TASK DESCRIPTION – ASSIGNMENT 2 (Essay 50%)
TASK
Assignment 2 – 2000 words – 50%
Critically discuss the extent to which businesses take Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) seriously.
Please read and analyse the following 3 articles. Your answer amongst other things, should draw from the 3 articles below as well as refer to wider UK and international frameworks for CSR. We will also look at these articles during the course.
The 3 articles:
Asset managers told to clean up greenwashing and net zero claims (Financial Times, 2022)
https://www.ft.com/content/f1367ab4-ac6f-486d-8bd2-e7659448055d
Volkswagen and the Failure of Corporate Social Responsibility (Forbes, 2015)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/enriquedans/2015/09/27/volkswagen-and-the-failure-of-corporate-social-responsibility/
The Truth About CSR (Harvard Business Review, 2015)
https://hbr.org/2015/01/the-truth-about-csr
(total 2000 words)
This task addresses LOs 2, 3 and 4.
LENGTH REQUIRED
A maximum of 2000 words
FORMATTING AND LAYOUT
Please note the following when completing your written assignment:
1. Writing: Written in English in an appropriate business/academic style
2. Focus: Focus only on the tasks set in the assignment.
3. Document format: Essay
4. Ensure a clear title, course, and name or ID number is on a cover sheet and a bibliography using Harvard referencing throughout is also provided.
5. Research: Research should use reliable and relevant sources of information e.g. academic books and journals that have been peer reviewed. The research should be extensive.
The use of a range of information sources is expected – academic books, peer reviewed journal articles, professional articles, press releases and newspaper articles, reliable statistics, company annual reports and other company information. All referencing should be in the Harvard style.
MARKING CRITERIA AND STUDENT FEEDBACK – ASSIGNMENT 2
This section details the assessment criteria. The extent to which these are demonstrated by you determines your mark. The marks available for each criterion are shown. Lecturers use a similar format to comment on the achievement of the task(s), including those areas in which you have performed well and areas that would benefit from development/improvement.
Common Assessment Criteria Applied Marks available Marks
Awarded
1. Knowledge and Understanding of Subject
Extent of knowledge and understanding of concepts and underlying principles associated with the discipline.
Demonstrating familiarity with the selected concepts/ models/theories used in your work. 30
2. Cognitive Skills
Analysis and evaluation of research and/or own reading, selection of credible sources, application of appropriate referencing conventions; argument and judgement/conclusion.
Demonstrating analysis, evaluation and decision making of a range of appropriately referenced information. 30
3. Practical Skills
Deployment of creativity; application of concepts; formulation of innovative and creative solutions to solve problems.
Applying your conceptual insights to successfully address the task at hand/ethical dilemma. Making recommendations for future strategies. 20
4. Transferable Skills
Communication and presentation, clarity of expression; logic; organisation of ideas and evidence

Demonstrating clarity of expression through logical and persuasive presentation of ideas/information 10
5. Professional Competences
Attributes in professional practice: individual and collaborative working; deployment of appropriate media; presentation and organisation.
Quality of the presentation.
Potential effectiveness in terms of getting your messages across to your intended audience. 10
1. TOTAL 100
Assignment Mark (Assessment marks are subject to ratification at the CCCU Assessment Board. These comments and marks are to give feedback on module work and are for guidance only until they are confirmed. ) 72 Hour Late Submission Penalties (tick if appropriate) %