Deck 9: Measuring,reporting,and Communicating CSR

Question 1

It was a long process,but Albert was delighted to finally have finished his social audit process.His next step is to report the findings.He develops a report following the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)standards.This is the first time he conducted an audit with
This process in mind.Which of the following 'clusters' of his completed report are not required under the GRI?

A)Responsibility
B)Auditability
C)Timeliness
D)Neutrality
E)Relevance

Answer 1

A

Question 2

The majority of experts believe that in the future,business will likely see:

A)Corporations losing interest in CSR
B)Increased standardization of measurement of CSR
C)Mandatory CSR reporting by governments
D)CSR becoming more mainstream
E)Greater stakeholder engagement

Answer 2

D

Question 3

A large sporting goods chain develops a listing of social activities of the firm.This social report does not evaluate the effectiveness of these activities.This is an example of the _______approach to social auditing.

A)inventory
B)process
C)program management
D)social indicators
E)None of the answers.

Answer 3

inventory

Question 4

Employees may receive communication from their employers regarding performance measures and social reporting through:

A)Internet
B)public meetings
C)codes of conduct
D)financial audits
E)staff meetings

Question 5

Which of the following are among the recommendations made by Chatterji and Levine for improving the reporting process?

A)Efforts should be made to reduce compliance costs by better designed forms and measures.
B)The data used should be improved with less reliance on information being supplied by management and more being sought from stakeholders.
C)The codes or standards should be more transparent.
D)The measures should be better explained and the source of weightings justified.
E)All of the above

Question 6

Beyond Grey Pinstripes is a survey outlining MBA programs' engagement in social and environmental stewardship.This program evaluates all of the following factors,except:

A)The number of relevant articles published by faculty in leading peer-reviewed management journals
B)The degree to which the course illustrates the value of integrating social and environmental considerations into business decisions
C)The number of student groups or clubs focusing on social or environmental issues
D)The number of courses with social and environmental content
E)The percentage of course time dedicated to considering social and environmental issues

Question 7

CSR reporting is necessary for all the following reasons,except:

A)To sustain corporate profitability.
B)To meet the demands of stakeholders.
C)To lessen the focus on image.
D)To meet legal requirements.
E)To maintain corporate reputation.

Question 8

Brandon is preparing a report for the CEO of his company.He is trying to encourage the company to become more proactive in social issues in the community.In building his case for corporate social responsibility,he does research on the relationship between CSR and firm profitability.He can report the following:

A)Studies show no conclusions.
B)Expenditures on social responsibility initiatives do contribute to profit.
C)Expenditures on social responsibility initiatives might contribute to profit.
D)Expenditures on social responsibility initiatives do not contribute to profit.
E)A definite link can be established through additional research.

Question 9

A large manufacturer has developed a CSR program that uses corporate sponsorship to benefit both the company and the non-profit organization partnered with.The company is seen,through this program as well as because of its quality products,to be a credible and responsible business,worthy of future trust.In this example,this manufacturer has developed its_______ as a result of _____

A)corporate image; CSR
B)corporate reputation; corporate image
C)social report; stakeholder impression
D)corporate reputation; CSR
E)corporate image; community initiatives

Question 10

The corporation has devoted considerable resources to the social audit process.The management function that documents and communicates this information is:

A)internal reporting
B)social reporting
C)CSR reporting
D)triple-E reporting
E)strategic reporting

Question 11

Social audits can be used for all of the following reasons,except:

A)Providing information for planning
B)Evaluating the performance of managers
C)Measuring future performance
D)Assessing existing performance
E)Meeting government requirements

Question 12

BNO Corporation has just promoted Ned to the role of Corporate Responsibility Officer.His new job will include all of the following,except:

A)Compliance management
B)Workforce diversity
C)Information systems
D)Public relations
E)Government lobbying

Question 13

Ahmed is developing a social report for his employer,a major airline company.He formulates the report around a series of checklists focusing on community,employees,customers,suppliers,environment,shareholders,and international operations.He is Assessing such factors as transparency and stakeholder involvement.Ahmed is probably using the_________ Guidelines for Corporate Social Performance.

A)Conference Board of Canada's
B)Good Company
C)Global Reporting Initiative's
D)CICA
E)Sustainability Reporting

Question 14

An alternative view on the relationship between CSR and profitability,taken by______ is to calculate the return of investment of CSR by thinking in terms of creating value.

A)Global Reporting Initiative
B)the Network for Business Sustainability
C)the Association of Sustainable Organizations
D)Imagine Canada
E)Global Reporting Index

Question 15

ME2 Corporation develops a listing of the social activities of the firm.They,then outline the resources utilized on each social program.A statement of each program's objectives and an outline of how the programs developed and why they developed are particularly useful for this corporation when coupled with a description of the accomplishments of the programs.This is best identified as an example of the _______approach to social
Auditing.

A)social indicators
B)strategic
C)process
D)program management
E)inventory

Question 16

Stakeholders are increasingly demanding or expecting sustainability reporting from business.The pressure for these reports comes from all of the following stakeholders,except:

A)service professionals
B)employees
C)competitors
D)shareholders
E)consumers

Question 17

Strandberg's survey of CSR thought leaders concluded that all of the following issues will dominate,except:

A)Reduction of poverty
B)Governance
C)Environment
D)Developing nations' economic growth
E)Accountability

Question 18

The _______approach to social auditing describes program initiatives.

A)program management
B)social indicators
C)inventory
D)outlay
E)process

Question 19

The ______s a socially screened,common stock index modelled on the S&P/TSX 60 of 60 corporations that have passed a set of broadly based environmental,social,and governance rating criteria.

A)TSX
B)NASDAQ
C)S&P 500
D)Dow Jones
E)JSI

Question 20

NTS Corporation hopes that its accounting system used in social reporting will help it identify the best social return for the_______ social investment made.They tabulate social costs and benefits.This is an example of the approach to social auditing.

A)financial
B)social responsibility accounting
C)cost or outlay
D)triple-E reporting
E)inventory

Question 21

Service professionals,such as accounting associations,are influential stakeholders that recommend that firms engage in elaborate CSR and sustainability reporting.

Question 22

The Network for Business Sustainability (NBS)suggests calculating the return of investment of CSR by thinking in terms of creating value.

Question 23

In the future,incremental changes to CSR are insufficient and,with the pressure of NGOs,businesses are forced to take a broader social role.This requires a major rethink in terms of organizational design and the very structure of the business system.This is the_________scenario as identified by White.

A)CSR compliant
B)Fad-and-fade
C)Transition-and-transformation
D)Embed-and-integrate
E)CSR integrated

Question 24

The Jantzi Social Index (JSI)is a socially screened,common stock index modelled on the S&P/TSX 60.

Question 25

The blind pursuit of maximum profits is generally accepted to be socially irresponsible.

Question 26

The social audit process is useful for evaluating past performance,but does not help with the assessment of future performance.

Question 27

NBS has identified three categories of metrics that business should use to capture value: economic,social,and ethical.

Question 28

Program management is a sophisticated social auditing approach useful to respond to sustainability performance.

Question 29

NMO Corporation has a negative corporate image.This means that it also has a negative corporate reputation.

Question 30

In Canada,the Dow Jones Sustainability Index is used to guide investors demanding CSR accountability.

Question 31

Triple-E criteria and social objective reporting are quite often presented in internally prepared social reports.

Question 32

There is little distinction between CSR and corporate reputation.

Question 33

The results of the social auditing process become the basis for social reporting,a management function that is also known as sustainability reporting.

Question 34

The Jantzi Social Index (JSI)provides a process against which institutional investors -for example,pension and mutual funds-can measure the performance of their socially screened stock portfolios.

Question 35

Empirical studies show definitively that there is a positive effect on profitability as a result of CSR engagement.

Question 36

Cost or outlay is an accounting approach to tabulate the social costs and benefits with the objective of the best social return for the social investment made.

Question 37

White believes that the future of CSR could follow different scenarios.If,in the future,governmental regulations replaces the self-regulatory purpose of CSR a(n)____ scenario likely took place.

A)CSR integrated
B)Transition-and-transformation
C)Embed-and-integrate
D)CSR compliant
E)Fad-and-fade

Question 38

Social auditing is a systematic assessment of the effects an enterprise has on society that are not covered in the traditional financial reports.

Question 39

The guidelines developed by the Canadian Business for Social Responsibility,a non-profit CSR consultancy,are not useful for small businesses.

Question 40

The drivers of corporate reputation include product quality,innovativeness,and environmental stewardship.

Question 41

Is there a definitive relationship between CSR and profitability?

Question 42

What are the recommendations made by Chatterji and Levine for improving the reporting process?

Question 43

Describe the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).

Question 44

The Global Reporting Initiative is a long-term,multi-stakeholder,international process which includes principles guiding the framework of social reports,inform decisions about what to report,ensure quality and reliability of the reports,and inform decisions regarding accessibility of the reports.

Question 45

A specific manager or department should not be responsible for the communication of CSR reports.If everyone in the corporation is equally responsible for communication of results,dissemination will be broader.

Question 46

Despite all efforts,a comprehensive ethics program for a business school has failed to create a more favourable public image-within universities,the business community,and society.

Question 47

Corporations following the GRI guidelines are expected to report certain standard disclosures such as: economic,environmental,social and governance performance and impacts.

Question 48

Because of the emphasis on teaching CSR,most business schools are now preparing their own CSR reports.

Question 49

Describe the Jantzi Social Index (JSI).

Question 50

Maclean's Magazine publishes Top 50 Socially Responsible Corporations report in cooperation with Jantzi Research,and selection is based on social,environmental,and governance indicators.

Question 51

The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)is a global, non-profit membership organization of educational institutions,businesses,and other entities devoted to the advancement of management education.

Question 52

In the Strandberg continuum of future commitment to CSR,"Deep CSR" is a business model with a mission to circumvent government CSR requirements and focus on responsiveness to complaints.

Question 53

CSR reports are a form of corporate communication which will enhance reputation.

Question 54

What are some of the best known surveys evaluating the social and environmental performance of business schools?

Question 55

Considering White's scenarios of the future of CSR,if firms follow the fad-and-fade scenario,there will be a multiplicity of new,complex standards and guidelines which will be problematic for the corporation.

Question 56

The Strandberg report on the future of CSR stated that ethical consumerism will become a more powerful influence on corporation decision-making.

Question 57

Preparation of brochures summarizing the content of a CSR report is not an adequate approach to communicating CSR performance to key stakeholders.

Question 58

CSR reporting in Canada is no longer voluntary for companies with public ownership.

Question 59

The Strandberg model outlines a continuum of future commitment to CSR.The middle of the continuum is CSR Strategic.Corporations will become compliant with standards and then create niches in areas more strategic to the corporation.

Question 60

What are some of the various ways that a corporation may communicate CSR and sustainability results?

Question 61

Discuss the transition-and-transformation scenario developed by White.

Question 62

Compare Strandberg's CSR Lite to Deep CSR in the continuum of future commitment to CSR.

Question 63

Discuss the fad-and-fade scenario developed by White.