University of Dhaka

The highest echelon of academic excellence

__________________________________________________
Department of Accounting and Information Systems,
Faculty of Business Studies.

Internship report proposal

on
CSR activities of top multinational
corporations in Bangladesh and their
footprints in environment
sustainability:
A qualitative study.

Submitted to:
Dr. Zahir Uddin Ahmed
Associate Professor,
Department of Accounting and Information Systems,
Faculty of Business Studies,
University of Dhaka

Submitted by:
Ankan Kuri
ID: 11530057
30th batch
Department of Accounting and Information Systems,
University of Dhaka

Date of Submission: June 20, 2017

 Letter of Transmittal

June 20, 2017

Dr. Zahir Uddin Ahmed
Associate Professor,
Department of Accounting & Information Systems,
Faculty of Business Studies,
University of Dhaka

Subject: Request for acceptance of the “Internship Report Proposal”

Dear Sir,
I am very pleased to be able to submit my internship report proposal on “CSR activities
of top multinational corporations in Bangladesh and their footprints in environment
sustainability: A qualitative study”.

I have the gratification to put forward my internship report proposal as a requirement of

internship program of MBA program in Dhaka University. In every part of my report, I
will try my level best to make a good combination of learning from the course throughout
the MBA program.

In this report, I will try to be as descriptive as possible for the convenience of the readers.
Any clarification required & query needed regarding this report will be gratefully
acknowledged.

Sincerely,

Ankan Kuri
ID: 11530057
30th batch
Department of Accounting and Information Systems,
University of Dhaka
 Table of contents

Serial Topic Page no.

Chapter 1 Introduction to the study
1.1. Introduction 1
1.2. Review of the report 1
1.3. Objectives of the study 2
1.4. Research Question 2
1.5. The scope of the study 2
1.6. The significance of the Study 2
1.7. Theoretical framework 3
Chapter 2 Methodology
2.1. Methods of compiling and analysis of data 4
2.2. The Design, Methods, and Procedures 4
2.3 Practicalities 5
2.4. Limitations 5
2.5. Delimitations 5
2.6. Outcomes of the research 5
 Page |1

1. Introduction to the study

1.1. Introduction:

The study focuses on CSR activities done by multinational corporations in Bangladesh.

This report will show how multinational corporations manage corporate social
responsibility (CSR) and it will shade light on how the concept has come to be framed
within businesses in Bangladesh, which is increasingly globalized. The discussion is
based on management reports of these corporations who deal with CSR issues and
strategy and an analysis of published reports such as annual reports of consecutive five
years. In looking at how CSR practice is being adopted and adapted by MNCs in
Bangladesh. This paper will try to explore current practices in CSR by the MNCs in
Bangladesh.

1.2. Review of the report:

CSR is still an evolving concept that enables corporations to create and apply self-
determined policies to best meet the needs and demands of its stakeholders. As stated by
the department of Trade and Industry in the United Kingdom, CSR represents “the
integrity with which a company governs itself, fulfills its mission, lives by its values,
engages with its stakeholders, measures its impact and reports on its activities”. The
argument around CSR is based on examining relationships between business and society.
Corporations can enhance their legitimacy through environmental reporting.

In the normal course of business, MNCs put no or little concern on social/environmental

issues, even if they do so they may not adhere to them. Corporations are now expected to
perform well in non-financial areas such as human rights, business ethics, environmental
policies, corporate contributions, community development, corporate governance, and
workplace issues. Some examples of CSR are safe working conditions for employees,
environmental stewardship, and contributions to community groups and charities. This
peculiar nature of CSR practices makes their cross-border management difficult.
Achieving consistent CSR practices across global operations involves not only the transfer
of the CSR practice, but also the transfer of its underlying value and meaning. While, at
the same time, faced with contextually diverse stakeholder expectations and local CSR
requirements, MNCs also need to practice differentiated CSR at their local sites, in
response to the local context. How MNCs meet these competing demands for managing
CSR in their global operations and what determines their choices remains less discussed.

Foreign direct investment flowing to developing countries has the potential to make
important contributions to the development of local economies, including creating jobs,
capacity building, and the transfer of technology. Multinational corporations (MNCs) can
therefore, have a positive impact in developing countries, especially through corporate
social responsibility (CSR) initiatives focusing on sustainable development and
cooperation with civil society. However, for many MNCs, CSR is an outcome of public
pressure arising from their operations in developing countries in relation to human
rights, environmental pollution and labor issues. In other words, it has generally been a
pragmatic response to consumer and civil society pressures. CSR is a process driven by
globalization, deregulation and privatization.
 Page |2

1.3. Objectives of the study:

a) Broad objectives:

To identify the activities and role of multinational corporations on corporate social

responsibilities and their footprints on environment sustainability.

b) Specific Objectives:

 To apply theoretical knowledge into the practical area through research.

 How CSR is used by MNCs in order to expand their market share and profit.
 How corporations are trying to balance both parties’ interests, shareholders
(profit) and stakeholder’s concerns, for example reducing pollution omission.
 How corporations are adapting to local set laws and rules and in this way trying
to enhance sustainable development.
 To be familiar with corporate social activities/events done by MNCs.
 To evaluate the performance of multinational corporations on CSR activities.
 To familiarize the working hours, values and environment of the MNCs.
 To familiarize different rules and regulation on CSR activities of MNCs.
 To gather knowledge about the function of the MNCs in the ethical area.
 To gather knowledge on the contribution of MNCs in the economy of Bangladesh.

1.4. Research Question:

a) What is CSR and how it is done?

b) What is environment sustainability?
c) What is ethical management practices?
d) What are the ways corporation can give back the profit to society?
e) Prerequisites for MNCs operating business on a developing country
f) Corporate strategy to deal with social practices and problems?
g) Limiting the society-business gap?

1.5. The scope of the study:

This is an emerging issue that needs immediate attention because of the seriousness of
this matter. This may be because corruption is seen as an issue primarily addressed by
hard laws and regulations, while CSR is seen as a voluntary corporate led initiative to
promote self-regulation. Corporations use these CSR activities to shield their profit
hungry business planning with aggressive strategies.

1.6. The significance of the Study:

This research will help to explain why MNCs use CSR as their market expanding strategy
and the shield to block various laws and regulation applying to them. The research will
evaluate the performance of the MNCs in the environment sustainability. The study
considers the implications of international law, civil law remedies, corporate governance
and global governance, corruption possibility and law-abiding practices.
 Page |3

1.7. Theoretical framework:

Business is an inseparable and embedded part of the society. In addition to its economic
role in society, business also has several other roles and responsibilities towards society
responsible conduct of business activities while pursuing economic gains; the social and
environmental responsibilities of the business towards its stakeholders; and business’s
contributions that would benefit the society at large. It is mandatory for corporations to
conform to the legal responsibilities as they are prescribed by law. So, organizations have
no alternative but to comply with the basic law of the land.

On the other hand, Ethical responsibilities of corporations are taken as additional

responsibilities going beyond legal compliance and profit making and include those that
firms believe are the right things to do. Ethical responsibility originates from humanistic,
religious and moral orientation of corporations.

The voluntary responsibilities to the society refer to the discretionary nature of

obligations rooted in the altruistic principles which are not required by law. The
motivation for such sense of responsibilities arises from the reciprocal obligation of
giving back to the society in exchange of profit and power that corporations receive from
society.

This school of thought gave rise to CSR which is seen as continuing commitment by
business to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving
the quality of life of the workforce, their families, local community, and society at all,
including the environment. Even though Bangladesh is one of the world’s poorest
countries, CSR activities in Bangladesh have risen significantly in importance. It is
believed that the interest in CSR initiatives in Bangladesh has been fueled by MNCs’ global
activities
 Page |4

2. Methodology:
2.1. Methods of compiling and analysis of data:

i. Conduct a literature review on CSR practices of MNCs in Bangladesh from the

CSR reports from their journal and newspapers.
ii. Observe the main branches for six weeks, focusing mostly on activities of the
corporations, especially those cultural programs in which the corporations
address their contributions and their work processes.
iii. Interview executives to clarify and provide insight into conversations. I will
attempt to conduct these interviews shortly after conversations of interest.
While the interviews will not be formal or structured, the kinds of questions
I will ask include the following. The general strategy for the interviews is to
start off with broad questions and follow up on the interviewee’s responses,
to capture her or his meanings and to avoid imposing my meanings on the
interviewee. The questionaries’ will contain these questions:
 Tell me about the activities you just had with corporation X.
 What were you thinking during the events?
 What do you think the management was thinking?
 What do you think the corporation is trying to do (or accomplish) in
the CSR activities?
 What did you mean when you said, “......”?
 What were you thinking when you said that?
 What do you think your MD meant when he/she said “......”?
 When you think about what you did and said in that events, how
would you describe yourself?
 Undertake a situational analysis of the field notes and interview notes.
iv. Write a research report that combines my understanding of the relevant
theory and previous research with the results of my empirical research.
v. Collection and analysis of data: Primary data through questionaries’ and
secondary data through literature survey.
vi. Confidentiality/Anonymity/ Fairness/Honesty: I declare to make the
questionaries’ confidential and anonymous. The data will be collected
through fair sampling.
vii. Storage of data: The data will be stored in MS word and Excel for research
purpose. Materials: Audio recorder, MS word, MS Excel, Survey question
sheet etc.
viii. Validity and Reliability: The validity of the data depends upon the ethical
answer of the executives I will question.
ix. Rigor/Bias/Sampling: Data collection will be limited on the selected
multinational corporations in Bangladesh.
x. Resources: Questionaries’ and published journals, CSR reports and
newspapers.

2.2. The Design, Methods and Procedures:

Surveying is not a mandatory requirement. Because the data and information have been
collected fully form secondary information by analyzing CSR reports and annual reports
from these MNCs.
 Page |5

2.3. Practicalities:

 Time lines: The research will be done within eight to ten weeks.
 Problems/issues: Executives surveyed may not be cooperative.
 Costing: Around 5000 takas to visit the corporations and observe their activities
on CSR and environment sustainability practices.
 Outcomes/Outputs/Significance: Data gathered through survey will be used in
research how to improve the overall situation of corporate responsibilities with
green environment practices in Bangladesh

2.4. Limitations:

Time constraints of the semester may not be ideal for a perfect study. By being in the
study for only four hours a week for four weeks, there are bound to be aspects of
corporations cultural practices, environmental sustainability practices that will not be
revealed during my observations. Being an outsider may also limit what is revealed to
me. The CSR activities may be overstated or inflated in their annual reports. The branch
executives may be guarded in their conversations around me, especially in my initial
observations.

2.5. Delimitations:

I am choosing to study multinational corporations from several industries. That will show
the nature of CSR activities in broadways. Additionally, I will use those corporations who
has the most influence in the market and economy. The study will be conducted in a
qualitative manner so that there will be no misrepresentation in some numerical ways.

2.6. Outcomes of the research:

 It will help us to know the scenario of corporate social activities of multinational

corporations in Bangladesh.
 It will show the footprints of the multinational corporations in the environment in
Bangladesh.
 TO know the extent CSR is used by multinational companies in order to expand
their market share/profit and competition among the competitors in Bangladesh.