QUESTION A: Discussion forum problem solving (5% of mark)

Based on the week 1 material and the video link given in the week 2 material

"Starbucks Coffee"REVISITED

As a value leader, Starbucks' needs to differentiate itself from the competition. Most can agree that Starbucks has achieved this through brand success. Another value leader approach could be in relation to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

CSR may be a new term for some of you. The textbook provides a definition in chapter 1:

Corporate social responsibility is the voluntary integration of social and environmental concerns into business decisions".[1]

The following link to Business News Daily gives a current overview of CSR. It will help you with understanding what CSR is and some perspectives on what 'good' CSR looks like.

https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/4679-corporate-social-responsibility.html

This week your group will take a stand on Starbucks' reasons for implementing 'ethical sourcing of sustainable products' into the corporation. The focus of this will be on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the reason why Starbucks has implemented ethical sourcing. Go back to the week 2 material and re-watch the Starbucks video on this topic. Your group will be asked to defend one of the following perspectives on this (a) or (b):

Why do you think Starbucks has adopted 'Ethical Sourcing'? Is it mostly because....

a.Starbucks wants to boost their image to entice the market to buy their products.

300 words

b.Starbucks wants to take societal and environmental concerns into business decisions to make the world a better place.

300 words

[1] D.Silberhorn and R.C. Warren. 2007. Defining Corporate Social Responsibility. European Business Review, pp. 352-372