Assignment 3: Ethics and Sustainability Case
COMM 105: Values, Ethics, and Community
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Purpose:
A core element of business is the practice of analyzing a problem, understanding its root causes
through application of key concepts and frameworks, and making well-supported
recommendations on how to solve the problem. Case studies are useful in simulating real
business situations and providing you with opportunities to practise what you have learned.
This assignment is a closed case (i.e. no additional research permitted beyond what is provided
to you) that will require you to step into a decision maker’s role in analyzing a real-life business
story with complex ethical, social, environmental, and economic considerations.
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Learning Objectives:
Take an ethical and responsible approach to business to identify inherent opportunities and risks
in a complex scenario. Take a long-term view in framing business analysis and decision-making.
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Guidelines:
Submit on Canvas through the assignment dropbox. Convert your documents to PDF and
combine all parts into a single PDF file for upload. Multiple files will not be accepted
It is worth 25% of your overall course grade in COMM 105.
.
Use single-spaced 11-point Arial font, 1-inch (2.54cm) page margins, and 8.5x11 inch pages
(except for your appendices, which may be 9-point font or larger). Ensure your assignment is
easy to read. Use section headers to organize your assignment. Bold and italicize any course
concept or framework that you reference in your work.
File naming convention: Last5NumbersOfStudent#-Sec#-AssignmentName.pdf
(e.g. 12345-Sec101-EthicsAndSustainabilityCase.pdf).
This is an individual assignment. UBC policies regarding academic integrity and plagiarism
apply. You may not work on this project with others.
AI is not permitted for this assignment. You may not use ChatGPT or other large language
models for this assignment. The use of AI tools will be considered cheating; see 3.b(iv) of the
Vancouver Academic Calendar. Keep all drafts and notes in case you are asked to demonstrate
that you created this assignment without AI. Use a word processor that tracks edits (e.g. turn on
Track Changes in Microsoft Word, or use Version History in Google Docs, etc.).
Assignment components:
● Page 1: Cover Page
● Pages 2-4: Case Write-Up
● Page 5: Appendix
● Page 6+: References ListAssignment 3: Ethics and Sustainability Case
COMM 105: Values, Ethics, and Community
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Instructions:
Page 1: Cover Page
Include the assignment title, your COMM 105 section number, and the last five digits of your
student number. We will be uploading assignments to Turnitin, so to protect your privacy, please
do not include your full name or full student number anywhere in your assignment. View
a sample cover page here.
Page 2-4: Case Write-Up (2.5 pages maximum)
To access the case, click on the “Ethics and Sustainability Case Website” link in Canvas. Then,
make a recommendation based on this case question:
Your task is to take on the role of a Responsible Investment Analyst at the Canadian Imperial
Bank of Commerce (CIBC) in 2019, faced with the decision of whether or not CIBC should
invest in LNG Canada according to its principles of long-term environmentally and socially
responsible action. Make a recommendation: either invest in the project, or do not invest.
● Assume the financial prospects of the investment (e.g. credit rating and risk-return ratio)
are comparable to other profitable investment opportunities available to CIBC in BC.
● Assume that other possible projects that CIBC might invest in would have complex social
and environmental issues, just like the issues described in this case. In other words, the
opportunity cost of this investment would be another imperfect project that has its own
benefits, drawbacks, risks, and tensions just like LNG Canada.
● Your recommendation to either invest or not invest must be based on analysis of the
situation based on the information provided on the case website, and supported by the
concepts and frameworks covered so far in COMM 105.
To build a rational and persuasive argument for a chosen recommendation, your case analysis
will use the IAR (Issues – Analysis – Recommendations) framework of case methodology:
● Issues (aim for ½ page): Clearly identify 3-4 key issue(s) related to LNG Canada that
would help CIBC determine whether they should invest in LNG Canada. Issues can be
positive or negative.Give each issue a short name or title, and give each issue a short
2-3 sentence description that justifies why you have selected the issue as a priority. Your
issues will likely be under the broad categories of Environmental or Social & Indigenous.
Your issues should be more specific than these categories; for example, “fugitive
emissions” is appropriately specific, though it’s up to you to consider whether you would
prioritize this as one of the most important issues in the case.
● Analysis (aim for 1 ½ pages): To support your decision of whether or not CIBC should
invest in LNG Canada, apply analytical tools, frameworks, and concepts from the course.
Like any investment, this project has benefits and drawbacks, and a strong analysis will
consider the pros and cons. While your analysis will likely go beyond a discussion of the
3-4 issues you identified, ensure that you emphasize your issues (as you have already
justified why they are important). Making unfounded assumptions or giving your opinion
are not sufficient; focus on evidence-based analysis. Describe which ethical
framework(s)/lenses from our Business Ethics 1 lesson you feel are most relevant in
helping to determine whether this is a responsible investment.
● Recommendation (aim for ½ page): Based on your analysis, choose either to invest or
to not invest, and briefly summarize why this would best address your 3-4 issues.Assignment 3: Ethics and Sustainability Case
COMM 105: Values, Ethics, and Community
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The page limits for each of the Issues, Analysis, and Recommendations sections are guidelines,
not requirements, but you must not exceed 2.5 pages total for your case write-up.
Write this section in the third-person narrative voice. Even though you will provide your own
analysis, it is standard business practice to write in an impersonal voice. For example, instead of
“I think the company should…”, write “The company should…”.
Page 5: Appendix
You have up to one page to include exhibits, diagrams, or charts to support your analysis. This
would likely include your application of frameworks, concepts, or tools from class. Diagrams or
charts should only appear in your appendix, and not in your case write-up. Appendices should be
labelled and titled, e.g. “Appendix A: Managing for Stakeholders Analysis”. Appendices must be
referenced in the body of the memo, e.g. “see Appendix A for a full Managing for Stakeholders
analysis”). Do not add a page of random graphics that is not mentioned in your case write-up.
It is helpful to demonstrate how you have used the framework as part of your analysis. For example,
instead of including an image of the Managing for Stakeholders diagram, outline the important
stakeholders for the case and why they are relevant. Only include items in your appendix if they add
value to your analysis and recommendations. The appendix must be a useful tool for the reader; it is
not a “scrap bin” for information you could not fit in the body of your assignment.
Page 6+: References List
This assignment is a closed case and does not allow outside research. You can only use
details that are included directly on the case website; do not click on the hyperlinked resources.
You cannot use your own personal knowledge as part of your analysis. You are not permitted to
reference external images, ideas, or analytical tools that have not been discussed in COMM
105. However, some situations may require citations and references:
● You are directly quoting from the course website (i.e. facts and statistics do not need to
be cited, but quotes of phrases or full sentences do, to identify that these phrases or
sentences are not your own words). If you quote something from an outside source that
is referenced on the case website, cite the outside source, and not the case website.
● Format all in-text citations and references using APA style, 7th edition.
● APA-style. formatting for the case website in-text citation: (“LNG Canada Case”, 2025)
● APA-style. formatting for the case website reference:
LNG Canada Case. (2025). Canvas@UBC. https://canvas.ubc.ca
● Course concepts (e.g. from prep materials, video lectures, or lecture slides) do not need
an APA citation or reference as long as you are not directly quoting from these materials.
However, you must bold and italicize each course concept that you reference. For
example, “Based on the Managing for Stakeholders framework, it’s clear that…“
There is no limit to the number of pages of your References List. If you do not directly quote the
case website, you do not need to include a References List.
It is your responsibility to learn how to use the APA format. Assignments that are inadequately
referenced (either lacking detail or using improper format) may be returned for correction and
will be subject to penalties, including possible academic misconduct investigations.Assignment 3: Ethics and Sustainability Case
COMM 105: Values, Ethics, and Community
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Grading (25% of course grade):
Criteria
Points
Issues: Are 3-4 key issues clearly stated, relevant to the case, and related to the
environmental or social & Indigenous impacts of the project? Are course concepts
are/or case facts used to justify your choice of issues?
10
Analysis - Overall: Does your analysis of whether or not CIBC should invest in
the LNG Canada project consider the benefits and drawbacks of the investment
from both an environmental and social & Indigenous perspective? Is your analysis
persuasive and anchored in evidence from the case? Does your analysis focus on
the 3-4 issues you defined in your Issues section? Have you described which
ethical framework(s)/len(ses) are relevant for CIBC to determine whether this
would be considered a responsible investment?
15
Analysis - Course Concepts: Do you apply at least three course frameworks,
tools, or concepts in your analysis section? Have you shown an understanding of
each concept, and are your chosen concepts relevant and have they made your
analysis more persuasive?
10
Recommendations: Is your recommendation connected to the key issues stated
at the beginning of the paper? Is it reinforced with a brief and confident summary
statement which synthesizes the most important parts of your analysis?
5
Professionalism Deductions:
●
Up to -4 points: Formatting instructions not followed (file title, font, font
size, margins, etc.), sections in incorrect order, unclear or inconsistent
formatting (overly-long paragraphs, lack of headings, blank pages, etc.)
●
Up to -4 points: Spelling or grammatical errors
●
Up to -8 points: Going over page limits or word counts
●
-0.5 points: Including your full name or full student number in your work
● -0.5 points: For each APA citation or reference mistake
Up to
-12
(30% of
max
score)
Each of the Criteria will be graded using the following scale:
Far Below
Expectations
0-49%
Below
Expectations
50-69%
Meets
Expectations
70-79%
Exceeds
Expectations
80-100%
It is your responsibility to upload your submission on time, and to ensure that you have
uploaded the correct file to the Canvas assignment page. Review the COMM 105 course
syllabus on Canvas for a reminder of the late assignment submission policy.Assignment 3: Ethics and Sustainability Case
COMM 105: Values, Ethics, and Community
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Assignment Tips:
Case analysis is challenging - and this is likely the first major case you will be analyzing.
There is no one, single “correct” answer to this case. We are interested in your framing of the
issues, choice of information, analysis, connection to course concepts, rationale, and
recommendations. Given the complexity of the issues in this case, the recommendation either to
invest or to not invest can both score well if argued persuasively using course concepts, facts
from the case, and logical argumentation.
You can frame. the issues from CIBC’s perspective as a responsible investor or as general
environmental or social & Indigenous issues connected to LNG Canada. Either approach is
acceptable, as both ultimately tie back to CIBC’s decision-making process
The case has asked you not to consider the financial return of investment to CIBC. However,
when evaluating whether LNG Canada would be a responsible investment, you could consider
the economic impact to stakeholders of the case, given the connection between positive
economic outcomes and positive social outcomes.
Linkage of concepts or frameworks used to their application is imperative for a top grade.
Saying you would “analyze the ethical issues” or “do a stakeholder analysis” is not specific
enough to be useful. Mentioning a concept or framework is not the point; your objective is to
gain insights by demonstrating the correct application of an appropriate concept or framework.
It is important to be specific. Case memos that use concrete, specific facts from the case
website demonstrate a more detailed and nuanced argument. While you can assume that your
reader is familiar with the case, do not assume that they have memorized all of the case facts;
rather, your use of relevant case facts adds evidence to your argument.
Do not “bias” your analysis to match your recommendation (of investing or not investing in LNG
Canada). Write your analysis as if you haven't decided on your recommendation yet. In other
words, include all significant positive and negative reasons why this would (or would not) be a
suitable project for CIBC to invest in.
Some discussion questions to help you start framing your analysis of this situation:
● What are the triple-bottom-line (environmental, social, and economic) impacts of the
LNG Canada project?
● What ethical factors need to be considered when making this investment decision?
● Does investment in this project fit with CIBC’s Responsible Banking guidelines?
Note: Do not simply answer these discussion questions in your paper; rather, use your answers
to guide your analysis and think about alternatives and recommendations in an integrated way.
Remember, this case is set in 2019, not the present day. Details about LNG Canada later than
2019 are not relevant. Do not use external research in this assignment. References to facts
that are not included on the case website will significantly impact your score
We have not provided an exemplar for this assignment, as we are interested in your own
independent thought. However, you can check Canvas for a sample case template document.
The case will be discussed in class after the submission deadline. You are encouraged to have
your notes handy (or a copy of your submission) to allow you to contribute to these discussions.