Topic 1: Explore the corporate responsibility (CR) reports and websites for companies with strong programs such as McDonald’s, Nike, Dell, Timberland and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters. Look for your own stories of personal engagement with these brands in a way that relates to corporate responsibility. Have you tried Green Mountain’s fair trade coffee? Have you run a Nike race that raises money for charity? Do you notice the recyclable packaging at McDonald’s? These are just a few examples and you are encouraged to use your own especially if you’re not familiar with the CR of these brands. Choose a brand that you do have some knowledge of the CR and describe the CR and your personal interaction with the brand.
Topic 2: This is really an extension on Topic 1. What do you view as believable and genuine and what do you view as “marketing speak” as you read companies’ reports on the corporate responsibility efforts. What else should companies be considering as it relates to CR?