501 Group Presentation and Supporting Paper

Syllabus excerpt:

Group Paper: You will turn in a group paper regarding a firm you have chosen and its management of ethics, responsibility, and/or sustainability.  The firm you choose should not be one you have chosen for a short ‘RSJ in the news’ case earlier in the semester. The main difference between this paper and the RSJ in the news presentation is that this assignment will focus on the total firm, whereas the RJS in the news focuses on one issue facing a firm. Thus, it will have much more depth regarding analyses and recommendations, and a short class discussion.  The presentation should provide sufficient background to help classmates understand and contextualize the analyses and recommendations, but no more.  It is recommended that you avoid a firm that is extreme in its RSJ and performance, but rather a firm that is mixed in that it is doing some things well, but could be doing better in other areas.  Thus, large firms are preferred as their complexity and scope generally allow for a more mixed and balanced assessment. I will provide some details several weeks into the semester so that you can “hit the ground running” when we start the sustainability component of the class.

Note: please see the crossed out text.  There will NOT be a presentation associated with this assignment, only a paper.

Other comments:

This case should be fairly straightforward since you already have presentation experience in the class, but it does differ from the RSJ in the News case somewhat.  First, it is a paper, not a presentation.  Second, it is an assessment of an overall firm, and not one particular issue facing a firm. While it does not affect your score, sustainability themes will be especially encouraged.

I’ve presented the keys to an effective paper through a rubric on the following page.  As is always the case in my graded written work, the most important thing is a highly transparent and scholarly application of course material in processing, analyzing, and making recommendations about the firm you choose.  Demonstrate to me how much of the course material you have mastered, and do this in a way that is obvious and unmistakable.  But do not rehash, recite, or define.  Instead, always apply.

As to the report length, I’m guessing somewhere in the 10-15 page range double-spaced.  Longer cases are always welcome.  Remember that your goal here is two-fold.  One is to analyze/make recommendations for the firm, the other is to demonstrate to me how much you have learned from this class.  Obviously, the two goals are closely related but don’t lose sight of either in pursuing the other. Use a referencing/citation method as appropriate; I am not a stickler for this but it must be reasonable and APA is preferred.

Note: You are not discouraged in this assignment from covering a firm in a more historic context.  For example, if you want to talk about Standard Oil and John Rockefeller, that’s OK with me!!!

You can choose your teammates.  These do not have to be the same teammates as you developed for your RSJ in the news presentation. Teams of up to 4 individuals are welcome, under no circumstances is a team of 5 permitted, however.  Your group should identify 2 candidate firms, and I will try to give you your first choic

Paper rubric

• Paper provides appropriate and well-justified analysis of firm in chosen area of ethics or CSR or Sustainability /50
• Paper makes appropriate, insightful, specific recommendations building from analysis /50
• Paper draws from class concepts in a way that is transparent and demonstrates mastery of course readings, lectures, etc. /50
• Paper follows the general format and style appropriate for paper, is well written with solid grammar, composition, and style

 

Word Count: 2900-3000

No. of Pages: 13