Description

Mini-Corporate Social Responsibility Evaluation (MCSRE) Each student is to complete a Mini-Corporate Social Responsibility Evaluation (MCSRE). The report on the results of this mini-evaluation does not have to exceed seven double spaced type-written pages. However, you are permitted to exceed seven pages. In meeting the requirements of this assignment, each student should pick a corporation or public accounting firm to study. Should a student wish to study a public accounting firm, that public accounting firm can be organized as a corporation, a partnership, or in a sole practitioner format. Students may not study a governmental organization/agency or not-for profit/non-profit organization. Students should obtain information from a variety of publicly available sources (e.g., firm publications, SEC publications, PCOAB publications) that are in a library or on the Internet. Students should not under any circumstances contact any person, corporation, organization, or public accounting firm in connection with this assignment. A student should not request written information or publications from the firm the student is studying. 

 Students should not talk to each other about this assignment. Thus, a student should not talk to anyone else about this assignment but the instructor when doing research on or writing the report relating to the MCSRE. Violation of this instruction may be considered a violation of the University of Maryland, College Park’s Code of Academic Integrity. As noted elsewhere in this syllabus under class participation, each student will give a short presentation (maximum of two minutes) to the class on the results of her or his MCSRE. Assume you have been hired by the corporation or public accounting firm you chose as a CSR consultant. Your client is especially interested in your evaluation of their CSR program and your suggestions for change. Further, assume the report will be sent to the CEO of the corporation you pick or the managing partner of the public accounting firm you pick (under no circumstances are you to send your report to such an individual). Begin your work by informing yourself of what the corporation or public accounting firm you have chosen to study does to make the world a better place, other than to sell its goods and/or services. For example, what social policies does it follow regarding employee issues, community development, the environment, charitable contributions and so on? During the evaluation, think about ways that the corporation or public accounting firm might more effectively meet its social goals, if the corporation or public accounting firm has such specific social goals. If the corporation or public accounting firm does not have specific social goals, determine why not. Your MCSRE must include a discussion of environmental issues. Your MCSRE report must have the following three separate sections: brief description of the corporation’s or public accounting firm’s CSR policies and activities, your analysis (e.g., your thoughts, your evaluation) your suggestions for change. When grading your MCSRE, I will place most weight on sections (b) and (c). Please use headings and subheadings in your MCSRE. Further be careful in your use of paragraphs.

 Your paragraphs should not be overly long (in general a paragraph should not exceed six sentences). Using paragraphs that exceed six sentences will result in a lower grade for your MCSRE. Key Instruction Relating to the MCSRE In completing the MCSRE the use of references and footnotes are both required. Any referencing system in (a) the 16th edition of The Chicago Manual of Style, The University of Chicago Press, 2010; (b) Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Fifth Edition, American Psychological Association, 2001; (c) MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, Seventh Edition, The Modern Language Association of America, or any other referencing system is acceptable. Please use quotation marks when needed and properly cite both quotes and paraphrases. Thus, please provide proper attribution to others. To do otherwise may be viewed as a violation of the University of Maryland, College Park’s Code of Academic Integrity.