Responsible Enterprise and the Sustainable Development Goals: A Critique of the Role of Business in

“What is responsible enterprise? And how do responsible organisations respond to the sustainable development goals?” The purpose of this structured essay is to critique the role of business in society. In doing so, students should:

Discuss key global challenges, with reference to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Highlight the role and ethics of private enterprise and other types of enterprise in society on those challenges.

Define responsible enterprise and how responsible organisations respond to the sustainable development goals.

Explore the role of government, NGO’s and consumers in facilitating &/or inhibiting responsible enterprise.

All relevant topics are covered in the Unit Block. In addition, skills-based tasks will be included throughout the unit to support students in developing their academic reading, writing & referencing skills.

LO1: Identify and give examples of sustainable (defined as ethical, social and ecological) issues within the national and global context and how these relate to stakeholders. 

L02: Evaluate the actions of responsible organisations through the application of appropriate academic concepts, models and frameworks.

LO3: Critically appraise the sustainability options available to businesses using a wide range of relevant sources of data.

LO4: Analyse the role of wider stakeholders at local and/or, regional, national, and global levels in regulating and influencing businesses sustainability performance.

LO5: Effectively communicate through appropriate structure and language and systematically reference evidence and information used to undertake an assignment.

1 Introduction & background

Write a maximum of three sentences that outline the purpose & structure of the essay.  Then identify ONE of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Drawing on the “3 pillars of sustainable development (social, economic & environmental) set out the challenges that underlie this goal.  Relevant lectures: Introduction to Sustainable development Definitions, Goals and Frameworks.

2. Discuss the impact of business in society, with regard to your chosen goal Using appropriate theory &/or expert sources, consider the sustainability spectrum and the role and ethics of a multi-national traditional for-profit business and at least one of the following a socially responsible businesses, social enterprise &/or non-profit organisation.

3. Define responsible enterprise and discuss how responsible organisations respond to the sustainable development goals?

There are diverse interpretations of what “responsible enterprise” means. Using appropriate academic theory, compare & contrast TWO of the following concepts; corporate social responsibility (CSR), corporate citizenship (CC), shared value, circular economy (CE) in theory and practice.

4. Compare and contrast the role of, Government, NG0’s and/or Consumers in society. Using appropriate theory &/or expert sources, explain how government, NGO’s and/or consumers can facilitate (or inhibit) responsible enterprise.  

In your discussion, you should draw on examples relating to your chosen challenge. You need to consider the role/purpose of two of the following actors: the role of government, NGO’s and consumers, as well as the tools they have at their disposal. You might find it easier to focus on ONE level of activity (i.e. global, regional, national or local).