Sustainable Development Course Group Project Instructions

Sustainable Development Course Group Project – Instructions & Requirements

Analyze a global organization operating in at least three countries, focusing on its sustainability efforts at the headquarters and in two foreign countries. Prepare a comprehensive report and a presentation based on your findings, following the structure and criteria outlined in the assignment instructions.

Paper For Above instruction

The objective of this project is for students to understand how regional factors influence sustainable actions within a multinational organization. By profiling a global organization that operates in at least three different countries, students will explore the motivations, strategies, and future plans related to sustainability at the corporate headquarters and in each country’s operations. The project aims to develop research, critical thinking, writing, and presentation skills through an in-depth analysis of sustainability initiatives across diverse regions.

Students will form groups of four to five members and select a company that is publicly traded with readily available information, ensuring the company operates in three distinctly different countries. Each team must choose a unique company within their course section to avoid duplication. The selected organization’s profile will include an overview, sustainability history, current initiatives, and future ambitions at both corporate and country levels. The project requires a detailed written report of approximately 10-12 pages (2500-3000 words), including a Table of Contents, APA formatting, citations, references, and an executive summary created as an infographic.

Introduction

Begin with a broad overview of the organization: its industry, products or services, market focus (B2B or B2C), and a brief history of its evolution. Follow this with a general discussion of sustainability within the sector—how industry peers are engaging with sustainability efforts and the contextual backdrop shaping these initiatives.

Sustainability Profile 1: Corporate Headquarters

Describe the factors motivating the organization’s adoption of sustainability strategies at the headquarters. Explore macro-level issues influencing this shift—such as regulatory pressures, societal expectations, or economic considerations. Detail current programs and policies, organized under people, profit, and planet, and discuss the organization’s future sustainability plans.

Sustainability Profile 2: Country A

Identify a specific country where the organization operates. Highlight five factors motivating sustainability actions in this country, including at least two that differ from the HQ motivations. Describe the organization’s programs and policies specific to this country, aligning with or diverging from HQ initiatives. Discuss future sustainability efforts tailored to this region.

Sustainability Profile 3: Country B

Repeat the analysis for a second country, ensuring it differs significantly from HQ and Country A in demographics, government, or cultural factors. Detail five motivations, policies, and future plans, highlighting regional differences and similarities to other locations.

Comparison Across Countries

Compare the sustainability efforts and motivations across the three regions, analyzing how regional factors such as culture, government policy, and economic environment influence practice. Discuss similarities, differences, and potential reasons behind variations in sustainability uptake.

Summary and Conclusions

Summarize key findings, reflect on the implications of regional differences, and suggest avenues for further research. Provide a cohesive set of conclusions based on your analysis.

Sources and Referencing

Utilize at least ten reputable sources, including scholarly articles, industry reports, and recent news, avoiding reliance on the company’s own publications to ensure objectivity. Properly cite all sources using APA style to maintain academic integrity.

Additional Requirements

The report must adhere to APA Business Report formatting standards, including Arial 12 font, 1-inch margins, double-spacing, paragraph indentation, and post-paragraph spacing. It should include a title page, table of contents, page numbers, and a reference list. The infographic executive summary should be created after completing the report, using tools like Canva or Piktochart. The report will be evaluated on content quality, style (formatting and language), and project management aspects such as timely submission and documentation.

Presentation Instructions

Prepare a 10-minute presentation summarizing your main findings, employing creative materials (PowerPoint, video, etc.) to engage the class. Your presentation will be assessed based on subject matter, organization, visual aids, public speaking, and timing, ensuring clarity, professionalism, and effective communication of your analysis.

Conclusion

This comprehensive project not only enhances understanding of international sustainability practices but also develops critical academic skills. By analyzing how regional factors influence corporate sustainability, students gain a nuanced perspective on global environmental and social responsibility and prepare for careers in multicultural and multidisciplinary environments.

References

  • Elkington, J. (1997). Cannibals with forks: The triple bottom line of 21st-century business. Capstone.
  • Hart, S. L. (1995). A natural-resource-based view of the firm. Academy of Management Review, 20(4), 986-1014.
  • Kolk, A. (2016). The social responsibility of international business: From ethics and the environment to CSR and sustainability models. Journal of Business Ethics, 133(2), 261–278.
  • Lozano, R. (2015). A holistic perspective on corporate sustainability reasoning. Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, The University of Queensland.
  • Montiel, I., & Zimmerman, M. (2014). Corporate social responsibility and corporate sustainability/solvency/financial performance: What can we learn from the past five decades? Sustainability, 6(2), 1060-1079.
  • Sairanen, S., & Lankinen, T. (2020). Regional factors influencing sustainability strategies among multinational corporations. Journal of Cleaner Production, 245, 118778.
  • Schaltegger, S., Lüdeke-Freund, F., & Hansen, E. G. (2016). Business models for sustainability: A review, conceptual analysis, and research agenda. Journal of Cleaner Production, 135, 24-35.
  • United Nations Global Compact. (2015). Corporate sustainability in a globalized world. UNGC.
  • World Economic Forum. (2022). The Future of Sustainable Business. WEF Reports.
  • Zheng, H., & Lee, T. (2018). Exploring regional influences on corporate sustainability practices. Business & Society, 57(4), 629–662.

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