-105.
• Matten, D., & Moon, J. (2008) "Implicit and explicit" CSR: A conceptual frameowrl for a comparative undersanding of corporate social responsibility. Academy of Management Review, 33(2), 404-424.
• Mindock, C (2018) ‘Taking a knee: Why are NFL players protesting and when did they start to kneel?' https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/taking-a-knee-national-anthem-nfl-trump-why-meaning-origins-racism-us-colin-kaepernick-a8521741.html [Accessed January 4 2019]
• Rathbone, C (2018) ‘Nike's courageous new ad campaign mixing racial politics with sport will be vindicated', The Conversation, https://theconversation.com/nikes-courageous-new-ad-campaign-mixing-racial-politics-with-sport-will-be-vindicated-102707 [Accessed 4 January 2019]
• Scherer, AG, Palazzo, G, Matten, D (2014) 'The Business Firm as a Political Actor', Business & Society, Vol.53(2), pp.143-156
• Scherer, A. G., & Palazzo, G. (2011). The new political role of business in a globalized world: A review of a new perspective on CSR and its implications for the firm, governance, and democracy. Journal of Management Studies, 48(4), 899-931.
• Suchman, M. C. (1995). Managing legitimacy: Strategic and institutional approaches. Academy of management review, 20(3), 571-610.

Attachment:- Ethics Governance Assessment.rar