SOUTHERN CROSS UNIVERSITY

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Please complete all of the following details and then make this sheet the first page of each file of your assignment – do not send it as a separate document.

Your assignments must be submitted as either Word documents, text documents with .rtf extension or as .pdf documents. If you wish to submit in any other file format please discuss this with your lecturer well before the assignment submission date.

Student Name: John Smith (Student No.)

Unit Name: Management Communication

Unit Code: MNG81001

Tutor’s name:

Assignment No.: 4

Assignment Title:

Due date:

Date submitted:

Declaration:

We have read and understand the Rules Relating to Awards (Rule 3 Section 18 – Academic Misconduct Including Plagiarism) as contained in the SCU Policy Library. We understand the penalties that apply for plagiarism and agree to be bound by these rules. The work we are submitting electronically is entirely our own work.

Signed:(please type your names)

Date:

Title of Report

Title of Report

Submitted to (name of your facilitator)

Written by Date

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Title of Report

Abstract

An abstract must be fully self-contained and make sense by itself, without further reference to outside sources or to the actual paper. Its purpose is to state the intentions in writing the report and provide a brief outline of the overall aim, the relevance or importance of your work, key findings and the main conclusions and recommendations.

It is a well-developed single paragraph of approximately 150/200 words in length.

The function of the abstract is to outline briefly all parts of the paper.

Although it is placed at the beginning of your paper, immediately following the title page, the abstract should be the last thing that you write, once you are sure of the conclusions you will reach.

Approx. 200 words (non included in 1500 word count)

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Note: different font style and size for headings and text

Title of Report

Table of Contents

Abstract…………………………………………………………… 2

1. Introduction 4

2. Evaluation and analysis of the company's CSR activities [Question 1]…….…….. 5

2.1 Evaluation of the website…………………………………………..…………. 7

2.2 Analysis of the CSR report………………………………….………………… 9

3. Communicating about CSR [Question 2]…………………………………………. 11

4. The lack of dialogue [Question 3]……….……...………………………………… 13

5. The dangers of empty boasting and CSR [Question 4]…….................................... 15

5.1 Empty boasting and reputation……………….………………………………. 15

5.2 Corporate scandal 1…………………………………………........................... 16

5.3 Corporate scandal 2………………………………………................................ 16

6. Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………. 17

7. Recommendations………………………………………………………………… 18

8. Appendices and attachments [if appropriate e.g. scree shot of website] 19

9. References…………………………………………………………………………. 20

10. Glossary (if applicable)…………………………………………………………….

List of Tables and Figures [Number according to each section]

Table 2.1 How green is my company……………………………………………… 5

Table 2.2 Analysis of the CSR report 9

A table of contents should include all section headings and subheadings:

Worded exactly as they appear in the report Numbered exactly as they appear in the report with their page numbers location

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1. Introduction [NB: Include a heading for ‘Introduction’]

Approx.100 words.

Here you want to focus on the assessment question and the relationship between corporate communication and CSR

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2. Evaluation and analysis of the company's CSR activities

This section includes the two tables.

Write approx. 200 words about the tables.

Introduction and conclusion required for each question or section

Headings

Choose a different point size and style to sub heading

You need to decide on the style for your headings.

Headings can be in a contrasting typeface, such as Arial or Helvetica.

Use Arabic numerals, and follow this pattern: First level: 1 Second level: 1.1 Third level: 1.1.1

Do not use more than three levels of heading.

Tables

The essential basic elements of introducing tables. The main text should:

(a) tell the reader when to look at a table (and so this reference should appear before the table in single column text);

(b) introduce the contents of the table

(c) point out any key features or trends which the reader should take a note of

(d) draw a conclusion from the table or figure which answers the ‘So what?’ question.

Refer to figures and tables

Make specific reference to each figure and table. Do not assume that the reader will make the necessary connection between the text and the figure or table. Write something about each figure and table. Refer to each figure or table in the text by its figure or table number (see examples below). Remember to guide the reader in interpreting the information in the table or figure. What does the table show? What specific point are you making?

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When referring to tables and figures, you can use:

clauses beginning with as

Example As shown in Table 2.I below, ……..

passive voice

……………….. are shown in Table 2.2.

brackets

You may refer to tables or figures by using brackets with or without the verb see

Example

In shaping a CR strategy, a corporation ideally acknowledges the link between competitive advantage and corporate social responsibility (see Table 2.1).

This pattern can also be used at the end of a sentence.

Example In shaping a CR strategy, a corporation ideally acknowledges the link between competitive advantage and corporate social responsibility as shown in Table 2.1.

You may choose to use the active voice to express the same notion.

Example Table 2.1 shows the link between competitive advantage and corporate social responsibility.

Referencing

Provide a reference to an authority if the table or figure is from or adapted from an outside source. If you have created the table or image yourself from your own data collection, you must still use a number and label – some say no reference is required, however I still use a source as follows:

Source: Developed for this assignment (this way the reader knows exactly how the information was developed).

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Table 2.1: How 'green' is my company

1. Company name:

2. Industry type:

3. Is there a CSR department? Yes No

4. What is it called?

5. Is there a CSR Report for 2018? Yes No

6. Is it available on the website? Yes No

7. Corporate Social Responsibility in Action. Which social change activities does the company engage in? Identify activities from each relevant category.

CSR activity OR Activity

a. Environment

b. Consumer responsibility

c. Community

d. Employee relations

e. Indigenous

f. Diversity

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Table has a descriptive title which is numbered for easy referencing within the text and to also help the reader easily find the table referred to. Note that titles are generally found on top of the table.

8. How ‘green’ is the website?

9. How ‘green’ is the company?

10. CSR indices/rankings

Source: Based on Company A 2019 (Developed for MNG81001 Assessment 4 Session 2 2019)

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Table 2.2: Attributes of the CSR report 1. Describe the form and content of the CSR

report:

2. Who is the report designed for?

Constituency OR Key message

a. Investors

b. Employee present

c. Employees future

d. Academics

e. Community activities

f. Public officials

g. Corporate managers

h. Other

3. How thorough and credible is the report?

Report elements OR

a. Is this a CRS report?

b. Does the report provide details on CSR practices as well as policies?

c. Does the CSR report provide systematic data?

d. Does the company report data in a comparable form?

e. Does the report present future goals as well as past practices?

f. Does the report include bad news as well as good news?

g. Does the report address the company’s greatest CSR challenges?

h. Does the company integrate CSR reporting with its traditional business strategy and its financial reporting?

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Table has a descriptive title which is numbered for easy referencing within the text and to also help the reader easily find the table referred to. Note that titles are generally found on top of the table.

4. Identify the key elements of the report

5. Identify two sustainability initiatives for 2018 (or 2109 if details available)

Source: Based on Company A 2019 (Developed for MNG81001 Assessment 4 Session 2 2019)

Conclusion

Include linking phrase or bridge to next section

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3. Communicating about CSR [Question 2]

Write approx. 350 words

[Introduction]

In the previous section discussed………… This section presents………..

3.1 Issue 2 (sub heading)

3.1.1 Heading level 3 (sub sub heading)

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Conclusion

Link to the next section

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4. The lack of dialogue

Write approx. 350 words

[Introduction]

4.1

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4.2 Issue 2

Conclusion

Link to next section

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5. The dangers of empty boasting and CSR [Question 4]

Write approx. 350 words

The final section of the report examines crisis communication. Unlike the previous three sub functions covered in the report, a crisis is something everyone can relate to.

5.1 Empty boasting and reputation

5.1.1 Sub issue

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5.2 Corporate scandal 1

5.3 Corporate scandal 2

Conclusion

No linkage to next section necessary as we have competed the body

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6. Conclusion [NB: Include a heading for ‘Conclusion’]

Write approx.100 words

This is the main conclusion for the WHOLE report.

Summarise the report’s findings and evaluate the main facts.

You need to link back to the main introduction and the overall theme of corporate communication.

Avoid writing new ideas or findings.

The conclusion may include a summary of what the finds mean.

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7. Recommendations

Write approx. 100 words

Recommendations should aim to solve the problem or provide answers to the report question: 'Why and how should managers master the corporate communication function'?

Clearly state the action to be taken.

Present each recommendation in a separate point (yes you can use a dot point) or paragraph.

They should be of equal importance.

Please note: The imperative voice (command or request) is often used for recommendations. Begin each recommendation with a verb. The subject ‘you’ is assumed in the recommendation.

Another useful strategy is to write recommendations as an action plan that identifies who, what, when, where, why and how.

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8. Appendices

Not counted in final word countAppendices contain material that is too detailed to include in the main report. The content should be summarised and referred to at the appropriate point in the body of the report. The conventions for appendices are as follows:

each appendix must be labelled with a number (or letter) and title the appendix numbers and titles must be listed on the Contents page under the

heading Appendices (if more than one) or Appendix (if only one) each appendix must be referred to by number (or letter) at the relevant point in

the text.From the body of the report:2.1 Evaluation of the websiteThe company’s website is discussed below and summarised in Table 2.1. An extract of the website is provided in Appendix A.

Appendix A. An extract of the company’s website

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9. References

Only use the SCU Harvard referencing

style

Highlight the peer reviewed references.

Cite the Company website

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