Managing International Business Responsibly Assessment 2 – Essay guidance  Essay: How can we critically evaluate the CSR work of an international company? Apply such an evaluation to a company of your choice.   This assignment is an opportunity for you to explore the CSR work of one international company in depth. The assessment requires you to use a range of sources to evaluate, question, and perhaps even contest the firm’s own narrative about its CSR. You are encouraged not to just accept what the company tells you at face value, but also to explore the information it provides from a range of different perspectives. You are required to use course concepts, models and theories to assist you with your evaluation.   PLEASE NOTE: This is an academic essay not a report (Please see guidance on how to write an academic essay that was posted in the Assessment 1 folder on Canvas).   Your essay should critically evaluate the CSR work of one international company. You should include the following: Title page (title of your essay, your name, student number, and word count) Introduction – give a brief overview of what your essay is about and your key findings and arguments. How can we critically evaluate the CSR work of an international company? Write a few sentences to explain your understanding of this. Then tell us What resources you are going to use to do your critical evaluation – i.e. state what course concepts, models or theories, and other resources, will you use to critically evaluate your company? A very brief overview of your chosen company (Microsoft) Analysis and evaluation of the CSR work of your chosen company. Please make sure you cover BOTH the sections below (you can either do these separately or integrate them): 5. a)  What does the company say about its own CSR work? Use company websites and reports to summarize and explain the main CSR work done by your chosen company. You might also find it helpful to explore any evidence you find about the company’s reason for doing CSR work, and the rationale given for the particular approach to CSR taken. 5. b)  Apply your chosen concepts, models or theories and other resources to critically evaluate what the company says about its CSR work. Does the company’s CSR look adequate from this/these perspective? PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS THE MAIN PART OF YOUR ESSAY Your evaluation should include an assessment of what is good about the approach to CSR taken by your company, what is missing from their approach, and how their CSR work could be improved. You may refer to the historical CSR work of your chosen company, but your evaluation should focus on the company’s contemporary, current CSR practice.  This is an opportunity for you to evaluate the CSR work of your chosen company by demonstrating some of what you have learnt in this course. Use the following to help you to evaluate the company’s work on CSR: Core concepts, models and theories from this course. The CSR literature (including on the relevant sector or company) Reference to wider CSR initiatives Media reports, and critiques from various other stakeholders (including NGOs and unions). For example, you might use Crane et al.’s ‘Core characteristics of CSR’; stakeholder theory; Schwartz and Carroll’s three-domain model, or the GRI reporting criteria to help you evaluate what is good about the approach taken by the company, and what is missing. Does the company’s CSR work appear to address its core social and environmental impacts, and its key stakeholders? Can you find stakeholder perspectives on the company? Based on your critical evaluation, how might the CSR work at the company be improved in your view. Conclusion: briefly summarize what your essay has covered, and your findings and arguments.