Question One
Trace the history of the Co-operative movement from the start of the 18th century until the present day. Highlight the mistakes, the successes, and the lessons learned.
Question Two
Articulate the underpinning philosophy of The Co-operative Bank.
Question Three
Does anything in the Co-operative Bank’s story surprise you or challenge your assumptions about the ways in which businesses operate and their legal forms? Articulate your reflections and anything you may have learned from them.
Question Four
What are ‘stakeholders’? Who do The Co-operative Bank regard as their stakeholders? What is their view of stakeholder relationships? What changes would you make to their stakeholder analysis and why?
Question Five
How does The Co-operative Bank assure society that it is as ethically responsible as it says it is? Evaluate the extent to which the Bank does indeed evidence its integrity.
Question Six
Explore the notion of CSR in relation to the use of advertising as described in the case study. Draw your own conclusions about the bank’s awareness of, and commitment to, CSR. What are the problems in distinguishing between pure business self-interest and genuine CSR?
Question Seven
Research, outline and evaluate the following issues with respect to one organisation of your choice:
Legal forms of business;
History, culture and philosophy;
Stakeholder relationships;
Accountability;
The role of marketing.
Compare and contrast the information you have gathered with the case of The Co-operative Bank. Draw conclusions in the light of your findings.
Question Eight
Should society regulate socially responsible business or should this be left to business itself? What are the issues raised in attempting to define CSR?
Question Nine
Does ethics underpin good business or are strategic management and business ethics separate and competing activities?
Question Ten
What are the implications of what you have learnt from this case study for management practice, now and for the future? If you are working for an organisation, explore these issues in relation to your own experiences.
