Business essay

Context
The individual assignment directly builds on your experience of working on your group
assignments. The aim is to reflect on this process and strengthen your initial work on an
individual basis.
Assignment Task
Imagine it is December 2030 and by now you are the CEO of the same company that your group
previously proposed its solution to in the group project stage (in 2020). You have been
nominated as the “Business Person of the Year 2030” by the prestigious business magazine
“Core”.
Write an article about yourself and your company in which you critically reflect on the journey that
your company has taken between 2020 and 2030 to integrate the UN SDGs and the extent to
which its efforts have been successful.
To achieve this, you should:
• critically examine the process of developing your group proposal including a brief
reflection on what you learnt about working in (virtual) groups
– Ability to communicate, research and present ideas effectively were strongly affected
– Deciding and formulating initial recommendations + which recommendations would be
most effective
– Created a document for each individuals ideas and graded each recommendation based
on feasibility and impact on a scale from 1-5
– Responsibility and setting our own deadlines
• analyse whether, why and how (or why not) you think your group project was effective in
helping your company contribute to the UN SDGs
• reflect on the impact of different strategic changes made by you and the company over
time based on different risks and opportunities (you may also propose new actions not
previously recommended in the group project)
– Deciding rather to combine the circularity of assets recommendation with the digital tag
proposal, initially separate. Required coordination between two other group members
working on separate ideas.
– Issues in referencing/use of SWOT and PESTELE within the essay, as well as other
frameworks. Lack of detailed analysis, the “so what?” question unanswered à limited
due to amount written by each group member
• discuss any collaborations, partnerships and market and legislative conditions that
facilitated progress
• acknowledge any barriers and unexpected events or trends encountered along the way
that impeded progress
– 1000 words over the word count, required group members to analyse each other’s work
and decide what can be removed/changed.
–
You may either write this essay as a first-person account of “your story”, or you may create a
fictitious interview with a reporter from ‘Core’.
Word Count: Maximum of 2500 words. (Abstract, embedded references/in-text citations, tables,
diagrams, charts, figures, formulae, footnotes, images which include text, legends for
tables/diagrams etc. included in word count)
Harvard Referencing
Assessment Criteria
The individual assignments are marked according to the following key assessment criteria:
§ Comprehension
§ Research and analysis
§ Critical evaluation
§ Academic writing
§ Reflection
1. Comprehension ( Showing knowledge & understanding about the subject matter)
• …acknowledged and understood the purpose of the Agenda 2030 as well as the wider
role and purpose of the UN SDGs in general
• …contextualised the importance of the SDGs for their respective company by showing an
understanding of the company’s general business model
• …demonstrated awareness of the breadth and depth of the UN SDGs including the
importance of interlinkages and connections between goals and targets
• …provides sufficient detail and explanation to illustrate their role and achievements in
becoming nominated “Businessperson of the Year 2030”
2. Research and analysis ( Presenting logical arguments supported by evidence)
• …retrospectively attempted to analyse the overall effectiveness of their group project in
helping the company contribute to the UN SDGs
• …identified their company’s unique challenges and opportunities based on the latest
available sustainability indicators and other assessments
• …synthesised, compared and critically reviewed existing data and information
• …drawn on facts, stats, figures and data to support arguments
• …applied concepts, frameworks, tools and theories from this and other modules
• …developed original thought, ideas, creative thinking and proactive engagement
3. Critical evaluation ( Questioning relevant arguments by identifying their strengths and
weaknesses)
• …critically engaged with the group project process
• …examined the effectiveness of individual and collective group working behaviours
(anonymously!)
• …justified their choices made including potential costs and benefits
• …considered possible alternative scenarios/options (e.g., scaling, pivoting or
differentiation)
• …discussed the wider political/economic/organisational feasibility of implementation by
reviewing any assumptions, barriers and unexpected events or trends
4. Academic writing ( Presenting a clear and structured assignment; use of relevant
literature; academic honesty, referencing and citation)
• …produced a clearly structured and professionally presented article
• …used a first-person account or fictitious interview writing style
• …included sufficient academic and non-academic sources – balance and quality of
sources
• …achieved a good balance between the main report submitted and any additional
information provided in the Appendix
5. …ensured sources are appropriately referenced and cited Reflection ( Identifying and
questioning personal values, beliefs, emotions, assumptions and knowledge in relation to
particular experience(s))
• …identified and acknowledged the effects of personal values, beliefs, emotions,
assumptions and knowledge during the group project phase
• …reflected on the challenges and opportunities of working in virtual teams
• …drawn wider lessons and insights for business and work in the 21st century
Syllabus
The UN Sustainable Development Goals
Strategic implementation of the UN SDGs
The circular economy
Corporate climate change strategies
Strategic thinking and planning – skills and tools
Stakeholder engagement
Purpose-driven business
Economic growth vs. sustainable development