JCU International Business Students Present Capstone Projects
On December 4th, 2024, students from the International Business Capstone course presented their works to their family, friends, and the JCU community at the dedicated event in the Aula Magna Regina at Guarini Campus. The well-attended event was opened by Fabrizio Furbini (Head of Sustainability Global Digital Solutions at Enel, one of Italy’s leading energy companies) and Alfredo Cuzzupoli (Senior Manager Business Transformation at EY, a multinational professional services company) who worked with the students preparing their final projects by sharing their industry perspectives on sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
Fabrizio Furbini discussed important concepts and key trends in sustainability, reminding us that environmental sustainability cannot come at the expense of social equality and that we must ensure access to innovative energy sources even to the most vulnerable groups.
Alfredo Cuzzupoli emphasized the importance for companies to integrate Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) principles and practices into business models, to gain a sustainable competitive advantage and positioning.
Professor Maria Jell-Ojobor, who teaches the capstone course, explained that while multinational companies are the main contributors to environmental damage, they are also the most innovative in turning a global challenge into profits by “being good at being good.” It is precisely this knowledge and awareness that the JCU major in International Business aims to impart to its students, who will be able to present themselves as “sustainably competitive” in the job market.
During the capstone course, students had to examine the sustainability strategies of multinational companies in different industries from a research-based perspective, starting with a thorough analysis of the literature followed by a rigorous case methodology approach that included the collection of primary and secondary data. Their results were produced in the form of academic papers, which will be published online as part of the JCU repository.
Students Nicol Mazzantini and Vito Risucci conducted exploratory interviews with sustainability experts and analyzed the differences between developed and developing countries in the implementation of renewable energy practices. The two students also examined the relationship between first-mover and second-mover strategies of Enel S.p.A. and Eni S.p.A. in terms of their stakeholder relations and financial performance benefits.
Students Maria Alessia Palmieri, Arsh Deep Singh, and Nazariy Savkiv studied CSR and sustainability practices in the logistics sector. They discovered that there are major differences in the application of CSR in developed and developing countries. While companies like Amazon in developed countries pursued a voluntary CSR strategy that focused more on transparency, diversity, and inclusion, CSR practices in developing countries focused on complying with local regulations and improving education and healthcare. Overall, their study shows that multinational companies need to balance global CSR strategies with local adaptation and respond to different stakeholder demands and regulatory frameworks.
Using a qualitative approach based on secondary data from two leading airlines, such as Emirates and Ryanair, students Lynch Sariola and Sandra Brena Ramirez discussed the importance of innovative technologies, global regulatory consistency, and effective stakeholder collaboration in developing sustainable CSR practices in the aviation industry. They noticed that both airlines have made improvements to offset their carbon emissions. However, high investment costs, weak consumer engagement in CSR initiatives, and inconsistencies in global regulatory frameworks hinder the achievement of their sustainability goals.
John Cabot University and the Frank J. Guarini School of Business congratulate the Fall 2024 International Business Capstone students on their outstanding achievements and wish them all the best in their future endeavors.
