ETH-501 CASE MOD 3 Social Responsibility

ETH-501 CASE MOD 3 Social Responsibility Student’s Name Institution ETH-501 CASE MOD 3 Social Responsibility Social Responsibility Success- Microsoft Corporation Microsoft is a company that ranks highly on social responsibility. The company has been consistently ranked among the best in corporate social responsibility (CSR). In 2017, the company was ranked second by Reputation Institute (RI), a position it also held the previous year (Strauss, 2017). RI is a firm that tracks the social responsibility of organizations through analyzing the perceptions of consumers. Straus (2017) points out that Microsoft’s CEO Bill Gates is renowned for his contribution to social responsibility through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Microsoft’s 2018 CSR report paints a picture of a firm that participates immensely in social responsibility. In the report, the company notes that it uses technology to empower people, protect the planet, and strengthen communities globally (Microsoft Corporation, 2018). The report also points out that its business practices and policies are rooted in values such as transparency, inclusion, trust, and privacy. The company has provided computer science learning experience to 12 million young people in 54 countries around the world as it seeks to prepare them for future jobs. In the 2018 financial year, the company spent $3 billion on minorities including women-owned businesses, veterans, the disabled, and LGBTQ (Microsoft Corporation, 2018). The company also managed to bring together over 1000 technology volunteers to work with teachers to educate 13000 students on computer science in the US. In regards to environmental protection, Microsoft is committed to full carbon-neutral operations as well as reduction in carbon emissions. The company has committed $50 million to get artificial intelligence and cloud tools to organizations solving environmental problems. Microsoft has also donated software and services worth $1.4 billion to NGOs around the world (Microsoft Corporation, 2018). It is evident that Microsoft has had a real social responsibility impact through its practices. It is for this reason that it is considered one of the most socially responsible organizations. Social Responsibility Fail – Volkswagen Volkswagen is one of the biggest auto-manufacturers in the world. The company’s 2018 sustainability report highlights its social responsibility practices. In the report, the chairman and CEO of the company, Herbert Diess, notes that climate and environment protection guide the company’s actions (Volkswagen, 2018). The report asserts the commitment of the company to emission-free mobility, where the company is focusing on manufacturing electric vehicles. It is the intention of the company to produce 50 new electric models by 2025. Volkswagen also intends to have a carbon-dioxide-free supply chain. Despite the positive social responsibility information provided in the report, the company has been in a crisis following its deliberate circumventing of emission control tests. In 2015, Volkswagen was accused by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of installing in its cars software that reduced emissions during tests (Siano, Vollero, Conte, & Amabile, 2017). In normal conditions, the ...