Course Name = Business, Society and the Planet

Course Code = BUGEN5930

Assignment 2 Part A
Business Values Assessment Report

Submitted by: Name = KARAN MEHTA

Student ID = 30120021
Due Date = 07 May, 2016

Table of Contents: -

Introduction to Two Companies:-..........................................................................................................3

Question 1:-...........................................................................................................................................4
Answer 1:-.............................................................................................................................................4
Question 2:-...........................................................................................................................................6
Answer 2:-.............................................................................................................................................6
Question 3:-...........................................................................................................................................7
Answer 3:-.............................................................................................................................................7
Question 4:-...........................................................................................................................................7
Answer 4:-.............................................................................................................................................7
Question 5:-...........................................................................................................................................8
Answer 5:-.............................................................................................................................................8
References/Bibliography:-.....................................................................................................................9

Introduction of Two Companies :The main concept of my assessment is to research about the two companies which take cares of two
different industries but are located at one place or the same industry but located at different countries. As a
group we chose Qantas and Wesfarmers both from Australia. The industries are different but the countries
they are running in in same. I would like to decribe the vision, mission and values of these two
Organisations and morovr about their Corporate Social Responsibility. Qantas and wesfarmers have
broadcasted their social reports on their particular websites. Wesfarmers as Australias largest private sector
employer having total employees of in number 210000 and have shaeholders roughly 500,000. They do
business with one objective i.e. to provide satisfactory returns to their shareholders. The aim of the company
is to deliver the needs and wants of the customer, executing a healthy and protected environment for
employees, with rewards and delivering opportunities for the progression, placing a strong prominence on
protection of the atmosphere as total and performing with reliability and fairness when trading inside out of
the Orgnisation. Qantas as a Queensland based in 1920, airline segment company aims to be the Australias
principal domestic and International airline. With sub company running under Qantas, like jetstar which is
known to as cheap domestic and international flights and Qantas express ground clerance which take cares
of the flights coming and going, baggage of the customers etc. Their long term vision is to operate worlds
best airline and providing more airlines with jetstart as the cheapest and the safest way to travel
domestically. To achieve this they have kept safety as their first priority, correct airplanes with correct
directions, customer service excellence and operational effeciency etc.
Now as we head on to the questions that we have to discuss as an indivisual based on these two compnaies
are as follows.

Question 1: What differences are evident between the two companies in terms of the range of issues dealt with in the
reports and the depth of coverage on specific issues?

Answer 1: Both the companies have done a great job in relation with Corporate Social Responsibility. The similarities
can be seen in both the companies but the major differences can also be seen. Qantas has majorly focused on
sustainability that has always been part of their business, environmental problems, ecologically sustainable,
quality of working life, technology, globalisation, E-commerce, educating and training of their employees.
Wesfarmers has focused more on issues like equality, woman empowerment, environment, natural resources,
helping country people in getting products easily etc. The different targets in their social activities,
undertaken by both can be seen in the examples below.

Qantas :- Qantas Group is towards a mission to make the sustainability essential. They ensure and create
opportunities, diversity creation and advancements of the social programs in the Australian community.
Qantas has several issues on which they are working and will continue to imrove like :Fuel efficiency: - Their target for upgrading of 1.5% per year and that is possible by experienced fleet
renewal and ongoing fuel saving plans.
Working with customers: These airline is among the first airline which has come with a voluntary carbon
offsetting program in 2009 named as fly carbon neutral. Airline does not make any profit from this but gives
all funds for the purchasing of carbon offset database. (Qantas, 2015)

Eco Efficiency: - They are well on path to encounter the electricity, water and waste to landfill objectives
before time. Though they have replaced from tubes to Led lights in the airport hangers, ramp areas
warehouses etc. This project reduces more than 12 million kilowatts per hour (Massola, Kenny, & Aston,
2014)

Some other specific issues like sustained investment, digital transformation, continuous improvement in
safety and security, partnerships within the industry, workplace health and safety and operational safety

Wesfarmers: - At Wesfarmers, they focus on the impact they have on the community and the long term
effects they have on the environment. They do so to ensure that they end up creating value for the future.
They follow the 10 community and environmental impact principles, which focus mainly upon people,
sourcing, community, environment and governance, to which now they have added development of our
people and product safety. (Woolworths, 2015)
To diversify further , their community and environmental impact principles can be classified in 5 categories:
People
Safety - here they focus relentlessly on providing safe workplaces
People development providing people to enhance their job performance and develop their careers
Diversity - main focus on gender diversity and inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Sourcing
Suppliers - strong and respectful relationals with suppliers
Ethical sourcing - source products in responsible manner while working with suppliers to improve their
social and environmental practices
Environment
Climate change resilience - strive to reduce emmisions and improve resilience to climate change
Waste and water use - efforts to reduce waste to landfill and water use
Community
Product safety provision of safe products to consumers
Community contribution positive contribution to communities they operate in.
Governance
Corporate governance - Robust corporate governance policies. (Woolworths, 2015)

Question 2: To What extent can these differences be explained by the country or industry differences? What other
explanations might there be?

Answer 2: Though both these organisations are Australian, still we can see a differences in the issues they address. It
could be because of the different needs of the people they meet. The Corporate Social Responsibility of
both the companies are quite in different areas. While Qantas, the national carrier of Australia, is mainly
involved with transporting people between different destinations, whereas Wesfarmers is responsible for
meeting the daily-consumed products of the people. Though both have similar plans to minimize the effect
on the environment, for example Qantas focuses on reducing their carbon print, so as to have minimal effect
on the environment. They also are actively involved in developing sustainable aviation fuel and best
practices. But the differences are in the other areas they address.
Since Qantas is dealing in the high-risk industry, where they are responsible for the lives of people
travelling with them, their main focus is risk management, security and tackling criminal activities. They
also have an elaborate risk management plan for workers involved with heavy lifting of the luggage. The
need for security and preventing criminal activities is foremost for them, especially in todays time. They
want their employees to develop a security culture wherein they can challenge and report any suspicious
activity. They also have a zero tolerance strategy for crime and corruption, which can have a negative impact
on peoples safety and their brand too.
Wesfarmers on the other hand focuses on sustainability of its supply chain including ethical labour
standards and the environmental impact of manufactured products. They want to provide the best products to
the consumers, which are safe and meet quality standards. For their workforce safety they have tie-ups with
Coles, to provide a national nurse on call and with transport providers to tackle work safety issues linked
with stock deliveries. Bunnings have developed a hazard spotter application and introduced simplified
injury management process.

Question 3: Assess the apparent quality of the social accounting approach utilized by each company according to Zadek
et al.s (1997) criteria.

Answer 3: Both the companies Qantas and Wesfarmers have an operative methodology as I have written about their
social dilemma in the report. In the annual report of Qantas, we saw various headings like their performance
in the business, services been provided by them respecting the culture at the same time, safety and security, a
smatter and fitter Qantas, their leadership in the environment etc. They have completed all those events
which they have mentioned in their CSR report and I agree to their social accounting is meaningful. The
company has got employees who are more concerned about peoples safety and security. On the other hand,
Wesfarmers is very much substantial as they have done a lot for well-being of people as in for the
environment, health, customers etc. Wesfarmers is regarded as much more efficient when it comes to CSR.
Zadek et al.s (1997) criteria who has 8 issues in the social accounting which are: - inclusivity,
comparability, completeness, evolution, Management policies and systems, disclosure, external verification
and continuous improvement. It has basically focused on shareholder approach where both the companies
want the welfare of their shareholders in respect with increasing business of their Organisation. So I like to
add that the qualities discussed in Zadek et al.s (1997) criteria, both the companies have similarly, have
equal business growth aspect and both are much efficient for long term growth.

Question 4: Discuss the extent to which the social reports reflect the values of your selected companies.

Answer 4: Since both these companies are massive in their own industry, moreover they cater to the needs of
innumerable people, their core values are very important to them. They always strive to achieve all their
values, which is evident from their companys annual report. Qantas core values are: together; Genuine;
Inventive; Optimistic; and Experienced, which they target in implementing any plans, be it for reducing
environment effect, safety measures, minimizing criminal and corruption activities and risk management for
workers safety. Wesfarmers always respect their key value, which is To be a high performance
resource company delivering shareholder value through initiative, innovation and growth. They keep it in
mind when developing products, keeping quality in mind and using latest high performing technologies and
7

machinery. They also use innovative methods, as demonstrated through their tie-ups with Coles, Bunnings
and all other, wherein they use new innovative methods to address workers safety issues. So I think they
have mostly done the same things as mentioned in their core values, also addressing them in their social
activities.

Question 5: Briefly reflect on your groups discussions of these companies. In what ways did the ideas presented by your
group confirm your own conclusions or present another perspective to you?

Answer 5: We as a group examined both the companies, as we have seen the CSR report of both and got some critical
data on the basis of that. We then asked ourselves why have we been doing work on these companies. On the
basis of our research we came to know that we could get all major related aspects that we after from these
companies. If I talk about Belbins team role they were shapers, implementer, professional, leader,
researchers and most of all team players. All members of our group had the right attitude, the appropriate
knowledge of what we doing and skills to perform the task.
In our group we shared ideas with each other so we had vast knowledge of the assessment and I must add
that each of us contributed equal ideas in this task.
At the beginning we all had different ideas and thought we will perform this indivisually but then later we
shared ideas and applied some wisdom, so we got with the best. We all came up with equal ideas concerning
the conclusion of the research and my conclusion got agreed with my team members. There were no
conflicts in regards with this research and we all had good understanding about this work. In order to
conclude I would like to add that there were no free riders in our group and each of us presented equally for
this task.
The conclusions about the study that we have done is they take their social activities into consideration
implenting and satisfying needs and wants of the customer. Thus, both the companies are meeting the social
responsibilities and no doubt they will do in the future for long term business. Both the companies are well
structured in their industry and getting growth year after year. They may have to be focused on their
platform as in future few other new entrants may arrive to compete with them.

Refrences

Massola, J., Kenny, M., & Aston, H. (2014). High costs and wages key to Qantas' problems, says
Deputy PM Warren Truss. The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 6 May 2016, from
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/high-costs-and-wages-key-to-qantasproblems-says-deputy-pm-warren-truss-20140227-33jlw.html

Woolworths, (2015). Home. Sustainability.wesfarmers.com.au. Retrieved 6 May 2016, from

http://sustainability.wesfarmers.com.au

Qantas, (2015). A STRONG, SUSTAINABLE FUTURE. www.qantas.com.au. Retrieved 6 May 2016,

from http://www.qantas.com.au/infodetail/about/investors/2015AnnualReview.pdf