CMNS380Assignment3
.docx
School
Athabasca University, Athabasca**We aren't endorsed by this school
Course
CMNS 380
Subject
Management
Date
Dec 25, 2024
Pages
14
Uploaded by MinisterRockLapwing30
1Assignment 3CMNS 380: Corporate CommunicationsHolly DougallSeptember 2, 2024
2Assignment 3Concept questionsDefine the term “learning organization,” referring to at least four characteristics of learning organizations.Learning organizations is defined as a mechanism which allows people to develop new skills and have control over their development. As per Michael J. Marquardt (The Global Learning Organization, 1994) learning organisations are those in which learning is accomplished by the organization system considering as a whole rather than individual members in the system. It is also explained as an organization in which people continue to expand their capacity to deliver results and where collective aspirations is set free. Learning organizations also facilities development in learning and personal aspect for all its employees. In other words, learning organizations is a systematic process of actions, actors, symbols and processes that allows an organization to change information to valued knowledge. This also increases a long run adaptive capacity. (Athabasca University (2024) CMNS 380 [Study guide]).The four characteristics of learning organizations described by Linda Morris are described below. Firstly, Individual learning and development is connected to organizational learning and development in a structured way. Secondly, there is a focus on creativity and adaptability. Another important characteristic is networking, which enhances learning and completion of work, which can be through personal connections or aided by technology. Lastly, learning organizations have a powerful and clear vision of their position now and where they see themselves in foreseeable future (Athabasca University (2024) CMNS 380 [Study guide]).Reference:
3Athabasca University (2024) CMNS 380 [Study guide]Discuss the role of boundaries in a learning organization.Organizational boundaries in a learning organization are defined as the limitations of organizations and departments within organizations. These boundaries circulate the flow of knowledge between organizations and its external environment, and also between departments. The author has also explained that these boundaries impede the flow of knowledge and sharing of ideas. Therefore, whenever there are problems beyond the boundary of an organization or department, such activities across the organization boundaries to find a solution. These activities are called as boundary spanning. Boundary spanning is a phenomenon which takes place to limit the organization. This means that knowledge from inside the organization is exchanged with those outside the organization and vice versa. It is also said that boundary spanning is important to the organization because it allows flow of knowledge that generates understanding for outside world. (Hoe, 2006)For the learning organization to be both consistent and well-run while also being able to experiment, corporate communication frequently plays a significant role in the development and distribution of standards and limitations. The secret to good communication is to incorporate the standards right into the workflow without making them seem overly restrictive (Athabasca University (2024) CMNS 380 [Study guide]).Reference: Athabasca University (2024) CMNS 380 [Study guide]HOE, Siu Loon. The boundary spanner’s role in organisational learning: Unleashing untapped potential. (2006). Development and Learning in Organizations. 20, (5), 9-11.
4Define corporate social responsibility (CSR.) Why do businesses adopt CSR processes and principles? Give a recent example from news coverage.Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is defined as multifaceted, which means that a corporate is committed to influence people and places positive affects and constructive ways in alignment with three pillars of financial, environmental and social sustainability. Earlier when good corporate citizen meant sponsoring a local charity event, communities however, nowadays organizations are taking task to ensure that they operate in ways that improve local economy, are environmentally conscious and give back to the communities in which they do business. A socially responsible organization is identified as who itself as a stakeholder in all of the processesit embraces and recognizes that its success depends on the success of other stakeholders. To conclude, CSR can refer to many organizational acts and commitments such as establishment of internal ethical codes designed to prevent contract awarders from accepting gifts from suppliers, implementing transparent and open accounting principles and documents etc. (Athabasca University (2024) CMNS 380 [Study guide]). The most recent example from news coverage, A Vancouver based mining company faced allegations of human rights violations tied to evacuatingpeople living near its copper mine in Democratic Republic of Congo. According to Amnesty International, Ivanhoe Mines failed to provide adequate replacement housing for hundreds of people who lost their homes and farmlands in 2018 to make way for the sprawling Kamoa-Kakula mine. None of the new houses built for those families had showers, running water or electricity, and the outdoor toilets provided were holes in the ground not connected to any sewage system (McSheffrey, 2023).Reference:Athabasca University (2024) CMNS 380 [Study guide]
5McSheffrey, E. (2023, September 15). Human rights violation claims lobbed at B.C. company over Central Africa copper mine. Global News. https://globalnews.ca/news/9958497/human-rights-violation-claims-bc-company-central-africa-copper-mine/Discuss the differences and similarities between social and environmental responsibility.In the twenty first century, there is increase in environmental and social responsibility. The principles of environmental and community movements include preservation, sustainability, holistic planning and inclusion, which are included in organizational theory and strategy. By incorporating these principles into their core values, organizations have found that it is possible to improve their accountability and responsibility to all parties involved, including members of the communities they serve and entry-level employees (Athabasca University (2024) CMNS 380 [Study guide]). CSR focuses on advising all company's stakeholders—employees, clients, investors, and supporters in the society its initiatives. Any size company, from startups to large corporations, should adopt CSR as a standard practice for steady growth. CSR initiatives are the steps businesses take to address environmental and social issues. Examples include volunteering, lowering carbon emissions, and stepping up charitable contributions. While CSR focuses on communicating initiatives, ESG is the next step up, using data-driven reports to assess how well a company is adhering to these efforts. CSR reports used to exist, but they weren't as analytical as ESG reports nowadays and offered little insight into a company's impact. ESG reporting uses quantifiable data to track a company's advancement on projects. On its CSR landing page, for example, a business might describe its efforts to become more environmentally sustainable; on the other hand, its ESG report will display the percentage of GHG emissions that have been reduced as of this writing. (“Https://kambeo.io/blog/CSR-vs-ESG-Whats-the-difference/,” n.d.)
6Reference:Athabasca University (2024) CMNS 380 [Study guide]Https://kambeo.io/blog/CSR-vs-ESG-Whats-the-difference/. (n.d.). Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) vs. Environmental Social Governance (ESG): What’s The Difference?Explain the principle(s) associated with “organizational behaviour.” What is “ethical compliance”?The foundation of corporate social responsibility lies in an ethical dedication to preserving and enhancing stakeholders' quality of life. Ethical concerns need to be deeply ingrained in the organization's culture for any CSR initiative to succeed. This can be done by implementing mission, vision, and policy statements as well as by performing concrete actions that show organizational commitment. Before these ingrained values can be made apparent to external stakeholders, they must first be recognized by the members of the organization. Communication professionals need to be completely aware of the company's CSR projects and ethical standards. Decision-making processes need to give careful thought to ethical issues if CSR is to be genuine and successful.Based on the core beliefs and values of the company, a successful CSR project should be implemented. Lack of such correlation exposes the organization to the risk of squandering funds on a hurried public relations campaign, the shallowness of which will be apparent to the stakeholders the organization is attempting to impress, assist, or both (Athabasca University (2024) CMNS 380 [Study guide]). Reference:Athabasca University (2024) CMNS 380 [Study guide]
7Short-Answer questionsExplain the importance of networking to organizational success.The "rumor mill" is an information system that has always existed, even in traditional hierarchies intended to regulate information pathways. Unofficial information is communicated by this network to inform people about evolving trends, dangers, and opportunities prior to official announcements. People can also address the interpersonal relationships that are a part of the organization through the rumor mill, even though they may never be formally discussed. Networking goes from being an inflammatory activity to the core of the organizational communication system in a learning organization. Instead of relying only on official announcements, people are encouraged to form relationships and share knowledge through informal network channels. It should come as no surprise that there is extensive networking outside of the company, as it is expected that staff members will exercise sound judgment in determining which information should remain confidential and which can be shared outside of the company. To conclude, the potential of uncontrolled information has increased with the use of electronic networks. Businesses have discovered that allowing employees to speak up their frustrations and complaints via emails and other online sources acts as a useful safety valve and enhances satisfied attitudes at work (Athabasca University (2024) CMNS 380 [Study guide]). Reference:Athabasca University (2024) CMNS 380 [Study guide]Discuss the importance of shared vision and trust to a learning organization.According to Ryan (1995), a "learning community" is defined as a group of people who have a common goal and build trusting relationships. Members of these communities also value
8continuous inquiry and the process of collective discovery. Thus, a learning community is a collection of individuals who have a shared goal and work together to find innovative ways to realize it in a way that meets the needs of all. Individuals who work in the same organization or even just in the same area are not the only members of the learning community. A shared vision rather than a common workspace serves as the crucial connecting factor. In a learning community, members value collective performance rather than controlling or "gate keeping" knowledge to obtain personal power. Other traits include curiosity about issues and questions, an openness to considering multiple approaches, and an understanding of the natural conflict between the need to feel proud of one's achievements and the need to find fresh solutions to old ones (Athabasca University (2024) CMNS 380 [Study guide]). Reference:Athabasca University (2024) CMNS 380 [Study guide]Define “corporate social responsibility.” Ask someone else to define the same term. Include both versions in your response. How do your definitions differ? Offer a possible explanation for the difference.Based on my understanding of the course material, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) can be described as the actions taken by an organization to positively impact the community through ethical practices, rather than merely seeking public approval. Nowadays, many organizations support various small non-profit groups to genuinely assist the community instead of just participating in charity events for appearances. It has also been observed that organizations engaged in CSR are generally more trusted by stakeholders. I asked my friend Jessica for her interpretation of corporate social responsibility, and she described it as actions
9taken by businesses purely out of love for their community, without expecting anything in return.She mentioned that if he owned a business in Jasper Alberta, she would initiate projects like groups of people protecting and preserving beauty of nature by cleaning and promoting local. She emphasized that her actions would be motivated by her affection for natural beauty and the people of town not for public recognition or praise. Jessica believes that if her business is profitable and capable, why not contribute back to the community, to which I agreed. Describe some of the opportunities that CSR offers to organizations.According to "Corporate Social Responsibility," Uzoechi Nwagbara and Patrick Reid explore the topic of communicating corporate social responsibility (CSR) messages in the age of new media in their book Communication in the Age of New Media: Towards the Logic of Sustainability Communication. The writers investigate how, in the context of new media, communication and corporate impact are related. Organizations have had to make sure that they are communicating with all stakeholders through all available channels of communication, especially with social media becoming such a ubiquitous tool. Because information spreads quickly and widely through technology, the authors contend that technology-enabled channels are beneficial for democratizing stakeholder participation. Social media increases an organization's accountability by emphasizing the importance of punctuality. Stakeholders expect organizations to respond as quickly as possible because messages can be sent and received almost instantly. Additionally, stakeholders anticipate being contacted day or night because anyone can send messages via social media at any time. An organization must constantly monitorand address stakeholder concerns and comments due to the sheer volume of messages that can besent through platforms like Facebook and Twitter, which increases communicators' workload andstress (Athabasca University (2024) CMNS 380 [Study guide]).
10Reference:Athabasca University (2024) CMNS 380 [Study guide]Should CSR always be the responsibility of human resources? Explain.In order to facilitate activities that are in line with corporate social responsibility initiatives, HR is essential. Social goals have received a lot of lip service, but HR can integrate a corporate social responsibility culture into the everyday operations and goals of the organization. Adopting corporate social responsibility is more than just a business strategy. In fact, acting morally out of power may be more harmful to your reputation than doing nothing at all. Today's stakeholders can recognize sincerity when they see it. Integrating HR and corporate social responsibility (CSR) is therefore crucial for bringing about and maintaining significant change, both inside the company and in society at large. (The Intersection of HR and Corporate Social Responsibility, 2022)Reference:The intersection of HR and corporate social responsibility. (2022, February 14). Hrci Marketing.https://www.hrci.org/community/blogs-and-announcements/hr-leads-business-blog/hr-leads-business/2022/02/14/the-intersection-of-hr-and-corporate-social-responsibilityShort Essay Using AU library resources, periodicals, and the Internet, find and research an organization that is known for its commitment to social responsibility. Locate information on the social responsibility mandate of your chosen organization, on socially responsible projects that the organization has undertaken, or both. Provide a brief overview of the
11organization in your introduction and answer the following analysis and reflection questions in a short essay.TOMS Shoes is a for-profit company based in Los Angeles, California, which was founded in 2006. (Wikipedia contributors, 2024b)Reference:Wikipedia contributors. (2024b, August 1). Toms Shoes. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toms_ShoesAnalysis Questions1.How does the organization communicate its commitment to social responsibility publicly? Include information about the methods used and the content of these communication pieces.TOMS shoes provide 1/3 of their profits through cash grants and deep partnership with community organizations, to drive sustainable change. Every purchase of TOMS helps to supportmental health resources for the millions of people who need them (TOMS, n.d.).Reference:TOMS. (n.d.). Impact Overview | TOMS. https://www.toms.com/en-us/impact2.Is the social responsibility mandate of the organization primarily social or environmental in nature?TOMS is a certified B corporation, where high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability is met. The current score is 121.5% which is 25% higher than their first score. TOMS still aim to do better (TOMS, n.d.).
12Reference:TOMS. (n.d.). Impact Overview | TOMS. https://www.toms.com/en-us/impact3.Determine the scope of the organization’s efforts (local, regional, national, global).The scope of the organization is globally recognized. 4.Does the organization publish a sustainability report or the equivalent? If so, what items are included in this report? Is the report generated internally or externally (that is, by another independent organization)?TOMS publishes its Impact report on their website which reflects their journey toward driving sustainable business practices. TOMS Shoes, LLC is aware of the part we play in maintaining a sustainable and healthy environment. We are dedicated to protecting the earth that we live on because of this. Our mission to Wear Good is ingrained with this belief, which is a part of our culture. They include four items in this report, Invest in Sustainability, Increase B Corp score, Greener packaging and measuring their footprint (TOMS, n.d.).Reference:TOMS. (n.d.). Impact Overview | TOMS. https://www.toms.com/en-us/impact5.How do the organization’s socially responsible undertakings relate to its core business?TOMS is a huge organization. When the local communities believe that they are not producing goods to sell it and make money, but also to ensure that people who are not able to afford those gets best out of those who buy it. It depicts that organizations has sympathy towards community and people of the world.
13Reflection Questions1.Are the organization’s efforts effective, in your estimation? Support your response with examples.In my opinion, their efforts are truly impactful. Having reviewed their reports on website, myperception of the company has shifted positively. I appreciate their commitment to supporting people suffering with mental illness globally. With this, they also give extra discounts to students, military workers, teacher and healthcare workers. Consequently, I plan to gift TOMS to my family for any occasion going forward.2.Are the organization’s communication efforts in this respect effective? Support yourresponse with examples and possible recommendations for improvement, if applicable.I believe the company is effectively sharing their initiatives, as they have a dedicated websitefor CSR activities. This allows any interested person to easily access this information with just one click. 3.What challenges do you think the organization faces in carrying out its mandate of social responsibility?I think the challenges that TOMS Shoe could face by not earning more profits than their competitor brands. But in longer prospect they are contributing back to the community which makes them the most preferred brand and gives them more business.
144.Does the organization’s commitment to social responsibility make it a learning organization? Support your response with reference to the discussion of learning organizations in the study guide.TOMS Shoe's commitment to social responsibility undoubtedly transforms it into a learning organization, driven by a strong vision and purpose. This significantly impacts their operations. 5.Recommend other socially responsible projects that the organization could undertake. Justify your recommendation with reference to the organization’s mission statement, vision statement, or published codes of conduct.TOMS Shoe mission statement is “We're in business to improve lives”, which they are already thriving to achieve. According to me, they could also take on more projects related to children with mental disability, and have easily available free schools and clinics established for those across the world.