Corporate Social Responsibility

Syllabus

Topics of lectures: Week 1 Fundamental Principles of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) The topic focuses in detail on the primary categories and fundamental principles of the theory of CSR. The subject and the essence of CSR. The theoretical basis of CSR. The relationship between ethics and CSR. Fundamentals of ethics and its categories applicable in CSR. Week 2 Basic Principles of Stakeholder Theory The topic focuses primarily on the basic principles of functioning of a responsible company in the market. The mission of a responsible company. The principle of integration of ethics and economics. Enterprise as part of the social system. The essence of the ethical-economic dilemma: manager - owner. Relationship between ethics and law – the ethical minimum (legislation). Definition, systematization, and classification of stakeholders. Ethical minimum for stakeholders, by groups (primary and secondary). Week 3 Social Support System for Responsible Business The topic is primarily focused on the attributes of the model of synergistic evaluation of the state of responsible business in the Slovak Republic. Public politics. State tools used. Application of responsible business in the corporate sector. Forming awareness of the ethical business. Strategy for improving the state of CSR in Slovakia. Current trends in the development of responsible business nationally and internationally. Week 4 The Essence of Responsible Business The topic is primarily focused on the basic relationships: responsible/sustainable business and the responsibility of business entities. Essential characteristics of responsible business. Classification of terms responsible business, social responsibility, responsible behavior, responsible acting. Pillars of responsible business. The responsible business pyramid. Alternatives to responsible business. Advantages and disadvantages of responsible business. Week 5 Institutionalization of Responsible Business The topic is focused in detail on the basic categories and fundamental principles of the institutionalization of CSR into economic entities. The essence of the institutionalization of responsible business. Creating a responsible business strategy and its implementation. Application of the PDCA model in the institutionalization of ethics in the company. Application of tools for the implementation of responsible business - ethical program. Classification and typology of the system of codes of ethics. General principles of the code of ethics. Pros and cons of institutionalizing responsible business. Week 6 Responsible Business in Relation to Human Capital The topic is predominantly focused on the attributes and determinants of CSR in the field of human capital. Categorization of terms: personnel, workers, employees, human potential, human capital. Identification of the most frequent ethical problems of human capital in the company. The main principles of responsible behavior in working relations. Typology, classification, and categorization of unethical behavior towards human capital in the company. Typology of discrimination in labor relations. Redundancies and their acceptability from the CSR aspect. Current legislation as an ethical minimum and a system of tools for a positive solution to the problems of unethical behavior. Basic security and rights for employees in the Labor Code. Week 7 Responsible Business in Relation to Consumer Protection The topic is focused in detail on the basic aspects of ethical consumerism. Explanation of the practical functioning of the consumer protection system in the Slovak Republic and the E.U. Main principles of consumer protection. Dimensions of the functional model of the consumer protection system. Legislative protection (ethical minimum) of the consumer. Supervision and regulation of consumer protection in the Slovak Republic. Consumer protection NGOs. Current EU trends in ethics and consumer protection. The Consumer Agenda which presents a strategic vision of E.U. consumer policy. Week 8 Responsible Business in Relation to the Community The topic deals primarily with the relationship of the responsible company to the community. Basic characteristics of attributes of community and society. Activities of a company with responsible/sustainable behavior for the benefit of the community. Typology, classification, and categorization of ethical company activities for the benefit of the community: philanthropy, donation, volunteering, corporate investment in the community, sponsorship. Specification of corporate philanthropy and its tools. Ethical minimum (legislative support) of ethical conduct of a company with responsible/sustainable behavior for the benefit of the community. Week 9 Responsible Business in Relation to the Environment The topic mainly focuses on the attributes and determinants of the relationship of responsible business to the environment. Conceptual classification: ecology, environmental studies, and the environment from an economic and ethical aspect. Care for the environment. Ethical minimum in the environment in the Slovak Republic and the E.U. Environmental management system. Positives and negatives of the implemented environmental management system. Comparison of ISO 14001 and EMAS elements. Application of the PDCA model in the implementation of an environmental management system. Week 10-11 Responsible Business and International Relations The topic is predominantly focused on the attributes and determinants of responsible business in an international context. Characteristics of the global system. Synergistic effect of business determinants from the perspective of economy and responsible business. Application of the principle of conceptual relativity. Businesses in the conditions of globalization. Closing business alliances. Basic categories of regional interest from the aspect of globalization. Application of the principles of responsible business in companies in globalization. Agenda 2030 for sustainable development. E.U. strategy in the field of responsible business. Week 12-13 Responsible Business Reporting The topic focuses primarily on the essence of the relationship between responsible/sustainable business management and reporting of responsible/sustainable business. General principles of responsible business reporting. Standards of responsible business reporting, sustainable development, and ethical behavior. Attributes of the most widespread responsible business reporting systems: GRI standards and integrated reporting. Legislative support (ethical minimum) of responsible business reporting in the Slovak Republic and the E.U. Topics of seminars: Week 1 Fundamental principles of CSR Case studies focused on basic categories and fundamental principles of the theory of CSR. The subject and the essence of CSR. The theoretical basis of CSR. The relationship between ethics and CSR. Fundamentals of ethics and its categories of applicable CSR. Presentation of the responsible business model in a particular company with an accent on the integrity of the sustainable business and its managerial and economic dimension Week 2 Basic Principles of Stakeholder Theory Case studies focused on the basic principles of functioning of a responsible company in the market. The mission of a responsible company. The principle of integration of ethics and economics. Enterprise as part of the social system. The essence of the ethical-economic dilemma: manager - owner. Relationship between ethics and law – the ethical minimum (legislation). Definition, systematization, and classification of stakeholders. Ethical minimum for stakeholders, by groups (primary and secondary). Presentation of the responsible business model in a particular company with an accent on functioning stakeholder system. Week 3 Social Support System for Responsible Business Case studies focused on the attributes of the model of synergistic evaluation of the state of responsible business in the Slovak Republic. Public politics. State tools used. Application of responsible business in the corporate sector. Forming awareness of the ethical business. Strategy for improving the state of CSR in Slovakia. Current trends in the development of responsible business nationally and internationally. Presentation of the responsible business model in a particular company with an accent on the system of support for responsible business of a particular company. Week 4 The Essence of Responsible Business Case studies focused on the basic relationships: responsible/sustainable business and the responsibility of business entities. Essential characteristics of responsible business. Classification of terms responsible business, social responsibility, responsible behavior, responsible acting. Pillars of responsible business. The responsible business pyramid. Alternatives to responsible business. Advantages and disadvantages of responsible business. Presentation of the responsible business model in a particular company with an accent on the pyramid of responsible business of a particular company. Week 5 Institutionalization of Responsible Business Case studies focused on the basic categories and fundamental principles of the institutionalization of CSR into economic entities. The essence of the institutionalization of responsible business. Creating a responsible business strategy and its implementation. Application of the PDCA model in the institutionalization of ethics in the company. Application of tools for the implementation of responsible business - ethical program. Classification and typology of the system of codes of ethics. General principles of the code of ethics. Pros and cons of institutionalizing responsible business. Presentation of the responsible business model in a particular company with an accent on an ethical program of the company. Week 6 Responsible Business in Relation to Human Capital Case studies focused on the attributes and determinants of CSR in the field of human capital. Categorization of terms: personnel, workers, employees, human potential, human capital. Identification of the most frequent ethical problems of human capital in the company. The main principles of responsible behavior in working relations. Typology, classification, and categorization in unethical behavior towards human capital in the company. Typology of discrimination in labour relations. Redundancies and their acceptability from the CSR aspect. Current legislation as an ethical minimum and a system of tools for a positive solution to the problems of unethical behavior. Basic security and rights for employees in the Labor Code. Presentation of the responsible business model in a particular company with an accent on a responsible business in relation to human capital. Week 7 Responsible Business in Relation to Consumer Protection Case studies focused on the basic aspects of ethical consumerism. Explanation of the practical functioning of the consumer protection system in the Slovak Republic and the E.U. Main principles of consumer protection. Dimensions of the functional model of the consumer protection system. Legislative protection (ethical minimum) of the consumer. Supervision and regulation of consumer protection in the Slovak Republic. Consumer protection NGOs. Current EU trends in ethics and consumer protection. The Consumer Agenda, which presents a strategic vision of E.U. consumer policy. Presentation of the responsible business model in a particular company with an accent on a responsible business in relation to consumer protection. Week 8 Responsible Business in Relation to the Community Case studies focused on the relationship of the responsible company to the community. Basic characteristics of attributes of community and society. Activities of the company with responsible/sustainable behavior for the benefit of the community. Typology, classification, and categorization of ethical company activities for the benefit of the community: philanthropy, donation, volunteering, corporate investment in the community, sponsorship. Specification of corporate philanthropy and its tools. Ethical minimum (legislative support) of ethical conduct of a company with responsible/sustainable behavior for the benefit of the community. Presentation of the responsible business model in a particular company with an accent on responsible business in relation to the community. Week 9 Responsible Business in Relation to the Environment Case studies focused on the attributes and determinants of responsible business relationships to the environment. Conceptual classification: ecology, environmental studies, and the environment from an economic and ethical aspect. Care for the environment. Ethical minimum in the environment in the Slovak Republic and the E.U. Environmental management system. Positives and negatives of the implemented environmental management system. Comparison of ISO 14001 and EMAS elements. Application of the PDCA model in the implementation of an environmental management system. Presentation of the responsible business model in a particular company with an accent on functioning responsible business in relation to the environment. Week 10-11 Responsible Business and International Relations Case studies focused on the attributes and determinants of responsible business in an international context. Characteristics of the global system. Synergistic effect of business determinants from the aspect of the economy and responsible business. Application of the principle of conceptual relativity. Businesses in the conditions of globalization. Closing business alliances. Basic categories of regional interest from the aspect of globalization. Application of the principles of responsible business in companies in the process of globalization. Agenda 2030 for sustainable development. E.U. strategy in the field of responsible business. Presentation of the responsible business model in a particular company with an accent on responsible international relations. Week 12-13 Responsible Business Reporting Case studies focused on the essence of the relationship between responsible/sustainable business management and reporting of responsible/sustainable business. General principles of responsible business reporting. Standards of responsible business reporting, sustainable development, and ethical behavior. Attributes of the most widespread responsible business reporting systems: GRI standards and integrated reporting. Legislative support (ethical minimum) of responsible business reporting in the Slovak Republic and the E.U. Presentation of the responsible business model in a particular company with an accent on the responsible business reporting.