Starting Points for CSR at Host Europe : Introducing Sustainability in a Medium-Sized IT Company

This short case deals with issues of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability in the specific setting of a medium-sized enterprise in the IT industry. It briefly introduces Host Europe, a webhosting company in Germany, and its considerations on how to implement CSR and sustainability in the future. Several industry related issues such as 'green IT' (especially in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and e-waste) and workforce challenges are highlighted. The students are asked to think about the possible role of Host Europe as a responsible medium-sized IT company. They are encouraged to set up a five year sustainability and CSR plan including specific measures for Host Europe. The case is suitable for undergraduate, graduate or MBA courses. Depending on the content and level of the course, different emphases can be made eg on discovering relevant stakeholders, on CSR issues in small and medium sized enterprises, on general issues of sustainability in the IT industry, on specific aspects of green IT, or otherwise. With its short character it fits well directly into class sessions or it can be used as homework assignment since it also enables a deeper engagement with the topic