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
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Bibliography
F. Balluchi, K. Furlotti, La responsabilità sociale delle imprese: un percorso verso lo sviluppo sostenibile. Profili di governance e accountability, Giappichelli, 2022.
Slides of the lectures and Journal article, edt. by the teacher.
For consultation: D. Amadei, K. Furlotti, Le cooperative sociali e gli Enti del Terzo settore. Caratteri di originalità e testimonianze sul territorio, Giappichelli, 2021.
For Erasmus sudents: 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 will be carried out with an exam held in written form, with the possibility of an oral test for all or part of the participating students, if the results of the written test do not allow an effective assessment of individual preparation. The written test consists of open questions (for which a wide answer is required) and short questions.
The questions cover the entire syllabus taught during the course.
a. Knowledge and understanding will be assessed through open questions, that 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.
Laude will be given to those particularly deserving students who, in addition to having complied with the requirements necessary to obtain a full assessment, in carrying out the exam have demonstrated an overall appreciable systematic knowledge of the subject, an excellent ability to apply the knowledge acquired to the specific problem in question, a significant autonomy of judgement, as well as special care in the formal drafting of the report.
Indicatively, the test will last 1 hour and will consist of 2 open-ended questions (10 points each) and 10 short questions (1 point each). The use of any device or text during the exam is not necessary and is not permitted.
Precise instructions regarding the time available, the number of questions and any materials allowed will be communicated on the Elly platform of the course, in case changes to what is generally indicated become necessary, due to specific circumstances or needs that have arisen during the period of delivery of the course.
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
The course addresses the topic of sustainability and sustainable development goals, both from a theoretical standpoint in some lectures and through the development of case studies also dedicated to the analysis of aspects of sustainability and SDGs.
