Learning objectives
a. Knowledge and understanding: The course aims to provide students with fundamental knowledge in the field of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and help them understand business strategies and advantages and necessities for companies. Strategic and operational aspects of social responsibility and communication aspects are covered. Students learn concepts relating to the governance and management of enterprises, focusing on social responsible management. In communication, the course aims to provide the knowledge necessary to understand the main instruments of social accountability through the knowledge of the standards and content guidelines most widely used in Italy and overseas.
b. Applying knowledge and understanding: Students will be able to understand and interpret the initiatives and CSR strategies adopted by companies, as well as critically interpret main reporting tools.
c. Making judgments: Student will be able to read with critical awareness the most frequent tools for social reporting produced by companies, understanding the meaning of the policies and strategies, and evaluating them critically.
d. Communication skills: By the end of the course the student will acquire problem solving skills, interpersonal skills and ability to discuss different topics with different stakeholders using appropriate language.
e. Ability to learn: The course aims to foster student learning through optimized individual study, guided exercises and case studies in the classroom. Testimonials and presentations of case studies are designed to stimulate understanding of application of concepts to the real world of business.
Prerequisites
No
Course unit content
The course is composed by two parts. The first part of the course deals with the issue of corporate social responsibility (CSR) as a way of corporate governance that requires the definition of strategies able to balance the interests of all stakeholders; encompassing financial aspects as well as social and environmental aspects related to sustainability. It discusses the theoretical aspects of CSR (definition, voluntary nature, motivations and themes) and the main issues of governance for socially responsible companies, with special attention to social enterprises and social cooperatives. In the seocnd part, the course analyses the communication topics related to CSR. The main tools of social reporting and the most common standards are described with regard to Italy and internationally perspective.
Full programme
Corporate social responsibility (CSR)- Voluntary nature of CSR -
Motivations and CSR issues -
Studies on CSR - CSR and corporate governance - CSR and social enterprise: the social cooperative - CSR and corporate information - CSR and social reporting: accountability - Indirect and direct accountability tools - National and international CSR standards
Bibliography
F. Balluchi, K. Furlotti, La responsabilità sociale delle imprese: un percorso verso lo sviluppo sostenibile. Profili di governance e accountability, Giappichelli, 2019.
Slides of the lectures and Journal article, edt. by the teacher.
For consultation:
F. Balluchi, K. Furlotti, CSR disclosure by Italian companies. An empirical analysis, LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing, 2013
Teaching methods
Acquisition of knowledge: lectures
Acquisition of the ability to apply knowledge: Exercises
Acquisition of judgment: Specialist contributions and classroom discussions
Acquisition of learning skills: development of guided exercises and case studies in the classroom.
Acquisition of technical language: The meaning of commonly used terms is explained and classroom discussions aim to encourage the correct use of terminology.
Assessment methods and criteria
The assessment of learning skills will be performed in different ways, depending on whether it is carried out in presence or in online mode.
In the case of examination in presence, the exam will be carried out with a written test.
a. Knowledge and understanding will be assessed through open questions and short questions. The questions cover the entire syllabus taught during the course: the broad questions intended to assess the knowledge of the subjects and the student's ability to make connections between them, the short questions cover a wider range of content and are designed to test the knowledge of all the topics covered by the program.
b. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding, c. Making judgments, e. Learning skills will be assessed through the open questions formulated to require students to make connections between the topics studied and to express a personal contribution (examples of application of the concepts, case studies presented in the classroom with documentation available on course website).
d. Communication skills will be assessed through open questions requiring appropriate language and through short specific questions to verify the correct understanding and appropriate use of the terminology.
In case of online exam, the content of the test will depend on the available computer applications. About this, complete information will be given through the Elly platform.
Moreover, the assessment of learning skills will consider the incurrence of intermediate tests during the course.
The results will be communicated via the Esse3 platform. Any further information will be provided at the beginning of the course through the Elly platform
Other information
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2030 agenda goals for sustainable development
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