IB Business Management SL 1.3.4 Corporate Social Responsibility Questions

Other operating cost savings were made. However, Adriana decided to maintain PU’s aggressive marketing strategies in contrast to most other universities, which were cutting marketing budgets because of the economic recession. Adriana saw marketing expenditure as a worthwhile investment. The promotion emphasized PU’s achievements both in research and teaching, its services for students, its high levels of student satisfaction and its competitive fees.

Ethical issues PU’s mission statement is based on inclusivity, social responsibility, excellence, perseverance, commitment, resilience, ambition and creativity. The articles governing the university include transparency, freedom of speech and tolerance. Failure to achieve some of these articles has recently been alleged in social media and is now appearing in national newspapers: y A recent appointment as a trustee of the university, Di Jones, is causing controversy. Di is a director of a multinational computer company that is funding some of PU’s IT research. Political activists have discovered that Di is descended from a family that used slaves on their sugar plantation in the 19th century. The activists want her removed from her role. y The student Politics Society has invited a guest speaker who, in the past, has been accused of expressing antisemitic views in one of his books. The society is arguing that freedom of speech should be upheld, while other groups, including students and lecturers, say that the university should not be a platform for intolerant views. y One of the companies funding medical research at the university has been accused of exploiting least developed countries (LDCs) by over-pricing medicine in those countries and selling medicines that have not been approved in the European Union or the United States.