What the investigation does
The essay limits its decision to one responsibility practice, forestry and wood, in IKEA's Swedish operation during the recession discussed in 2009. Published research and company information are supplemented by clarification from an IKEA environmental coordinator. The method explicitly recognizes that confidential cost data are unavailable and that findings for Sweden may not transfer to the whole group.
PEST analysis, corporate culture and a power–interest map organize the evidence about customers, employees, suppliers, media and pressure groups. The conclusion recommends retaining the practice because uncertain longer-term reputational risks outweigh assumed immediate savings. It proposes investigating negotiations with existing suppliers and identifies the missing numerical comparison as a major limitation.
Why this example is worth reading
Restricts a large CSR topic to one practice, one national operation and a specific strategic decision.
Uses stakeholder mapping to weigh competing interests and explains how coalitions could change their influence.
Distinguishes short- and longer-term consequences and names the absent cost evidence that would strengthen the decision.
What the examiner highlights
The examiner praises the focus on a single responsibility practice and the clearly justified research question.
The review credits substantial academic research, conflicting sources, business terminology and reasonably sophisticated application of tools.
It identifies room for stronger evaluation of brand-image effects and fuller explanation of the benefits of being socially responsible.
What to examine critically
Actual savings from changing suppliers are unavailable, so the financial case depends on an assumption acknowledged by the essay.
The examiner asks for deeper critical analysis of brand-image effects and clearer understanding of the benefits of responsibility; favourable source selection or company statements need scrutiny.
Apply it to your own work
Make a large organizational topic manageable by defining the practice, location and decision.
Use analytical tools to answer the same research question from different perspectives.
State which unavailable data would most change the recommendation and why.
Essay & assessment material
Read the original material alongside the breakdown, or download it to keep.
The separate one-page examiner commentary reviews this selected essay from the IB's 2011 collection. It supports the excellent-exemplar label but gives no numerical mark or letter grade. The recession scenario is historical.
Source & assessment context
50 More Excellent Extended Essays (2011). The source PDFs retain their original attribution. The analysis on this page is AsterDraft’s independent teaching commentary.
Selected excellent exemplar. The separate one-page examiner commentary reviews this selected essay from the IB's 2011 collection. It supports the excellent-exemplar label but gives no numerical mark or letter grade. The recession scenario is historical.