Activity 2
CSR in Action: Is Doing Good Always Good for Business?
đź“– Instructions for Students:
You have learned how companies like Patagonia, Starbucks, Ben & Jerry’s, Novo Nordisk, and Microsoft integrate ethical values through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). These initiatives demonstrate how businesses can be agents of positive change—balancing profits with people and the planet.
In this forum, you are invited to critically reflect on CSR and its ethical impact on business.
✍️ Task:
Step 1: Initial Post (150–250 words)
Choose ONE of the following options:
Option A:
Select a company you are familiar with (local or international) and describe a CSR initiative they have implemented.
•   Explain how this initiative aligns with ethical business practices.
•   Which moral philosophy does it reflect? (e.g., utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics)
•   Do you think it benefits the business in the long term? Why or why not?
Option B:
Reflect on one of the five companies discussed in the content (Patagonia, Novo Nordisk, Starbucks, Ben & Jerry’s, or Microsoft).
•   Do you believe their CSR efforts are genuinely ethical or just part of a branding strategy?
•   Support your view with ethical reasoning.
•   Would you support this company based on its CSR values?
Step 2: Peer Response (50–100 words)
Reply to at least one peer’s post by:
Offering an alternative perspective,
Asking a critical follow-up question, or
Connecting their example to another ethical theory or business case.
🧠Tips for Discussion:
Use concepts from the OpenStax or Hartman et al. texts to support your views.
Refer to real examples and think critically—CSR isn’t always as ethical as it seems.
Respect differing opinions and engage constructively.