Ten lecture outline on sustainable business and corporate responsibility with links
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This document outlines a module on corporate (social) responsibility. It discusses the history and evolution of concepts like CSR, corporate responsibility, and sustainable business. The module aims to provide students with an understanding of the challenges faced by businesses in linking economic success with social and environmental concerns. It also aims to explore perspectives on the relationship between business and society. Key topics to be covered include the business case for responsibility, important issues and emerging topics, and governance of these issues. Students will develop critical thinking skills relevant to social responsibility in organizational contexts. Required readings provide background on the history of CSR and ways companies make the business case for sustainable practices.
Ten lecture outline on sustainable business and corporate responsibility with links
- 1. CORPORATE (SOCIAL) RESPONSIBILITY Lecturer: Tobias Webb Module Overview This module is concerned with the issues within and the development of global corporate responsibility. It examines a number of topics in the field of business sustainability and responsibility including: the history, evolution, business case, most important issues, emerging topics and governance and management of these by large companies. * Often known as CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), a movement emerged a decade or so ago to rename it Corporate Responsibility and so develop a more holistic approach that incorporates environmental issues. Sustainable business is a term that is increasingly used, but ‘sustainability’ has different connotations around the world (In the US, for example, it often means ‘greener’ rather than social issues). All three terms will be used during the course. In their truest sense, they mean the same. Aims and Objectives The aims of this module are to: • Provide students with an understanding and appreciation of the challenges currently facing business, government, civil society, international organisations and individuals in their efforts to link successful business practice with broader social, environmental and ethical concerns • Offer students creative perspectives on the evolving relationship between business and a wider range of stakeholders • Present students with opportunities to engage in inquiry processes that link the latest research ideas, examples and values of social responsibility with individual experience and practice Learning Outcomes By the end of this module students should be able to:
- 2. Page | 1 • Have a greater appreciation of changing conceptual frameworks underlying the implicit contract between business and society (including current thinking on corporate social responsibility and sustainability in business) • Understand the key challenges being faced by businesses as they negotiate their relationships with changing social and environmental conditions • Be aware of some of the limits and possibilities of new business practices both in the UK and internationally • Be able to use methods for developing reflective leadership, change agency and critical thinking relevant to social responsibility in personal and organisational contexts Required Reading: Each of the topics has a separate reading list. These reading lists are detailed below under each week’s session. (Please note that due to the breadth of issues covered in the module there is not one “core book”. However the first two listed below are both excellent primers on the subject) One of: (both if you can, but both are not required) Blowfield, M. Murray, M. (Various editions) “Corporate Responsibility” (textbook) Oxford: Oxford University Press. Crane, A., and Matten, D. (Various editions) “Business Ethics: Managing corporate citizenship and sustainability in the age of globalization”, Oxford: Oxford University Press. Recommended Reading: www.business-‐humanrights.org A free website and weekly e-‐Newsletter. www.dailyclimate.org – A daily free, news roundup service. http://ccbriefing.corporate-‐citizenship.com -‐ A daily roundup http://tobiaswebb.blogspot.com -‐ Regular blog from the course lecturer. 1500 posts. Use the search function or browse by category. In Particular: http://tobiaswebb.blogspot.fr/2014/12/2015-‐sustainable-‐business-‐and-‐political.html And: http://www.contextsustainability.com/contextpublications/ (good short
- 3. Page | 2 Module Structure Week 1 Lecture: Introduction to CR. A brief history. This lecture considers the history of CR theory in business and society. It also looks at early business action on CR, the modern agenda, and the critics of CR in academia and elsewhere. Finally, it looks at how some companies are beginning to put modern CR into business strategy. Required reading: https://www.opendemocracy.net/joanne-‐bauer/problem-‐with-‐corporate-‐social-‐ responsibility https://www.academia.edu/860777/A_history_of_corporate_social_responsibility_conc epts_and_practices Optional reading/video resources: http://iveybusinessjournal.com/topics/social-‐responsibility/corporate-‐sustainability-‐ what-‐is-‐it-‐and-‐where-‐does-‐it-‐come-‐from#.VKvL9sbb38E http://www.insead.edu/facultyresearch/research/doc.cfm?did=19618 http://www.colorado.edu/studentgroups/libertarians/issues/friedman-‐soc-‐resp-‐ business.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nL-‐FqE47Ius https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0NkGtNU_9w Week 2 Lecture: How to make the business case This lecture looks at how companies and managers are making the business case for responsible and sustainable business across their companies – and across industries. It also looks at how companies communicate with investors. Required reading:
- 4. Page | 3 https://hbr.org/2015/01/the-‐truth-‐about-‐csr https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140922072004-‐1872366-‐eight-‐reasons-‐that-‐ sustainability-‐drives-‐financial-‐outperformance?trk=mp-‐reader-‐card (full study at: arabesque.com/oxford-‐study-‐pdf) http://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/9519a5004c1bc60eb534bd79803d5464/Busin ess+Case+for+Sustainability.pdf?MOD=AJPERES http://ioannou.us (browse, not read every word) Specifically including: http://dash.harvard.edu/bitstream/handle/1/9887635/cheng,ioannou,serafeim-‐ Corporate%20Social%20Responsibility%20and%20Access%20to%20Finance.pdf?sequ ence=1 Optional reading/video resources: http://www.oecd-‐ ilibrary.org/docserver/download/5jxrjncjrcxp.pdf?expires=1420554217&id=id&accna me=guest&checksum=51511D898EC2D0F7FBD6ABF778E606BB https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qrQKA0xMko https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlW8-‐WW0k3g https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izmiloE7Z9Q http://www.wbcsd.org/vision2050.aspx Week 3 Lecture: Attracting, training, motivating, retaining employees Many firms say Sustainability/CR is a big motivator of employees. But embedding CR into a business is one of the hardest tasks a corporate leader faces. This lecture looks at the theory of how it should be done, and the practices undertaken by some of the leading companies in the space.
- 5. Page | 4 Required reading: http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/why-‐employee-‐satisfaction-‐matters-‐ shareholders/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KYWJdU9Ltw http://www.gn-‐cc.org/sites/gn-‐ cc.org/files/Mirvis_Employee%20Engagement%20and%20CSR_2012.pdf Optional reading/video resources: http://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/using-‐corporate-‐social-‐responsibility-‐to-‐win-‐the-‐ war-‐for-‐talent/ http://www.accenture.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/PDF/Accenture-‐Development-‐ Partnerships-‐Impact-‐Report.pdf https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lccqGsl1OAs Week 4 Lecture: Campaigning NGOs, who, why and what Is corporate responsibility predominantly comprised of business greenwashing? How is this changing? What impact have NGO campaigns had on corporate strategy? The lecture also looks at how companies can and do work with non-‐governmental organisations (NGOs) to build capacity and legitimacy around their actions and communications. Required reading: http://www.businessinsider.com/greenpeace-‐fortune-‐500-‐deforestation-‐global-‐ warming-‐2014-‐6?IR=T http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-‐business/2014/dec/24/top-‐10-‐ sustainability-‐campaigns-‐2014 http://info.greenbiz.com/rs/greenbizgroup/images/greenbiz-‐ngo-‐report.pdf http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/011540ae-‐b7e1-‐11e2-‐9f1a-‐ 00144feabdc0.html#axzz3O2hmYxTL
- 6. Page | 5 Optional reading/video resources: http://som.yale.edu/our-‐approach/teaching-‐method/case-‐research-‐and-‐ development/cases-‐directory/golden-‐agri-‐resources-‐and http://e360.yale.edu/feature/monitoring_corporate_behavior_greening_or_merely_gree nwash/2732/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Fkhzdc4ybw http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/09644016.2011.617176 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clean_Clothes_Campaign http://www.forestpeoples.org http://new.globalwitness.org Week 5 Lecture: Stakeholder engagement, who, when and how This lecture looks at the business case for stakeholder engagement, how it’s best done, why it matters beyond the short term and its impact on reputation and operational improvements. Required reading: http://www.insead.edu/facultyresearch/research/doc.cfm?did=47212 Ed Freeman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIRUaLcvPe8 Longer version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ih5IBe1cnQw Future500 video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHGTsEwbOJY Optional reading/video resources: http://tobiaswebb.blogspot.fr/2014/11/27-‐expert-‐tips-‐on-‐engaging-‐ stakeholders.html?q=communicators
- 7. Page | 6 http://faculty.london.edu/hservaes/ms2013.pdf Week 6 Lecture: Supplier engagement in CR This lecture looks at how and why companies are engaging suppliers in supply chain issues. From human rights to the environment, to forestry and fisheries, large companies are expected to deal with suppliers in much more depth today, and report on progress. This lecture considers progress, drivers and the Required reading: http://nbs.net/wp-‐content/uploads/NBS-‐Executive-‐Report-‐Supply-‐Chains.pdf http://e360.yale.edu/feature/a_conservationist_sees_signs_of_hope_for_the_worlds_rain forests/2822/ http://business-‐humanrights.org/en/un-‐secretary-‐generals-‐special-‐representative-‐on-‐ business-‐human-‐rights/un-‐protect-‐respect-‐and-‐remedy-‐framework-‐and-‐guiding-‐ principles http://www.shiftproject.org/publication/business-‐and-‐human-‐rights-‐impacts-‐ identifying-‐and-‐prioritizing-‐human-‐rights-‐risks http://www.ihrb.org/top10/2015.html Optional reading/video resources: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/16/primark-‐payout-‐victims-‐rana-‐ plaza-‐bangladesh http://watson.brown.edu/files/watson/imce/locke/publications/NikeLean_8_SSRN%2 0(1).pdf https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzgM7zv8sI0 Week 7 Lecture: Reputation, external communications and reporting on CR
- 8. Page | 7 This lecture looks at how corporate responsibility reporting has developed, and how companies are using it, and other areas of work, to communicate with stakeholders. This lecture also looks at social media, its influence on companies and the corporate responsibility debate, both positive and negative. Required reading: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877042814029589 http://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Publication%20Files/14-‐094_30b9b0a2-‐4acb-‐47ec-‐bddc-‐ 8c1d810e3cde.pdf http://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Publication%20Files/11-‐100_7f383b79-‐8dad-‐462d-‐90df-‐ 324e298acb49.pdf Optional reading/video resources: https://www.2degreesnetwork.com/groups/2degrees-‐community/resources/how-‐ can-‐sustainability-‐enhance-‐corporate-‐reputation_2/ http://framework-‐llc.com/wp-‐content/uploads/2014/03/Cerruti-‐Rebernak-‐3-‐ small.pdf http://businessmeetssociety.blogspot.fr/2014/10/a-‐blog-‐first-‐piece-‐on-‐csr-‐ communication.html Week 8 Lecture : Innovation for sustainable business This lecture looks at the future of sustainable business: Innovation. We consider what innovation is, related to corporate responsibility, how it’s being viewed strategically by companies, how implementation works, and the barriers and results to date. Required reading: https://hbr.org/2009/09/why-‐sustainability-‐is-‐now-‐the-‐key-‐driver-‐of-‐innovation http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-‐business/gallery/2014/jun/16/10-‐leading-‐ sustainability-‐innovations
- 9. Page | 8 http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2013/10/27/how-‐sustainability-‐leadership-‐drives-‐ innovation Optional reading/video resources: Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/toby-‐webb-‐1/nigel-‐stansfield-‐on-‐sustainable-‐ innovation http://dupress.com/articles/sustainability-‐2-‐0-‐innovation-‐and-‐growth-‐through-‐ sustainability/
- 10. Page | 9 Week 9 Lecture: Investors and responsible business This lecture looks at how the investment world has responded to the corporate sustainability agenda, and the gaps in implementation, communication and integration of policy into practice, both from the investor and company side. Required reading: http://www.accenture.com/us-‐en/Pages/insight-‐un-‐global-‐compact-‐investor-‐study-‐pri-‐ signatories.aspx http://alexedmans.blogspot.fr/2014/05/does-‐corporate-‐social-‐responsibility.html http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1847085 Optional reading/video resources: http://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Publication%20Files/SSRN-‐id1964011_6791edac-‐7daa-‐4603-‐ a220-‐4a0c6c7a3f7a.pdf https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpOwTspdwkI http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/7457.html Week 10 Lecture: Revision Lecture This lecture will be a summary of all the key themes of the course. There is no required reading. Module Assessment Assessment is 85% on a coursework assignment. The coursework submission date is Wednesday 25 March, 10.00 am 15% of the marking will be by Tutorial Assessment. The tutorial assessment mark will be arrived at by a combination of attendance, and participation. Students are advised to arrive at tutorials with some thoughts (not to be handed in) on how a business might tackle the dilemma in question for each tutorial. Tutorials: (details of each tutorial task which will be in working groups of 5 students x 4 for each tutorial, will be provided a week in advance)
- 11. Page | 10 22nd January between 11 and 5pm – One hour tutorial per each of four groups -‐ Make the business case to your board 5th February between 11 and 5pm -‐ One hour tutorial per each of four groups -‐ Design an employee engagement programme 26th February between 11 and 5pm -‐ One hour tutorial per each of four groups -‐ Respond to a campaigning NGO 11th March between 11 and 5pm -‐ One hour tutorial per each of four groups -‐ Design a supplier engagement programme 25th March between 11 and 5pm -‐ One hour tutorial per each of four groups -‐ Tackle a fictional crisis from the corporate and stakeholder perspective