The Scenario

You are working for a Canadian company from a sector of your choice (agriculture, manufacturing, services, telecommunications etc.) based in Ontario. Jackie, who is the owner and CEO of the company, was recently invited to a conference and heard a very inspiring talk on sustainability and how it was becoming the "new normal" for businesses in the 21st century. She would like her company to do more about it, but she is not entirely convinced that there is a business case, and she is also afraid that this could be something very difficult. Jackie remembered that you had some training in CSR and assigned you to research the matter further. Make a short research report on what sustainability is and how it relates to your company, so that she can decide whether to further pursue the matter.

The Content After some thought you decide that your research report should answer the following questions so that Jackie can make an informed decision:

1. What is sustainability and CSR?

2. What THREE sustainability challenges are most relevant to businesses in your sector in Canada and/or Ontario? Why are they relevant?

3. What are Canadian businesses in your sector doing to manage those challenges? Please provide a description of THREE companies demonstrating best practices.

4. Based on the above, describe THREE sustainability actions you would recommend your company undertake considering your research.

Clarifications

Company: You should choose a specific fictional (not real) company from the sector of your choice (e.g. ACME Motors in the automotive sector).

Audience: Remember that your audience is Jackie from the scenario. Not the professor. You should explicitly address it to her as if you are working in the company of your choice.

Question 3: When mentioning best practice examples, you should focus on what specific businesses do (or say they do). You may refer to what other actors such as the government or other organizations do to help businesses in this area, but this is not what is being asked here.

Provide info below

1. Title:

2. Executive Summary:

3. Introduction:

4. Description of Sustainability/CSR (Q1):

5. Relevant sustainability and CSR issues for your sector (Q2):

6. Canadian sustainability/CSR best practices (Q3):

7. Recommendations (Q4):