bowvalleycollege mgmt1102 corporate social responsibility age of responsibility

Questions:
1. What does it mean to be responsive in the Age of Responsibility? Provide examples, and explain thetrade-off between responsiveness and scalability.
2. In the article, A pale shade of green as published in The Economist on March 9
(also handed out inclass) what are the key challenges in creating a sustainable market for palm oil extraction? Whichinitiatives have been attempted as means to create transparency? What does the future look like for theindustry?
3. What is glocality, and how would you apply the concept to any product or service of your ownchoosing? What is the benefit to business of glocality?
4. Human bias is a serious impediment to forming beliefs that map on to reality. Corporations createimpacts on the environment and community, and we sometimes ignore such impacts for the sake ofgain, and allow negative externalities to accumulate into a mixed bag of unintended consequences. Theway we talk about environmental and social problems has been a challenge to business, but how can weconvince others (customers) that sustainability is a desirable end? Refer to the best/latest science orbehavioural economics in describing a plan for nudging consumers toward sustainability.
5. Yvon Chouinard of Patagonia doesnt think it is appropriate to describe a company as sustainable. Hethinks we need to spend more time in nature, simplify our lives and be responsible. Explain how theseideas fit together with his beliefs about running a responsible company.
6. What are the key drivers in the Age of Responsibility, according to Wayne Visser? In other words,what is causing companies to take sustainability more seriously, and what are some of the reasons orevidence for this shift in the market? What are some of the consequences for companies that ignoresustainability as a driver?
7. Why does Visser view Walmart as an example of a company worthy of emulation? What are some ofthe problems about how sustainable companies have introduced sustainable products and services intothe marketplace, and what does Walmarts best practices have to teach us about sustainability?Furthermore, why would Walmart pursue sustainability, if its primary objective is profit?
8. Explain the difference between cradle to grave and cradle to cradle design, and describe a processby which a service or product could become circular. In other words, how can we look at wastedifferently, or create products that dont produce negative externalities? Can you provide examples ofcompanies that have successfully transitioned to a cradle to cradle process?

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