...evolution of the partnership between software giant Microsoft Corporation and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative was created in 1999, as a bottom-up idea, when Microsoft employees initiated to help the victims of the Kosovo crisis. The outcome was a software registration system that today helps UNHCR administer their refugee camps in a more efficient and constructive way. The case illustrates an ideal example of a CSR programme and the importance of contributions made by business to society. In particular, it illustrates how a multinational company can take a responsible role in today's modern society without diverting from its core business strategy. The case invites readers to reflect upon and discuss some important questions regarding CSR, ethics and the business role in society. A teaching note accompanies this case with analysis of the theoretical elements. This case was written with the support of a Philip Law Scholarship awarded by ecch. http://www.ecch.com/educators/products/view?id=81242 Abstract This case-study takes us through the actual outcome of one of Microsoft’s corporate citizenship (CC) activities, namely its partnership with UNHCR. The intentions of the case are to show the potential benefits of such a partnership, the key beneficiaries as well as to trigger a debate concerning the intentions and outcomes of CC. Microsoft and UNHCR have based their partnership on a common ground...
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...CASE 2 - Microsoft’s Partnership with UNHCR – Pro Bono Publico? 1. Is partnership the answer and can the company leverage all its assets to contribute pro bono publico? By supporting the UNHCR, Microsoft engaged in a strategic partnership that is beyond satisfying shareholder expectations. The partnership with the UNHCR agency was not created to fulfill any financial gains. The concept was a long-term investment with promising outcomes for all stakeholders: Microsoft is supporting people in need with expertise and knowledge, helping through employee’s volunteer work, without direct return on investment. Microsoft has tremendous resources - tangible resources (capital and technology) and intangible resources (employees’ knowledge and management skills). Microsoft realized that its valuable resources can result in capabilities to reach social aspects, therefore creating value for all of its stakeholders (Deresky, 2011). Investing the company’s assets (human capital) in welfare projects contribute to social responsibility and provides its stakeholders with long-term benefits. To contribute to pro bono publico a company needs to find and develop partnerships with which to help them carry out whatever good they are trying to accomplish in the world. The world is shrinking due to the globalization that is going on currently with the Internet shrinking the time it takes to get things done, but I do not believe that there is any company large enough to take on the entirety...
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...1. In this case yes partnership was the answer. Microsoft was not always as focused on corporate citizenship as it is today. They had a negative imagine of being an unstoppable power buying up everything in their path. So when the Kosovo crisis came to be 1999 Microsoft stood to not only offer help to thousands of suffering people, but to also improve the company’s imagine. These partnerships succeed in doing just that. When both partners stand to gain for the partnership, as they do in this case, then the partnership is the way to go. UNHCR gained all the assistance in helping the refugees, and Microsoft gained a favorable public image. The company can leverage all its assets pro bono publico. Microsoft did in this partnership. They offered cash and software to UNHCR, also the time and expertise of employees, the management skills of executives and online marketing strategy. 2. I would say that Microsoft is creating the right partnerships when it comes to expanding their market and raising opportunities. Years before Microsoft’s partnership with UNHCR, citizens pictured Microsoft as a company that walked all over other companies because they had so much money and power. This created a bad image for them and I feel they needed to make a move to recreate their image. Helping out refugees showed that Microsoft as a company had good intentions and was there for struggling people. Not only did this raise opportunities for Microsoft with all of their new successful technology...
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...Microsoft’s Partnership with UNHCR – Pro Bono Publico? Robert Douglas Business 119 Centennial College October 22, 2014 Title of Report in Initial Capital Letters: Arial (18 points, Boldface) and No More Than Three Lines Your Name Name of Your Department Name of Your Institution Date Summary Here you present a one- or two-paragraph summary of the report. This summary should stand alone (no reference to figures or tables in the text) and present the most important results of the work. Replace all writing in blue with your own writing. The line spacing for this paragraph is to be single-spaced, which is common in professional reports (note that graduate theses and dissertations are often space and a half). Please indent all paragraphs in this document. XXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX...
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