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Cases

Ohjelma
Bike Lease Finland

Bike Lease Finland

Leasing and maintenance of employee bicycles, digital services.

Ohjelma
Excelence Solutions

Excelence Solutions

Consulting and data analytics, expert services and consulting.

Ohjelma
Finnish Timber Oy

Finnish Timber Oy

Ecological log buildings and construction site processes, project business.

Ohjelma
Green Scape

Green Scape

Customized green wall services for B2B clients, service business.

Ohjelma
Marine Craft

Marine Craft

Customized motorboats, project delivery, manufacturing industry.

Ohjelma
Scandinavian Design

Scandinavian Design

Leasing and maintenance of company bicycles, digital services.

Task

Communicating Responsibility



In this task, the student will design how the case company could communicate its responsibility credibly and transparently. They will briefly analyze the company's current situation and its target groups, define the principles of honest responsibility communication, and choose an appropriate communication channel. The student will create a sample message or campaign idea that concretizes the company's actions and future steps without exaggeration. The task helps to understand how communicating responsibility affects stakeholder trust and the company's reputation.

Learning objectives

After completing the task, the student:
1. Can identify the target groups of the case company and their information needs regarding responsibility.
2. Can describe the principles of honest and transparent responsibility communication and avoid "greenwashing."
3. Can design an appropriate way for the case company to communicate its responsibility.
4. Can create a concrete sample message or campaign idea that supports the company's responsibility management.

Step by step

  1. Corporate sustainability communication

    Objective:
    The objective of this assignment is for the student to be able to design a way for the case company to communicate its sustainability efforts transparently and clearly, without “greenwashing”. The task also aims to identify what kind of communication builds trust and how concrete actions are presented honestly.

    Material:

    • The case description of the selected case company from the learning material.

    • The assignment is based on the information in the case description and on well-founded assumptions about the company’s sustainability actions and stakeholders.

    Assignment process (instructions for the student):

    1. Briefly describe the starting point of the case company’s sustainability
      Write 1–2 paragraphs in which you summarise:

      • what the case company does and in which industry it operates

      • what the case description tells about the company’s sustainability (e.g. practices, values, objectives)

      • in which areas the company already seems strong and where sustainability is still being developed.

    2. Identify the key target groups for the message
      Consider who the company’s sustainability communication is primarily aimed at (e.g. customers, personnel, the local community, partners).
      Write briefly:

      • 2–3 most important target groups

      • what these target groups especially want to know about the company’s sustainability (e.g. climate impacts, treatment of employees, transparency).

    3. Define the principles of a “truthful sustainability message”
      Write a short list (at least 5 points) of principles on which the case company’s sustainability communication should be based.
      Highlight for example:

      • concreteness (no vague slogans without evidence)

      • balance (both achievements and areas for improvement)

      • verifiability (possibility to check the information)

      • clarity and comprehensibility of the language.
        Briefly explain how these principles help avoid “greenwashing”.

    4. Plan the communication method and channel
      Choose one method and channel through which the case company could communicate its sustainability (e.g. a sustainability page on the website, a newsletter to customers, a social media campaign, a staff event).
      Write one paragraph describing:

      • why this channel is suitable for the case company

      • what advantages it offers for reaching target groups and building trust.

    5. Create a sample message or campaign idea
      Create either:

      • a sample message (approx. 10–15 sentences) that could be published in the chosen channel
        OR

      • a campaign description, in which you describe the idea of the campaign, the main message, 2–3 example messages and briefly the course of the campaign.
        Ensure that the message:

      • explains concretely what the company is already doing for sustainability

      • openly acknowledges at least one area for improvement

      • explains what the company intends to do next.

    6. Briefly assess the credibility of your message
      Write a short reflection (5–7 sentences) in which you answer:

      • why your message is, in your view, transparent and not “greenwashing”

      • what information or figures you would still like to include if they were available

      • how you believe different target groups will react to this communication.

    Submission and evaluation:
    Submit a text of approximately 2–3 pages showing:

    • the starting point of the case company’s sustainability

    • the selected target groups and their information needs

    • the principles of truthful sustainability communication

    • a justified choice of communication channel

    • a finished sample message or campaign idea

    • your own assessment of the credibility of the communication.

    In the evaluation, attention will be paid to how well you:

    • link the communication to the actual situation of the case company

    • identify and avoid features typical of “greenwashing”

    • make your message concrete, understandable and suitable for the target group

    • justify your solutions logically.

    Recommended working time: approximately 45–60 minutes, individually or in pairs.

Tasks by audience and theme

University of applied sciences

Polytechnics and higher education studies.

68 tasks