Author unknown, (April 2019) Handsome Her: Australian vegan cafe to close after 'man tax' furore : BBC Australia

Review:

This article is relevant as it brings forward Friedman's theory that, "The main responsibility of a business is to maximise their revenue and increase returns to shareholders." This is because this business decided to heavily prioritise certain stakeholders rather than profit. Although this was an interesting and original idea, if they'd prioritised profit perhaps the business would have survived.

The BBC is a reliable source as their news outlets are known for their well-researched and fact-checked reports, providing readers with a broad range of information on which to form their opinions. This commitment has allowed the BBC to maintain a sterling reputation for honesty and integrity.

Unfortunately there is no author stated on this article, which could call its reliability into question. On the other hand, this is often the case with the BBC as they research so heavily before publishing an article that they're willing to take the blame themselves if their report is false.

The article is up to date as it provides the latest news on the business. It's also an in-depth article that contains all relevant information. There is also another article available from when the restaurant opened in August 2017.

i don't believe there is much bias in this article, although it is said that the BBC tends to leave either left or right depending on the standpoint of the viewer. In this particular article I don't believe it's biased as it's heavily documented that this restaurant closed when the article said it did. The BBC also isn't in the restaurant business, so the likelihood of this being a 'hit-piece' is close to zero.

Aratani L. (2023) ' We’ve lost the right to be pessimistic’: Patagonia treads fine line tackling climate crisis as for-profit company, The Guardian, Sunday 12 March. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/mar/12/patagonia-climate-crisis-for-profit-company (Accessed Friday 20/10/2023).

Review : 

While conducting research to identify a brand striving to strike a delicate balance between business and environmental concerns, I came across an news article titled 'We’ve lost the right to be pessimistic’ : Patagonia treads fine line tackling climate crisis as for-profit company authored by Lauren Aratani for The Guardian. According to this article, Patagonia, a well-known outdoor apparel company, is grappling with its role in addressing the climate crisis. In a significant move, the Chouinard family, the company's founders, made a groundbreaking change in the company's structure. They transferred 2% of shares and decision-making authority to a family trust, while the remaining 98% of stock, valued at approximately $100 million annually, was allocated to a newly established nonprofit organization called the Holdfast Collective, with a primary focus on climate activism.

Lauren Aratani, the author of the news piece, is a New York-based general assignment reporter for The Guardian. Her professional background encompasses roles at several publications, including Forbes, Politico, HuffPost, and Inc. Magazine. The article illustrates how a company can effectively implement the Triple Bottom Line framework, highlighting the potential for a business enterprise to drive positive change in today's world. As outlined in the article, Patagonia, which has grown into one of the largest outdoor apparel brands with an annual revenue of $1.5 billion, continues to maintain a strong commitment to environmental activism. The company's management acknowledges the skepticism regarding their donations and the perception of savvy marketing tactics.

To sum up, the news article demonstrates the way a brand can effectively harmonize environmental concerns and resource sustainability in response to climate-related challenges. This strategic shift challenges the traditional approach to nonprofits, setting a potential precedent for other brands considering a similar course of action. However, the effectiveness of this example remains to be seen, and time will be the ultimate judge of its leadership impact.

Hodgson C and Forhecz T (2023) 'Behind the Money : FTC versus Amazon', Apple Podcasts [Podcast]. Available at : https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ftc-versus-amazon/id1376303362?i=1000630914816. (Accessed : 13 October 2023)

Review :

While researching businesses that exclusively adhere to Friedman's theory of business—which is primarily concerned with turning a profit and providing for shareholders rather than taking the effects on society or the environment into account—I came across this podcast episode. The chosen episode highlights the regulatory issues created by internet companies and addresses the Amazon v. FTC case, which revolves around accusations of anticompetitive practices by Amazon. Amazon is accused by the FTC of engaging in unfair business practices, such as manipulating search results and favoring its own products, that hampered competition. In order to guarantee fair competition and safeguard the interests of consumers, this case emphasizes the necessity for tighter regulatory control in the digital marketplace. In response, Amazon refutes these accusations and highlights its dedication to customer satisfaction as well as the fierce competition it faces in the e-commerce industry. The verdict in this case could have a significant impact on how antitrust laws are enforced in the digital era.

Financial Times podcasted the episode "FTC vs Amazon" as part of their 'Behind the money' business series on Apple Podcasts. Camilla Hodgson, a reporter for the Financial Times based in San Francisco, focuses on topics such as Amazon, e-commerce, and the gig economy. The show is hosted by Topher Forhecz who is an executive producer for US audio. He oversees production of US based podcasts for the FT. Camilla's work revovles around addressing the climate problem and the energy transition, having previously worked as a member of the FT's climate team located in London. Camilla was a Marjorie Deane fellow and a graduate trainee at the FT.

In conclusion, the podcast's content is trustworthy and relevant to the ongoing Amazon v. FTC trial. Since the majority of the podcast's supporting material is obtained directly from the official website of the US Federal Trade Commission, the content appears to be impartial. Podcast accurately illustrates how tech companies exploit the weak market with their substantial financial resources.

Kolk, H. (2015) 'Journal of World Business' , The social responsibility of international business: From ethics and the environment to CSR and sustainable development, 51(1), pp. 23-24. Available at http (Accessed: 19 October 2023).

Review:

The journal article from 'Journal of World Business' (Ans Kolk, 2016) is relevant as it discusses the influence of corporate social responsibility and sustainability for the past fifty years. The credibility of the journal article may be questioned as it's only been cited '499' times, although in contrast the journal article has received '1,571' readers, which supports the validity and purpose of the journal article for credibility.

The journal article also presents valuable information that supports the transition of corporate social responsibility and sustainability, which demonstrates to the readers that there is still evolving change when it comes to corporate social responsibility and adapting to sustainable approaches for long-term security for businesses.

The journal article also refers to (Carroll, 1991) four-part model of corporate social responsibility, with mentions of legal, economic, ethical, and philanthropic responsibilities of businesses in the ever-changing world. By raising (Carroll, 1991) four-part model, it supports the 'Journal of Business World' accuracy in terms of discussing relevant and effective topics of corporate social responsibility and sustainability.

(Ans Kolk, 2016) has clearly captured the core purpose as to why businesses, in this case international businesses comply with corporate social responsibility and how that guides them to be sustainably responsible for their actions going forward.

The reliability of the 'Journal of World Business' can be trusted as the author (Ans Kolk, 2016) is a "full professor at the University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Business School." This evidence suggests that the journal article written by the professor is reliable for business research, as the information submitted by the professor is processed with research surrounding corporate social responsibility and sustainability.

Henriques, A. and Richardson, J. (2013) The Triple Bottom Line: does it all add up?: assessing the sustainability of business and CSR copyright. London: EARTHSCAN.

Review:

Through the course of research, a source from 'VLeBooks' was discovered in relation to the topic corporate social responsibility and sustainability. The source is an e-book titled "The Triple Bottom Line: does it all add up? Assessing the sustainability and CSR copyright." After analysing and evaluating the source, the conclusion is that the e-book is relevant for the topic of corporate social responsibility and sustainability as it raises concerns about corporate social responsibility and sustainability in business (see Chapter 3, p26-33).

Emphasising that, the e-book has a clear reference to (Freeman, 1984) stakeholder theory (see p28) "stakeholders should be regarded as entitled to some kind of account of company activities." On the discussion of referencing, the e-book also has a direct reference to (Milton Friedman, 1970) theory of businesses should only serve shareholder's interests (see p29) "Profitability, which is of central concern to shareholders." After identifying references to business theorists, this supported the e-book's credibility in providing both relevant and accurate information about corporate social responsibility and sustainability.

The e-book has considerable validity characteristics, with business literature being applied repeatedly. This provides a strong indication that the validity of the e-book, and its purpose in highlighting important features of CSR and sustainability. To further investigate the credibility of the e-book, research was carried out on the book's author (Adrian Henriques). Results showed that the author is an adviser on corporate responsibility, social accountability and sustainability. (Adrian Henriques) is also a member of the "Association of Chartered Certified Accountants Sustainability Forum" (The Guardian, July 22 2014). The author's background paints a positive reflection on the e-book's credibility and relevance to inform readers about corporate social responsibility and sustainability in business.

The publication of the e-book released over a decade ago now, but that is not to say that the discussions and information submitted in the e-book are not relevant today, it is the complete opposite, which is why the e-book "The Triple Bottom Line: does it all add up? Assessing the sustainability and CSR copyright" is a reliable source for the topic of corporate social responsibility and sustainability.

Coca Cola's 100 Billion Bottle Problem (2021) BBC One Panorama, 25 October.

Review:

The documentary from (BBC Panorama) "Coca Cola's 100 Billion Bottle Problem (2021)" is credible as it refers to the topic of corporate social responsibility and sustainability surrounding Coca Cola. The documentary is a perfect example of how a worldwide organisation imposes strategies of corporate social responsibility in relation to sustainability.

The documentary from (BBC Panorama) is extremally impactful as it explores the ramifications of not addressing corporate social responsibility to meet environmental requirements. The (BBC Panorama) is a thirty-minute-long episode that aired on (Monday, 25 October 2021), which suggests that the documentary about Coca Cola is not out of date, but a recent issue.

The purpose of the documentary is to inform and educate the public and other organisations on the impact CSR can have on the environment. This documentary from (BBC Panorama) can support other organisations in changing their approaches to corporate social responsibility to address sustainability targets, which gives this documentary a powerful sense of purpose to notify ongoing issues.

The accuracy of the documentary is supported by (BBC Panorama) and is accurate for the topic corporate social responsibility and sustainability, as it shows Coca Cola's failure to commit to their CSR surrounding sustainability with their recycled plastic bottles. With the documentary produced by (BBC Panorama) it includes a list of experts in sustainability and social responsibility. Noticeable experts in this documentary were (Clarissa Morawski) who is a "Recycling expert and CEO of Reloop", and (Jack Backus) who was a "Customer Sustainability Director at The Coca Cola Company (2008-2015)."

You can say there is an element of (Milton Friedman, 1970) theory of profit identified in the documentary, as it shows how slow Coca Cola have been to react to sustainability, which would suggest that they had their focus on being a successful organsiation instead, linking them to the theory of only thinking about profit as per (Milton Friedman, 1970) theory.

Eweje, G. (2014) Introduction: Trends in Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability in Emerging Economies, Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability: Emerging Trends in Developing Economies. Emerald Insight. Available at: https://www.emerald.com (Accessed: 27 October 2023).

Review:

The book part from (Emerald Insight) titled "Introduction: Trends in Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability in Emerging Markets" that focuses on the chapter "Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability: Emerging Trends in Developing Economies." The book part on (Emerald Insight) covers key themes from the book, and summerises CSR and sustainability.

The book part is relevant as it answers the topic surrounding CSR and sustainability, and it goes into depth on CSR's role in business and for the environment. The purpose of the book part is to inform the readers of the significance of applying CSR within business practices, in emerging and developing economies around the world. The accuracy of the book part published on (Emerald Insight) is both credible and reliable as (Emerald Insight) provides full access to valuable sources of information and research from journal articles to eBooks.

(Freeman, 1984) stakeholder theory is mentioned occasionally in the book part, "involvement in citizens" which strives towards the empowerment of public voices. The book part was published on (Emerald Insight, 17 September 2014) which can lead you to question the relevance in terms of insightful information related to the topic of CSR and sustainability.

There is little to criticise on this book part by (Gabriel Eweje), but there are elements of bias included in the text as to (Gabriel Eweje) background. (Gabriel Eweje) is a "Professor of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability at Edith Cowan University" according to (Google Scholar). During further investigation, (Gabriel Eweje) has '3,069' citations on all of his work to date (since 2007). This can be questioned due to the number of citations achieved within a sixteen-year period, but it does not diminish his work on corporate social responsibility and sustainability. This book is an effective resource to apply for businesses.

Mossalgue, J. (2023). Food trucks are switching out dirty gas generators with this zero-emissions option. [online] Electrek. Available at: https://electrek.co/2023/10/23/food-trucks-are-switching-out-dirty-gas-generators-with-this-zero-emissions-option/?utm_source=flipboard&utm_content=electrek%2Fmagazine%2FElectrek [Accessed 2 Nov. 2023].

In the USA, the food business is thriving, with food trucks playing a significant role. However, the transportation of these trucks often leads to increased pollution. In response to this issue, a Seattle-based startup has introduced a unique battery system module. This innovation enables food truck operators to transition from gas generators to a clean, modern, and pollution-free electrical alternative. The solution aims to not only benefit the environment but also provide a more sustainable and efficient option for the food truck industry.

The proposition is brilliantly simple and innovative. According to James Wagoner, CEO of Joule Case, a single ice cream truck burning diesel can consume an astonishing £83 worth of coal in a day. Now, the company operates in over 100 food trucks and ice cream trucks, generating ample power to run an espresso machine, kettle stove, microwave, and multiple fridges and freezers simultaneously—all thanks to this unique idea.

During the pandemic, the company provided zero-emission power to music festivals. However, they later pivoted to the food truck industry, presenting a clean and eco-friendly alternative to diesel generators. This change eliminates the release of harmful pollutants like carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, particulate matter, and carcinogenic benzene into the air. Joule also offers mobile battery packs with the option to connect batteries to solar panels. As the younger generation seeks pollution solutions and embraces electric battery-powered vehicles, Joule's approach aligns with the evolving environmental consciousness.

Theo's Gyros, a Seattle-based food business, used a gas generator before making the switch to electric power. However, even during the transition, the noise and unreliability of the diesel engine were problematic. Stephano Theo expressed concerns about potential breakdowns and power disruptions in a video provided by the company. Batteries offer a more reliable solution.

Corporations seek zero-emission suppliers for events, and government initiatives support this. Some areas only allow electric battery-powered food trucks, encouraging small businesses to follow suit. We hope that New York City may pass legislation allowing battery-powered trucks for small business owners and major events to combat pollution in residential areas.

Indeed, installing a battery system may not be initially cost-effective for small business owners. However, Joule Case asserts that those who make the switch from gas to batteries can recoup their expenses within just one year, as they save on truck repairs and fuel costs. Furthermore, Joule Case notes that their batteries qualify for a 30% tax credit if they meet the 5 kWh threshold for quality. This combination of savings and tax incentives makes the transition to batteries a financially sound choice for businesses.

The USA alone has over 35,000 trucks generating $1.5 billion in revenue. Their transition to one hundred percent electric energy could make a substantial impact on reducing CO2 emissions. Joule Case aims to electrify this industry over the next five years, with plans to offer similar setups for construction crews.

As the push for a solution to gas generators gains momentum, British Columbia is addressing diesel generation from film crews, which release significant pollution into cities like Vancouver. Companies like Joule Case are leading the way toward a greener future.

This article aligns perfectly with the sustainability topic, and the company also claims to have innovative waste reduction ideas.

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Harvard Reference –

Idowu, S.O. (2014). People, planet and profit: socio-economic perspectives of CSR. Routledge. Available at: ProQuest

Ebook Central - Reader (Accessed 25/05/2023)

Review -

People, Planet and Profit is a book relevant to our chosen issue Corporate Social Responsibility. The book goes into detail about the different socio – economic perspectives of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility).

It's contents include 15 different chapters which are separated into 3 different parts. Part 1 includes information about multinational corporations and CSR. Part 2 includes CSR and the socio – economic process and part 3 includes information about CSR in the general environment. It has been proven in this book that corporations are linked to socially responsible behaviour.

Throughout people, planet and profit, corporations are portrayed as being corporately responsible by focusing on what they take and give back to stakeholders. This book also proves how employees, customers, host communities, governments and NGO’S CSR stakeholders have varying interests and expectations. I think this book shows relevant information towards our group chosen topic as it covers not only general information about CSR in the environment but multinational, and the socio-economic process.

 From reading the book there is the question whether CSR can help today’s recipients and providers. The book holds interesting credible information including the various categories of CSR which are economic responsibility, legal responsibility, ethical responsibility and philanthropic responsibility. It is written in the book where the three authors studied, Samuel O. Idowu studied at London metropolitan university. Abubakar, S. Kasum studied at university of Ilorin, Nigeria, and Asli Yuksel Mermod studied at Marmara university, Turkey. All three authors I believe are dependable, Samuel O. Iodwu being a professor of Corporate Social responsibility and sustainability at Nanjing university of finance & economics. Abubaker, S. Kasum being a lecturer in the department of accounting and Asli Yuksel Mermod being a professor of finance in the faculty of economics and administrative sciences at Marmara University business administration department.

Carroll, A.B. Carroll’s pyramid of CSR: taking another look. Int J Corporate Soc Responsibility 1, 3 (2016). Available at : https://doi.org/10.1186/s40991-016-0004-6. (Accessed : 30 October 2023)

Review :

The selected article, "Taking another look at CSR," was authored by Archie Caroll, who developed the four-part CSR model in 1979 and then transformed it into a pyramid in 1991. This article by Archie Caroll reexamines the value of corporate social responsibility (CSR) from a global business standpoint and discusses how the field has evolved since it was first written. Archie Caroll discovered that trade-offs and conflicts are inevitable and that ethics always permeates all four portions of the pyramid rather than just being a part of it.

The article was chosen due to the significant influence of Archie Carroll in the realm of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Despite varying perspectives, both large and small businesses adopt the CSR framework to maintain a sustainable and ethical balance on a global scale. A. B. Carroll holds the title of Emeritus Professor of Management at the Terry College of Business, University of Georgia, located in Athens, Georgia, USA. Carroll's tenure at the Terry College spanned four decades, during which he co-authored the book "Business and Society: Ethics, Sustainability, and Stakeholder Management." Since the introduction of the CSR pyramid model, the authors' standing in the business community has steadily risen, with over 5,200 citations by scholars and academics collectively, as reported by Google Scholar.

In summary, the contemporary business landscape has already recognized the value of the four-part CSR approach. The initial perspective error present in the original thesis seems to have been rectified in this article. The research also highlights that not all nations, particularly developing ones, can adopt the same corporate social responsibility (CSR) model as developed countries, as they prioritize economic growth over ethical and philanthropic concerns. Additionally, the four-part model is viewed by female business professionals as a somewhat gender-biased perspective that requires adjustments to align with the evolving nature of work. This article remains pertinent, emphasizing that while the fundamental CSR model may not require significant changes, CSR will continue to evolve in response to societal demands to maintain a socio-economic equilibrium.

Joy, A. et al. (2012) 'Fast Fashion, Sustainability, and the Ethical Appeal of Luxury Brands', Fashion Theory, 16(3), Available at: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.2752/175174112X13340749707123. (Assessed : 30 October 2023)

Review :

The article written by Annamma Joy et al, 'Sustainability, and the Ethical Appeal of Luxury Brands' highlights the intersection of fast fashion, sustainability, and the ethical dilemma of luxury brands. It discusses the ethical concerns surrounding fast fashion, such as labor exploitation and environmental degradation, and how luxury brands appeal to consumers' ethical values. The authors also propose potential solutions to the sustainability issues in the fashion industry.

One of the co-authors, Dr. Joy, holds the position of Professor of Marketing at the UBC Kelowna campus and previously held a similar role at Concordia University in Montreal. Her expertise lies in fashion, luxury brands, and art, with her work being published in prestigious journals such as the Journal of Consumer Research and the Journal of Consumer Psychology. Dr. Joy's extensive citations in these areas within the faculty of management underscore the credibility of the research. Additionally, the article underscores that fast fashion brands prioritize keeping up with trends and subscribe to the ideology of profit maximization, often neglecting the consideration of sustainability and their carbon footprint impact on the environment.

In summary, the rapid pace of the fashion industry is undeniably a concerning practice that necessitates intervention. Young consumers need to be educated about how fast fashion impacts the environment and contributes to climate change. This calls for a significant shift in consumer behavior. The article emphasizes the importance of living in harmony with nature and minimizing environmental impacts, proposing that eco-fashion could serve as a viable approach to achieve sustainability.

Billson, C. (2023). UK one of the worst places to be trans, new data shows. [online] PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news. Available at: https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/11/01/uk-worst-place-to-be-trans/?utm_source=flipboard&utm_content=noosafoto%2Fmagazine%2FGAYMEN-ONLINE [Accessed 2 Nov. 2023].

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I chose this topic because it's related to our primary research focus on sustainability and corporate social responsibility. The article addresses LGBTQ rights, connecting to the subtopic of human rights globally.

The article highlights the challenging situation in Europe and the UK, which has been ranked as the worst place for LGBTQ rights by more than 200 trans rights organizations, including TGEU (Transgender Europe). In 2023, TGEU published a Trans Map, assessing the legal situation in 49 European countries and five in Central Asia.

They evaluated 30 indicators in various categories such as asylum policies, hate speech prevention, non-discrimination, health , family, asylum, and legal gender recognition. Ireland was ranked the highest, while other countries received lower scores, emphasizing the need for progress in LGBTQ rights.

A year ago, the country published its action plan on LGBT-related issues, which aimed to eliminate discrimination against blood donors, provide LGBTQ training for police, and ensure unbiased healthcare for transgender individuals.

However, the UK scored relatively low in the Trans Rights ranking, with a score of 14.25 out of 30, placing it close to Ireland with a score of 13 and the Netherlands with 15, and Portugal with 8. Among the lowest-scoring countries were Russia with 5, Turkey with 2, and Italy with 8 on the Trans Rights index.

According to the article, TGEU research officer Freya Watkins noted that the data spans the past 10 years. She mentioned that both the UK and Hungary have regressed from being progressive leaders in their index since 2013, with transgender hate being prevalent in the media and government. She emphasized that legislation means little without proper implementation.

The UK's low score in transgender rights coincides with recent anti-trans comments at the Conservative Party conference this year. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated, "A man is a man, and a woman is a woman. That's just common sense."

Health Secretary Steven Barclay even proposed segregating transgender women from female hospital wards, despite a study last year finding no complaints about the issue. This highlights the ongoing challenges in the UK regarding transgender rights and their portrayal in the media and politics.

Home Secretary Suella Bravman endorsed Barclay's proposal, stating, "Transgender women have no place in women's wards or any safe space designated for biological women."

Following Sunak's remarks, reports surfaced suggesting he was expected to delay the long-anticipated conversation therapy ban, citing concerns that similar laws have been problematic or ineffective in other countries. This decision followed intense lobbying by anti-trans groups. The situation reflects the complex and contentious nature of transgender rights and policies in the UK.

The article highlights the concerning increase in hate crimes against LGBTQ individuals, despite data reported by the government. On October 5th, it was revealed that transgender hate crimes in England and Wales rose by 11% to 4,732 recorded incidents for the year ending March 2023. In November 2000, TGEU found that Ireland had the poorest provision of healthcare for transgender individuals, with Malta ranking the highest.

The article also mentions that the only gender clinic is severely understaffed, struggling to meet the demands of approximately 300 patients per year. This situation underscores the challenges and disparities faced by the transgender community in accessing healthcare and combatting hate crimes.

The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association's 2023 map, assessing the safety of Queer People in European countries, is equally disheartening for LGBTQ+ individuals. The results indicate that the United Kingdom has once again fallen down the list, dropping from 14th in 2022 to 17th this year.

After reviewing this article, I'm struck by the profound hatred that some humans harbor towards others simply due to their gender identity. The article emphasizes LGBTQ rights and equality, highlighting a sense of collective failure in treating one another with respect and understanding.

The Independent. (2023). More than 260 flood warnings and alerts across UK amid Storm Ciaran - see your area. [online] Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/storm-ciaran-flood-warnings-uk-b2440361.html?utm_source=flipboard&utm_content=Independent%2Fmagazine%2FNews [Accessed 2 Nov. 2023].

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the review ;

I chose the article that provides information about flood warnings and alerts across the UK. This article is a perfect fit for sustainability and corporate social responsibility, falling under the sub-topic of climate change.

A significant increase in flood warnings has been declared in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight due to severe weather conditions and heavy winds of up to 100mph. Environmental agencies have provided us with information about flood warnings and alerts across the country, particularly along the South coast. As of midday on Thursday, there were 78 flood warnings indicating flooding is expected, and 189 flood alerts indicating that flooding is possible.

These warnings and alerts are critical in the context of sustainability and corporate social responsibility, as they highlight the importance of preparedness and climate action. Businesses and communities must be aware of these environmental risks and take steps to mitigate their impact, contributing to a more sustainable and responsible approach to climate change.

Brad Lucky, Flood Duty Manager at the Environment Agency, expressed concerns: "Larger waves and onshore gales brought by Storm Ciaran could result in significant flooding along parts of the South Coast and the Yorkshire and Northeast coasts on Thursday."

The article includes pictures indicating that the UK government has issued around 200 flood warnings.

Local fire services have warned of a "potential risk to life" due to the danger of building damage, falling trees, and flooding, according to the provided report. Flooding can also impact businesses and generate more waste as it damages various items, affecting both humans and animals. Additionally, flood warnings and alerts may disrupt work, potentially causing income loss for individuals.

A spokesperson on behalf of a train operation reassured passengers, stating, "Our colleagues will be working extremely hard over the coming days to keep passengers on the move and, more importantly, to keep them safe during the bad weather. We will be working closely with Network Rail to understand the impact on the rail network, and we are encouraging passengers to check their journey before traveling."

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has urged people to stay away from the coast. RNLI Water Safety Manager Ross MacLeod cautioned, "This rough weather could make visiting our coast around Southern England and Wales treacherous, with very dangerous sea conditions."

These statements emphasize the commitment to passenger safety and highlight the risks associated with the severe weather conditions affecting travel and coastal areas. Vigilance and precaution are crucial during such periods.

The report mentions that the island has already experienced flooding, with a yellow rain warning from the Met Office in place until 9 AM on Wednesday. A similar notice was issued for several parts of England and Wales from 6 PM on Wednesday until the end of Thursday.

Furthermore, the report includes a list of various locations where flood warnings have been issued, providing precise details and focusing on coastal areas. This information is crucial for residents and businesses in those regions to stay informed and take necessary precautions.

School strikes suspended after new council pay offer. (2023). BBC News. [online] 2 Nov. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-67304460?utm_source=flipboard&utm_content=BBCNews%2Fmagazine%2FTop+Stories [Accessed 3 Nov. 2023].

The BBC News article discusses the suspension of a school strike after a new council pay offer. I selected this news piece because it's highly relevant to our main topic of sustainability and corporate social responsibility, specifically focusing on working conditions.

As we know, there have been strikes in some schools due to pay issues. However, there is now an update from the Scottish government and unison , resulting in the cancellation of strike action. They've offered a one-time funding of £17.2 million.

Members of the school and nursery staff, including janitors, catering personnel, have been participating in industrial action since September, and they are now prepared to accept the offer.

This offer, which will be enforced, ensures that the lowest-paid staff will receive an increase of about £2,000, while others will see a rise of at least 5.5%. Additionally, the council leaders have committed to raising the wages of the lowest-paid workers to £15 per hour by 2026 if possible.

This news provides insights into how the Scottish local government is addressing strike action and taking steps to ensure that all local government workers receive a minimum wage of £15 per hour by April 2026. However, this move poses a significant challenge for workers in other sectors.

The article also mentions upcoming strike actions and provides their scheduled dates.

One line in the news stands out: "We also welcome a renewed commitment to deliver a minimum wage of £15 an hour, but ambitions and aspirations don't pay bills." This statement resonates with the reality that in the real world, individuals must earn to cover their expenses. While they may have dreams and ambitions, the need to meet their financial obligations often takes precedence.

This situation connects strongly with the subtopics of human rights and working conditions, highlighting the importance of fair wages and the challenges individuals face in balancing their aspirations with their financial responsibilities.

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Jones A. (Feb 2022) What businesses lose by boycotting social media with Rik Courtney : Listen Notes

Review:

This Podcast is relevant as it highlights the power that consumers have as stakeholders. It explores how social media can be a threat as well as an opportunity for businesses, and how Gen Z is using their power to shape trends on social media through 'cancel culture'. This is in line with Freeman's theory that, "a firm should create value for all stakeholders, not just shareholders."

Listen Notes is a reliable source as it boasts a vast and constantly updated database of podcasts. Their vast database allows users to explore content quickly, meaning they can hear all perspectives on a subject efficiently, helping reduce bias. The constant release of new podcasts ensures that information is up-to-date, making it a dependable source for both casual and professional listeners.

The author, Andrea Jones is reliable as she has years of podcasts covering purely social media marketing. Not only is she educated on the subject, but in this episode she interviews Rik Courtney, who is the founder of Be More Social, an award-winning social media marketing and communications agency. Rik's opinions are based on years of research and experience in the industry.

This podcast was released in 2022, meaning although it could be more up-to-date, none of the information provided isn't outdated. As cancel culture is still massively prominent in today's society, professional opinions from people like Rik Courtney are more relevant than ever.

In my opinion there is no bias in this podcast. There is no way Rik Courtney falsifying information could benefit himself or his company. In the podcast Rik refers to current examples of both successful and unsuccessful examples of social media campaigns from company's such as Lush, Burger King, and Duolingo.

Yang, Z., Nguyen, T. T. H., Nguyen, H. N., Nguyen, T. T. N., & Cao, T. T. (2020). Greenwashing behaviours: causes, taxonomy and consequences based on a systematic literature review. Journal of Business Economics and Management

Review:

This Academic Journal is relevant as it covers many topics including 'sustainability', 'corporate social responsibility', 'green marketing', 'greenwashing behaviour', and 'business ethics'. The journal mainly covers greenwashing, which it defines as, "The act of misleading consumers regarding the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefits of a product or service."

The "Journal of Business Economics and Management" (JBEM) has a highly regarded reputation in both the commercial and academic areas, making it a dependable source. Published by Taylor & Francis, it guarantees the standard and legitimacy of the research it publishes by adhering to strict peer-review guidelines. Its reputation as a trustworthy resource in the field is furthered by the fact that scholars, researchers, and professionals frequently turn to it for authoritative insights and current research.

All authors that contributed to this journal are trustworthy and reliable due to their affiliation with their respective academic institutions. These include Hunan University and Hanoi University of Industry.

This journal was received in June 2019, and accepted in April 2020, therefore it could be more up do date. At the same time, these kind of academic journals compile numerous research papers released over many years. It also takes months for these journals to be accepted, therefore April 2020 isn't outdated when considering the time it takes to put together a journal of this calibre.

I would say the bias in this journal is as close to zero has possible. Due to the peer-review guidelines, any misinformation or bias would be detected, leading to the journal not being accepted and published.

Wagner, A. Svensson, G (2014) A framework to navigate sustainability in business networks: The transformative business sustainability (TSB) model. European business review.

Review:

This book explores transformative business sustainability (TSB) model. This is relevant as the model is a structured approach which aims to facilitate positive environmental and social impacts while ensuring the long-term viability of businesses. This is increasingly important for big businesses in the modern world because, although their main aim may be to maximise profit, being environmentally friendly is quickly becoming a necessary factor in holding a positive brand image.

Similarly to many journals, this book was subject to peer review, meaning it is considered to be very reliable by academics and professionals. Both authors are professors at their respective universities, meaning they are considered true academics, and have been for quite some time.

There are many references used by the authors, some recent and some dating back to Friedman's 'Capitalism and Freedom' (1963). I believe this makes the book highly reliable and useful as it pulls material from scholars throughout history, allowing the reader to compare and contrast many different opinions and views.

This book was published in 2014 meaning it isn't the most recent publication of its kind. Although some of the content is old, it's still relevant to day. Any academics that may wish to publish a similar book today would without doubt use much of the content from this book, only adding more recent evidence to build upon what's already there.

Again, as this book is peer reviewed, it's the closest we can get to having zero bias. It is known that books and journals that have been peer reviewed are considered more reliable than those that aren't.

Podcast – Why is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Important in business in 2021.

Harvard reference –

The Social Impact Show (2021) Why is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) important in business in 2021. 14 July 2021. Available at: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5fJhTQai8a8NpQfR6eDmpC?si=yIYJ3XKYRWiZt7hD36aDFg

Review –

This podcast is by ‘The Social Impact Show’ where they talk with Jerome Tennille & Janelle St. Omer about the changes of CSR over the year of 2021. They discuss the importance of CSR within a business and look at the opportunities & trends every CSR professional should have for their programme. Jeremy talks on how CSR has evolved and that the open mindedness within Businesses has improved. It is explained that businesses are being bolder with their decisions and not so much all doing the exact same thing as one another. Jeromy believes that CSR has not necessarily changed but that its accelerated five years. He uses an example that digital, virtual, remote, anything online has accelerated especially since covid 1, based out of a demand, and need that didn’t fully exist before crisis. He gives another example that out of necessity businesses started to make things such as PPE and making and selling hand sanitizer. Jerome does not believe so much in trends but reiterates how business are much more creative in terms of how they are planning and executing their CSR programmes. This podcast supports our group subtopic as it provides valuable information of how using CSR supports and influences business’ success & how business’ use creativity & thinking creatively to benefit their programme of CSR. Its accuracy seems truly relevant as it was published only 2 years ago, and the speakers are qualified in Social Impact to speak confidently about CSR. The purpose of this podcast is to delve deeper into the meaning of CSR and find out answers to important questions relating to the topic.

Harvard reference –

Rhou, Y. and Singal, M. (2020). A review of the business case for CSR in the hospitality industry. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 84, p.102330. (Accessed 29/10/2023)

Review –

This article highlights CSR towards customers and in the restaurant sector in terms of safety and the use of local and sustainable products. It also highlights research on CSR towards communities.

Overall, this article is a review and analysis of CSR research which was published in the period from 1990 to 2017. This article shows examples of how there are implications for CSR and stakeholders in several developments in the hospitality industry. They touch on valuable topics of CSR including when you invest in your community. This article is relevant to our chosen subject as it shows how CSR has evolved within the hospitality industry and how CSR can be used on external subjects regarding the wider community. Relevant information on how its not just about who works for you but about the people who serve you as well. Greenwashing is mentioned within the article, which is something a lot of business is do, which is doing something good to get positive feedback publicly. This can eventually be harmful to business’s as it can do more damage than positive effects. The article also contains 2-line graphs, first of which shows trajectory of Publications by Years and Geographical locations and the second showing trajectory of Publications by Years and Themes. Overall, this article was an interesting read showing a lot of CSR examples. It covers the several CSR examples in hospitality including green building, waste and pollution reduction, and employee development.

Managing for stakeholders: Survival, Reputation, and Success

Harvard Reference –

R Edward Freeman, Harrison, J.S., Wicks, A.C. and Ebrary, I. (2007). Managing for stakeholders: survival, reputation, and success. New Haven: Yale University Press.

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Review –

This article is relevant to our group topic as it discusses Freeman’s view of CSR, and how there is a new contribution to management thinking and practice. This book highlights the question ‘How can we create as much value as possible for all our stakeholders.’ It explains Freeman’s key contributions on how to keep a successful business, including how businesses are about how customers, suppliers, employees, suppliers, and communities create value. This book elaborates on the topics that can create businesses from great to revolutionary from taking things from your standard expectations but applying out of the box thinking in terms of how to please the wider community. This book benefits managers trying to create businesses and gives them information of things that may have been invisible or irrelevant to what they ever would have thought as relevant. The book was published in 2007, could be more up to date in terms of accuracy but holds relevant information as Freeman, R. Edward holds perspectives that businesses have many responsibilities in terms of stakeholders in society, and that it is not just focusing on increasing income. A lot of this book is showing key examples on how to manage a successful business and that there is much more to a business than what you may think. Stakeholders purpose, values and everyday strategies is another thing this book touches upon which benefits our group topic. Leadership is one of the main topics discussed in the business industry, on page 17 of the book this book goes into detail of the role of leadership, its written how there are three roles of leadership. 1, the amoral leader, 2 the values-based leader and 3 the ethical leader, which is ultimately important to relate back to as it’s the leader that should ultimately include CSR in whichever leadership role they may take.

Review:

This research article is relevant to the topic of corporate social responsibility as it investigates the affect that corporate social responsibility has on the business's reputation and its relationship with its organizational culture in the hospitality industry. It suggests that there is a positive impact on the corporate sustainability when a business is corporate social responsible. This suggests that it is in alignment with Freeman’s idea that a business requires to be corporate and socially responsible in order to have a positive reputation which allows for a better relationship with its workers. The article was published by MDPI which is a respected publisher of open access scientific journals this indicates that the purpose of the research was academic and to educate meaning that it should be objective and not have any particular political stance. The method used to collect the data was a self completed questionnaire that collected quantitative data which allows for objective results that the researchers have extrapolated from and inferred their information. The authors of the article are all from respected institutions including Greenwich University, England; Bejing university, China; and Bahria University; Pakistan. This suggests that the researchers would be trustworthy as they have an affiliation to these respected institutions. This research article was released in August of 2022 this means that the study is relevant to apply to todays society as it is recent and is not affected by the amount of time that has passed and possible cultural or societal changes that may have affected the interpretation of the results they had collected. Overall this source has been chosen as it is credible due to the institutions associated with the research as they are highly respected; Relevant due to the time of the publishing and it being recent and applicable to current society; Reliable due to the scientific methods used in the gathering of the results and finally due to the purpose of the research being educational rather than having an objective to make a statement meaning it allows for an objective view on the issue of corporate social responsibility.

Review:

This Journal article is relevant to the topic of corporate social responsibility and sustainability as it explores the idea of businesses from multiple sectors such as government and private organizations collaborating in order to achieve corporate social responsibility that is sustainable. The articles findings suggest that for corporate social responsibility to be sustainable there must be collaboration between multiple sectors of the business world. They suggest that for a more environmentally friendly approach to society these businesses must act in conjunction with each other. This article aligns itself with Freemans view of businesses having to be corporate and social responsibility when conducting their business ventures and it is not necessarily about the pursuit of profit. This journal article was published by Emerald Group Publishing which is a scholarly publisher of academic journals, this is a credible source as the purpose of academic research and not to make a statement or have any political alignment, this allows for an objective viewpoint into the issue of corporate social responsibility.  The authors of this article are credible and trustworthy as they are affiliated with respected academic institutions such as Leeds University Business School; Aston Business School, Aston University; and Cornerstone Global Associates. One possible issue with the journal article is that it was published in 2010 which calls into question its relevancy in todays society as there have been many developments which may have changed the interpretation of the results causing the article not to be as relevant as other studies. Overall the journal article has credibility due to the publishers being a respected scholarly article publisher and also due to the authors of the journal article being from respected academic institutions. However one drawback of using this journal article is the publish date which could potentially cause issues due to it possibly being irrelevant in todays society due to changes between the present and when the journal was published.   

Review:

This magazine article is relevant to the topic of corporate social responsibility as it delves into the idea of that corporate social responsibility has no inherent effect on a business's profit and whilst there are many examples of socially conscious businesses doing as well financially however there are just as many examples of non-socially conscious businesses doing just as well and that corporate social responsibility has no inherent affect. This lends itself to supporting Friedmand’s idea that a business's purpose is to make profit for itself and corporate social responsibility is not something that is required. This magazine article was published by Forbes which is a respected publisher in the world of business meaning that is a trustworthy source as they report on current issues within the business world. However it has been suggested that Forbes is a politically right leaning publisher when it comes to economic issues which cause them to have an agenda when publishing this article and this could possibly cause this article to be less credible due to the political alignment. A possible issue with the magazine article is that it was published in 2008 this could mean that the article is outdated, and that it is no longer relevant in todays society as there have been many developments in public outlooks and how businesses are run. Overall the article has a credible publisher as it is a respected institution within the business world however the publisher is slightly right leaning, and the article was written in 2008 which needs to be taken into account when using the information from this article.

Review:

This magazine article is relevant to the topic of corporate social responsibility as it delves into the idea of that corporate social responsibility has no inherent effect on a business's profit and whilst there are many examples of socially conscious businesses doing as well financially however there are just as many examples of non-socially conscious businesses doing just as well and that corporate social responsibility has no inherent affect. This lends itself to supporting Friedmand’s idea that a business's purpose is to make profit for itself and corporate social responsibility is not something that is required. This magazine article was published by Forbes which is a respected publisher in the world of business meaning that is a trustworthy source as they report on current issues within the business world. However it has been suggested that Forbes is a politically right leaning publisher when it comes to economic issues which cause them to have an agenda when publishing this article and this could possibly cause this article to be less credible due to the political alignment. A possible issue with the magazine article is that it was published in 2008 this could mean that the article is outdated, and that it is no longer relevant in todays society as there have been many developments in public outlooks and how businesses are run. Overall the article has a credible publisher as it is a respected institution within the business world however the publisher is slightly right leaning, and the article was written in 2008 which needs to be taken into account when using the information from this article.   

Harvard Reference: Dudovskiy, J. (2021). Apple Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) - Research-Methodology. [online] Research-Methodology. Available at: https://research-methodology.net/apple-corporate-social-responsibility-csr/. 

This article is relevant to our group topic as it highlights the Corporate Social Responsibility of the largest tech company in the world: Apple. This article discusses how Apple has focused more on the CSR aspect of the business since Tim Cook became CEO back in 2011. The article highlights many changes the company has made to become more sustainable, some of these changes include Educating and Empowering their workers, Labour and Human Rights, Employee Health and Safety, Gender Equality and Energy Consumption.  

Supporting local communities can be an easy thing for a large tech conglomerate to overlook which has been the case with other companies in the past. So, the fact that Apple is self-aware and has made the decision to positively impact the communities from where they get their resources for their product shows that they're on the path to show more corporate social responsibility. Apples commitment to labour and human rights is very much needed, especially after ‘The Guardian’s article which displayed the horrific work environment of Apples manufacturing factories in China. Apple’s main headquarters ‘Apple Park’ is 100% carbon neutral, and as pointed out by the article uses “75% non-portable water” (Dudovskiy, 2021).  

I believe the statistics in this report are reliable as they reference Apples own reports from previous years. Dudovsky also uses analytical frameworks such as, SWOT and PESTEL to analyse the data therefor making it easier to deduce.  

Amazon Corporate Social Responsibility 

Harvard Reference: Mishra, A. (2020). Amazon Corporate Social Responsibility: An Overview. [online] Management Weekly. Available at: https://managementweekly.org/amazon-corporate-social-responsibility/. 

In this article Mishra highlights the corporate social responsibility of Amazon. With Amazon being ‘the largest online marketplace’ (Mishra, 2020) there is bound to be some misconduct which is pointed out in the article. Some of the major responsibility issues that face Amazon are environmental degradation due to packaging and manufacturing, and the toxic work culture. One major change amazon has made toward a greener future is the use of electric delivery vehicles which has drastically reduced the emissions produced by delivery vehicles with exhaust emissions.  

The article highlights the toxic work environment that many employees allegedly suffer from throughout several Amazon facilities around the world. There have been complaints from employees regarding being overworked to meet the difficult demands that management set. Amazon strategically places their warehouses in areas where jobs are scarce, which is an amazing way of supporting local communities. On the other hand, it gives amazon the opportunity to ignore the wellbeing of their employees and overwork them to increase efficiency. This is because of the que of local people waiting for jobs.  

I believe that this article is trustworthy as it is a .NET domain, .NET is usually used to convey professionalism and are therefore seen as a more credible source of information. The author is also a reliable source, Dr. Mishra studied business management at Xavier School of Management and has also worked at several recognisable reputable companies such as: IBM and Hyundai.  

CSR: The Parable for the Bad Samaritan 

Harvard Referencing: Hastings, G. (2016). CSR: The Parable of the Bad Samaritan. Social Marketing Quarterly, 22(4), pp.280–289. 

This journal article introduces the idea that CSR is a way of companies trying to maximise profitability, and that CSR is used as a marketing tool to appeal to consumers and shareholders. The article speaks of the retail shop Marks & Spencer's and their desire to ‘trade ethically and build a healthier nation’ which the author claims is self-interest. It’s interesting to think of CSR as a marketing tool rather than a way to do business ethically and sustainably. The author believes that M&S announced this to gain the customers trust in them and their campaign.  

This article compares CSR to a child that gives away his slice of cake because he knows that the next one is bigger. Essentially so that people will assume the company has their best interest at heart, but there are selfish motives behind it. What the company loses from not being able to overwork their employees and set difficult demands they make up for with company loyalty and public perception.  

The Parable for the Bad Samaritan is a peer reviewed article written my Gerard Hastings who is a professor of social marketing at Stirling University. The fact that this article is peer reviewed makes it much more credible as it had to be reviewed by other people who have the same credibility as Hastings. 

Promoting Sustainable Business – United Nations 

Harvard Reference: www.youtube.com. (n.d.). Promoting Sustainable Business. [online] Available at: https://youtu.be/A5Je3eCwrpA [Accessed 9 Nov. 2023]. 

This next source is a video by the United Nations regarding their Sustainable Development Goals or SGD in which they promote sustainable business. The UN holds a conference in Davos, Switzerland every year where business leaders meet and discuss the sustainability of their businesses and how to improve their corporate responsibility. The SDG promotes: human rights, fair labour, sustainable development and climate action. 

The UN encourages everyone to focus on the 1.5-degree scenario for their businesses. This goal is to limit global warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels by the year 2030. This means that global emissions need to half which means that companies will have to take drastic measures to achieve this goal because the UN believe they hold huge potential to help make the difference. But it could be in the company's best interest to attend this conference to better their public image and increase customer loyalty as Hastings pointed out in the previous article. Some companies that align themselves with the SDGs include Hilton Hotels, Nike and LEGO. 

I believe that this source is reliable as it is from the United Nations, which is an international nonprofit organization, which many companies use as a guide to become a sustainable business. The UN helps companies globalize their products fairly.