RICHFIELD GRADUATE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (PTY) LTD

FACULTY OF BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT SCIENCES

BUSINESS ETHICS 621 – BBA

ASSIGNMENT COVER SHEET

Name & Surname: ______________________ Student No: _________________________
Qualification: __________________ Year: _______ Module Name: ___________________
Specialization: _________________________ Assignment Due Date: _______________
ID Number: __________________ Date submitted: __________ Semester: _______________

MARK EXAMINER’S MODERATOR’S

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA REMARKS
ALLOCATION MARK MARKS
MARKS FOR CONTENT
QUESTION ONE 30
QUESTION TWO 30
QUESTION THREE 30

TOTAL 90
MARKS FOR TECHNICAL ASPECTS
1. TABLE OF CONTENTS 2
Accurate numbering according to the
numbering in text and page numbers
2. LAYOUT AND SPELLING 3
Font – Calibri 11
Line Spacing -1.5
Margin should be Justified
3. REFERENCE 5
According to the Harvard Method
TOTAL MARKS 10
TOTAL MARKS FOR ASSIGNMENT 100
EXAMINER’S COMMENTS

MODERATOR’S COMMENTS

Name of the Examiner: __________________ Name of the Moderator: __________________

Signature of Examiner: __________________ Signature of Moderator: __________________
Date: ___________________ Date: ____________________

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Instructions and guidelines

NB: 1. Candidates are advised to read the guidelines in the study guide.
2. Assignment questions are on page 3.
3. For reference use prescribed, recommended books and other resources you may come
across.
4. Correct Harvard referencing carries (5 Marks).

The purpose of an assignment is to ensure that the student can:

• Use methods of enquiry and research in a disciplined field.

• Interpret and evaluate text.

• Have a sound understanding of key principles and theories, rules, and awareness.

• Solve unfamiliar problems using correct procedures as well as investigate and critically analyse
information and report thereof.

• Present and communicate information reliably and coherently.

Instructions and guidelines for writing assignments

1. Use the correct cover page provided by the institution.

2. All essay type assignments must include the following:
2.1. Table of contents
2.2. Introduction
2.3. Main body with subheadings
2.4. Recommendations and Conclusions
2.5. Bibliography
3. The length of the entire assignment must have minimum of 10 pages. Typed with font size 11
Calibri. 1.5 spacing
4. The quality of work submitted is more important than the number of assigned pages.
5. Copying is a serious offence which attracts a severe penalty and must be avoided at all costs. If
any student transgresses this rule, the lecturer will retain the assignments and ask the affected
students to resubmit a new assignment which will be capped at 50%.
6. Use the Harvard referencing method.
7. Please note that these guidelines are not applicable to quantitative subjects like Accounting and
Statistics.

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Read the case study below and answer ALL the questions that follow.

Investec: A responsible corporate citizen

Investec is an international specialist bank and asset manager that provides a diverse range of financial
products and services. The company was founded as a leasing company in Johannesburg in 1974 and
expanded to serve a select client base in three principal markets, the UK and Europe, South Africa,
and Asia/Australia. Today the company has a dual listing in London and Johannesburg and is a FTSE
250 company (the FTSE 250 is an index composed of the 101st to the 350th largest companies listed
on the London Stock Exchange in terms of market capitalisation). In the almost 40 years of its
existence, the company has grown its capital from less than £1 million to the existing £5.4 billion. From
the onset, the founders of the company were committed to building a sustainable business, one that
has been able to survive and thrive through all conditions, growing earning from £0,16 million in1981
to £491 million at the end of the 2018 financial year. This business is conscious, not only of their duty
to clients and shareholders, but also to employees and the broader community they serve. Investec
has a deeply rooted tradition of active corporate citizenship which has been widely recognised
internationally.

Investec’s corporate responsibility philosophy is closely guided by their organisational purpose, which
is to create sustained long-term wealth. At the heart of their corporate responsibility is a caring
approach to their people. The company provides staff with a safe, healthy, and stimulating work
environment to ensure that they are motivated and equipped to deliver exceptional customer service.
Their approach towards corporate social investment is to provide their beneficiaries with a ‘hand up’

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instead of ‘hand-out’. As such, they have focused approach that seeks to make a difference through
entrepreneurship and education.

The aim of CSI projects is to promote lifelong skills development that can contribute towards building
and growing economies of countries in which they operate. In South Africa, the company has
contributed towards transformation through several projects, amongst them the Youth Employment
Service (YES) programme. This programme, launched in March2018, aims to find employment for
approximately 1200 youth annually. The company also recognises the challenges that climate change
presents to the global economy and thus supports activities that either reduce the impact on or
prolongs the life of our planet. Investec’s commitment towards social responsibility, as well as the
achievement and recognition of their efforts, are summarised in the figure on the next page.

We care about our PEOPLE We care about our We care about our
COMMUNITIES ENVIRONMENT
Attracting and developing a Unselfishly contributing to our Having a positive
strong, diverse, and capable communities through environmental impact through
workforce. education and our operations and business
entrepreneurship activities
1,9% spend on learning and 1.2% spend as a %of operating 6,1% reduction in carbon
development as a % of staff profit for Investec pic (2018) emission for Investec pic (2018)
costs for Investec plc (2018)
Recognition and Recognition and Recognition and
Achievements – 2018 Achievements – 2018 Achievements – 2018
Financial Year Financial Year Financial Year

• Voted second most • Winner of the • Trained 195 frontline

attractive employer by following Business
professionals and Charity Awards: »
fourth by students in Community Impact
South Africa in the 2017»Business of the
2017Universum Year 2017
awards. • Winner of the National
• Investec CEO, Stephen CSR Award for Best
Koseff won the Community (Legacy)
Lifetime Achievement Project 2017
Award presented by • Winner of the Bromley
2018 African banker by Bow partner of the
awards. year award
• The South Africa
flagship programme,
Promaths contributed
to 4,8% and 5,0%
respectively of the
consultants on
environmental, social
and governance
practices in South
Africa and the UK
• 88% of energy lending
portfolio relates to
clean energy
• 1200 Children reached
through the coaching
for Conservation
programme since 2013
• Investec Rhino Lifeline
has supported the
rescue of 70 rhino
since 2012

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 country’s total
mathematics and
science distinctions
respectively in the
2017 academic year.
Since inception of the
programme 12 years
ago, Investec has
funded over 7 000
previously
disadvantaged
learners with 84%
either having
completed, or are in
the process of
completing, tertiary
education.
• Voted South Africa’s
eighth most valuable
brand
• Winner of the
Financial Innovation
Awards 2017-
Innovation in
Sustainability or Social
Responsibility Award
for The Success
programme run in
partnership with
Arrival Education
• R2,5 million spend on
water initiatives to
ensure the
continuation of
business in the Cape
Town office during the
2017/18 drought
• The 2 Gresham Street
office won the
Chairman’s Cup in the
Corporation of
London’s Clean City
Awards Scheme
• The Energy
Management System
that covers 23 offices
in the UK, Ireland and
Channel Islands was
certified ISO 50001
• The 2 Gresham Street
Office Environmental
Management System
is certified to ISO
14001
• The coordinator of the
Investec Coaching for
Conservation kids’
programmes at Good
Work Foundation won
a silver in the Eco-logic
Award in the category
“Eco-Youth”

Inclusion in world -leading indices (indices that objectively measure the performance of
companies that meet global-recognised standards)

Index 2018 Performance Notes

Carbon Disclosure Project
Code for Responsible Investing Signatory
in South Africa
Dow Jones Sustainability
Investment Index (DJSI)
Score out of 100
8 Investec is a member and
Investec Asset Management is
a signatory investor
73 Investec Limited ranked as one
of four industry leaders on the
DJSI Emerging Markets Index;
Investec plc ranked as one of 15
industry leaders on the DJSI

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 World and one of nine in the
DJSI Europe indices.
ECPI Index Constitute
FTSE4 Good Index Included
FTSE/JSE Responsible Constitute
Investment Index Series
MSCI Global Sustainability AAA
Index Series- Intangible value
assessment rating
STOXX Global ESG Leaders Member
Indices
United Nations Global Compact Participant
United Nations Principles for Signatory
Responsible Investment

Investec’s business strategies and decisions are driven by their values and the intention to live in
society, and not off it. Clients of this company know that they deal with a sustainable, financially
resilient business, which is here for the long term.

Source: Investec. 2018. Annual Report 2018. Available at https://www.investec.com/content/dam/investor-

relations/financial-information/group-financial-results/2018/FINAL-Investec-DLC-Vol%201-15-June-2018.pdf
[Accessed 10 November 2018].

Questions:

1. Evaluate the main drivers of Investec ‘s Cooperate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme. (30)
2. Analyse how Investec’s CSR programme finds expression in its corporate governance. (30)
3. Examine Investec’s contribution to sustainable development. (30)