Task 4 (CSR - What is it? How would you integrate it in your business plan?)

Corporate Social Responsibility

- When a business runs parallel with social, ethical and environmental considerations. It is fair to say that if only businesses integrated CSR in their plans, communities would be much safer, knowledgable and sustainable.

As we saw earlier in class, CSR is not exclusive to graphic design, but rather a factor that could be common in all in fields of expertise. Read this post to gain an understanding of CSR:-

http://www.corporatewatch.org.uk/?lid=2678

Be it political, social, artistic, scientific or any other field, with no responsibilities, the community would suffer. This is why many journalists decide to report the news individually, as many (if not most) news agencies might force racist, or rather biased policies over the journalists. This can be done by spreading false information, emphasizing certain events, and minimizing others. Read this article to gain an understanding of how CSR can be integrated with the construction industry, by Paul Bryant.

http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2014/02/06/10-csr-ideas-retool-design-and-construction-industry

In Design

Should a designer compromise his/her beliefs for a design job?

- In my opinion, not every person has the luxury of flexibly molding a job to his/her beliefs and ethical standards. However, as much as possible, one should work based on one's personal ethical standards.

Examples of companies with a positive reputation for CSR

When I asked to give examples of companies with a good CSR policy, I could only think about the media and brands that I am exposed to. I thought about the 'Body Shop', who constantly bring up their disapproval towards animal testing.

http://www.thebodyshop.com/values/AgainstAnimalTesting.aspx

I thought about the bands that I listen, those whom I believe work with passion, integrity and responsibility, which is suggested through the lyrics, and the personal effort each band member puts into the music production.

I have a very basic idea of what a company should have in order to be considered as a company with a good CSR. However, I was not sure which companies function this way. Hence I decided to browse the internet. On more than one site, I found the same redundant names. Microsoft, Google, BMW and Walt Disney.

Mircosoft is ranked as the number one company with a CSR program. It is well reputed for several elements; employees, environment and revenue. It reduced it's carbon emission drastically.

It is interesting to me however how a company may seem very ethical at one thing and lacking in another. For example, Google is known to be one of top companies that functions with CSR in a sense that the employees are treated without short comings. In fact, it is ranked as number 3 for its CSR. Their well being is always taken into consideration. In this regard, Google does have a renowned CSR. However, what about privacy? Why did its rank fall in 2011? Many people are not confident with having their privacy secured....Many of my friends decided to quit using Facebook, claiming that it lacks privacy security...Thus, it is logical to say that different companies may have different ways of establishing CSR.

This is Google's website....the working environment is tempting ;)

https://www.google.co.uk/about/jobs/lifeatgoogle/

Read these links below for more about what I have mentioned...

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2012/12/10/the-companies-with-the-best-csr-reputations/2/

http://www.marketingweek.co.uk/news/microsoft-has-best-global-csr-reputation/4008108.article

http://www.developmentcrossing.com/profiles/blogs/top-100-csr-companies-by-reputation-2013

http://www.environmentalleader.com/2013/10/17/which-companies-have-the-best-csr-reputation/

My business Plan

1) Art
2) Graphic Design
3) Messages

I plan on working on things that I am passionate about; it makes me more naturally devoted. At times I create artworks that have a specific meaning. In addition, I sometimes write poems, or simply ideas andy thoughts that I hold dear tom myself, and many are those that I feel I should spread...they are important; simple, but not everyone is aware of them. I must say I am inspired by Russell Bran's approach of boldly talking about issues that he feels are important...simply the fact that he advocates love means a lot to me. Since my undergrad years, I have had an interest in public speaking, so I wish to pursue that.
Social networks are also key to CSR in my opinion. It is fast, and reaches people globally without much to pay for.