Business and Society: Contemporary Issues and Challenges

Multidisciplinary Approach to Examining Contemporary Issues

The module reflects the fact that businesses do not operate in a vacuum: they are shaped by workers and society. Therefore understanding the relationships between business and society is essential to effective management of businesses and the societies they operate in. This module will broaden your understanding of some of the contemporary issues faced by business managers managing such issues in today’s globalised economy.

The module adopts a multidisciplinary approach to examine challenges posed by changes in the contemporary social, economic and environmental challenges. Businesses and their numerous stakeholders have never been so powerful and important to shaping our lives, but how they exercises power and impacts on society is a controversial and complex issue. This module will examine and assess what makes business powerful and which factors limit its power towards a sustainable future for all.

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

1. Explain the complexities that characterise the relationships between business and society.

2. Explore emerging trends in the environment in which business operates.

3. Examine broad forces in business, society, and globalisation, and look at how stakeholders can influence the destiny of both business and society.

If you are to improve your management/leadership skills and practice, then it is important that you demonstrate the highest standards in professionalism and ethical behaviour. The purpose of this reflective report is to provide an opportunity and framework for self-assessment and critical reflection, as well as record of your development of knowledge and skills to date.

4.1.2 Assessment Guidance

We are often so busy at work and in life that we rarely think about our own development and how this can further our careers. The assignment is about you and you need to reflect on aspects such as your strengths, weaknesses, values, and behaviours. Although the submission deadline is 8th Marchtill 15th March, you may want to complete task 1 sooner, so that you can focus on the second task during the assessment week.

Use the CMI Code of Conduct and Practice to reflect on your own practice in the following areas:

· Behaving in an open, honest and trustworthy manner;

· Acting in the best interests of your organisation, customers, clients and/or partners;

· Continually developing and maintaining professional knowledge and competence;

· Creating a positive impact on society;

· Respecting the people with whom you work;

4.2.2. Assessment Guidance

The purpose of this task is to demonstrate your comprehension of the module through an analysis of Kellogg stakeholder engagement case study or an organisation of your choice (this could be an organisation you work for or the one you are familiar with).

Complex Relationships between Business and Society

Supporting your answers with academic sources, you are required to answer the following questions with regard to the Kellogg’s case study OR an organisation of your choice:

1. Identify key internal and external stakeholders for the organisation.

2. Explain why stakeholder engagement is or is not an important element to the success of the organisation.

3. Present approaches that the organisation uses to engage with external stakeholders. Analyse the strengths and weaknesses of each approach identified.

4.2.3. Assessment Guidance

· Post your initial thoughts by replying to the Assessment thread on the Discussion board (it will be set up by your tutor in due course)

· Post at least 3-4 meaningful and insightful responses to the comments of others in the forum (your responses should be approx. 150 words)

· Ask insightful questions that help you and others to learn

· Participate and engage substantially

· Offer contributions based upon literature and your own practice or experience

· Contribute to the learning of the forum

Within the case study we can see that not all stakeholders share the same interests. Cadbury Schweppes listens to its stakeholders and balances their interests with the long-term benefits to the company.

1. Please explain how the organisation’s stakeholders may have different interests and in what ways that could affect the business. How differences can be reconciled?

2. Discuss and evaluate the approaches that the organisation uses to engage with its stakeholders. Identify and analyse the strengths and weaknesses of each approach.

3. Evaluate the extent to which the organisation’s initiatives to engage with stakeholders supports its vision for a sustainable future for both business and society.

You are given ONE opportunity to submit a summary, plan or sample of work in progress for each coursework to receive feedback on a draft of their work

• These formative assessment activities are optional.

• Feedback will be provided once for each coursework.

• To receive feedback, you must submit the formative assessment by the stated deadline, which is normally at least two weeks before the submission deadline.

• Feedback will be recorded and stored in a retrievable place for quality purposes.

• You can submit a summary, plan or sample of coursework 2 to be submitted which does not total more than two A4 pages (or 500 words) of written work presented to the tutor.

• Your tutor will provide developmental/formative feedback within one week of the submission of the draft.

• The format of the feedback (tutorial, written feedback, audio feedback) will be determined by the online tutor.

• Drafts submitted later than two weeks prior to the assessment deadline will not be considered by the online tutor.