Strategic corporate social responsibility
The Professional Development Project of the Faculty of Law, UCT, is pleased to present a three-day corporate social responsibility (CSR) training programme for directors, managers, lawyers, public affairs professionals, CSR professionals, and policymakers. 4 - 6 May 2015.
About the course
Investors have long been coming to accept that how a company treats the communities that sustain it can influence the long-term value of their investment. Now research is making the link between corporate behaviour and the perceived legitimacy of the corporation. In a charged political environment such as that following the global financial crisis, loss of legitimacy can lead to uncertain political outcomes affecting individual corporations, entire industry sectors, and even the shape of capitalism itself.
A proactive approach to maintaining legitimacy provides a company with multiple benefits, not least fewer nasty surprises in the form of consumer boycotts, employee whistle blowing, sabotage, and far-reaching regulatory or legislative initiatives. Building up a stock of legitimacy can also help a company to better weather unforeseeable reputational crises.
Companies that succeed in building legitimacy have learned to acknowledge their relationships with groups inside and outside the business and to manage their social, economic and environmental impacts.
This course equips participants with a set of analytic tools and managerial approaches that will help their companies develop their CSR capability. The course combines both theoretical sessions and opportunities to practise on relevant case studies.
Public expectations of business continue to evolve. Climate change action has resumed its importance in the political agenda. The last few years have seen major advances in the clarification of corporate responsibilities relating to human rights. Now there are intergovernmental moves afoot to expand those responsibilities. Participants on this course will be updated on these crucial developments emerging from the United Nations on the human rights responsibilities of business.
Never has the general public been so aware of the impacts corporations can have on their lives, and the latest global trust survey by Edelman indicates acute distrust of corporations' willingness to manage these impacts. Developing your business's CSR capabilities has never been so urgent.
Who will benefit from this course?
This course will benefit anyone who needs to better understand and anticipate the political context in which business operates, whether in business management or in government policy making.
Course outline
This three-day course will cover:
- Corporate power and legitimacy theory
- Understanding the enterprise's social, environmental and economic impacts
- Identification and analysis of stakeholders using the participant/neighbor/regulator classification
- A detailed overview of key expectations of business, including human rights and sustainability
- An update of the United Nations' recent work on the human rights obligations of business
- Sustaining corporate legitimacy through corporate governance structures, processes and policies
Participants will have the opportunity to apply theoretical content in practical case study exercises throughout the course.
Course presenter
Andrew Newton, LLB (Nottingham), MBA (London Business School), MA Philosophy (University of London).
Andrew worked in the financial sector for nearly 10 years as an ethics compliance officer for large financial institutions, as head of compliance for HSBC Private Banking EMEA. In 1998 he wrote The Handbook of Compliance - Making Ethics Work in Financial Services (Financial Times Prentice Hall), and has spent the last 13 years researching and writing on business responsibility issues for trade journals, think tanks and consultancies. He teaches business ethics and CSR on masters-level degree programs in England, France and Singapore.
Registration details
Programme and venue information:
Signing in will commence at 9am unless otherwise advised and each day will end at approximately 5pm.
Award of certificate:
A UCT certificate of attendance will be awarded to all participants who attend all three days. You will be expected to sign an attendance register each day.
Closing date for registration:
10 April 2015.
Registration and enquiries:
Please contact the Professional Development Project:
Paula Allen on 021 650 5558
Andrea Blaauw on 021 650 5413
Fax:021 650 5513
Email:az.ca.tcu@nella.aluap/az.ca.tcu@wuaalb.aerdna/az.ca.tcu@llafressaw.aneri
OR visit our website: www.lawatwork.uct.ac.za to download the registration form.
Time: 09:00 - 17:00
Venue: Cape Town, Cape Town
Cost: R7,500 per delegate. This fee covers course materials, parking, teas and lunches
More info:
Instructions regarding the programme and directions to the venue will be sent to you electronically a week prior to the event.