Social Responsibility

Your topic should be evaluated from the business, government and society angles. Broad areas of interest (not topic titles) can be but not limited to: environmental protection, recycling, global warming, alternative energy sources, corporate governance, insider trading, executive compensation, business involvement in politics, regulation, globalization and issues similar to these. Some themes that were selected in the past: “poor schooling system in Hayward”, “legalization of marijuana in CA” “plastic bag ban in the bay area” “homelessness in the bay area” “homeless people in BART stations”.
Your project should be organized around the issue. The issue management process requires:Identify the issue. What did you focus on? Narrow it down to a specific topic. You can pick a local issue, which might be more interesting for the class. What is your motivation? Case studies in the textbook are also great examples of what kind of issues / news / events make great topics. You can be inspired from current events or issues / problems in your neighborhoods, cities and work environments.
Analyze the major causes of the problem / issue. Elaborate on and discuss different perspectives on the issue. Apply stakeholder analysis (Who are the major stakeholders relevant in this issue? How does this issue affect different stakeholders? Which stakeholders’ claims are legitimate? Who has more power?). Explain business, government and societal implications of the issue.
Evaluate various solutions and pick the one you feel most sensible. Use data, examples and analytical reasoning to justify your solution. Frame your solution as a debatable question that could be argued from both sides. This is the most important part of the paper. Use utilitarian, virtue, rights and justice perspectives to evaluate your solution. Please make sure that you apply these perspectives correctly as a decision making process.
Take action (optional). You can volunteer in a non profit organization that is involved in this issue. You can conduct surveys, interviews, make field trips to get a first hand feel of the issue.
Monitor and review your findings. Reflect on your overall experience and observations. What do you think as a group?

Some papers start with the solution (a proposed legislation, a controversial corporate policy, a government program or project) and explain the background later. For example: Project homekey to respond to homelessness in the Bay Area.
Your grade depends on the extent to which to you apply theories and concepts that are covered in this course.
You need to use external resources, data and statistics to justify your arguments and also an APA style bibliography
The project should present not only the facts but also your pinions. You should discuss contrasting positions on issues wherever possible. Taking a stand and being able to defend it is expected.
The way in which the topic is discussed should be informative, engaging, interesting and analytical.
Your paper should have a cover page, page numbers and subtitles
Your paper should be professional and well written
Your paper should be coherent and concise. No redundancies and overlaps.

What to avoid:
Topics that are irrelevant (to the course and to your classmates), one sided (no opportunity for alternate views – e.g. nuclear weapons), repetitive (repetition of a chapter, a case or lectures), too broad.
Lengthy descriptions, definitions and historical information.L
Laundry list of facts. (e.g. What did firm A do for social responsibility?)