Slide- CH 1

• Agenda for Class 1:

  • Welcome
  • Discussion on the responsiveness of corporations to societal expectations
  • Business people's role in working on business and society
  • Overview of course content, dates, and deliverables
  • Preparation for Class 2 on Mon, Jan 15
• Definition of "Business and Society":

  • Shift in societal expectations of business and business responsibilities
  • Many corporations recognize the need to respond to society's expectations to survive and be profitable
• Poll results on corporations' responsiveness to societal expectations:

  • About 60% completely agree
  • About 40% somewhat agree
  • 0% completely disagree
• Emphasis on the need for 'business' to work on corporate social responsibility
• Corporate social responsibility involves understanding and acting at macro and micro levels
• Macro level considerations include:

  • Understanding what drives unethical behavior (ethics)
  • Influencing stakeholders
  • Corporate governance and regulation
  • Risks of ignoring corporate sustainability
• Micro level considerations include:

  • Understanding individual values, ethics, and perspectives
  • Empowering individuals to support, participate in, and lead change
• The course at École de Gestion Telfer, School of Management, focuses on key topics in "Business and Society" with a focus on corporate sustainability
• Course content in "Business and Society" focuses on corporate sustainability and includes key topics like:

  • What is “business and society”? / Corporate Sustainability: the Prequel
  • Business and our stakeholders
  • Corporate Social Responsibility (many facets of)
  • Ethics of Business / Ethics and Capitalism / Ethics in the Workplace
  • Regulating Business (forces outside the corporation: government, …)
  • Corporate Governance (forces inside the corporation: Board of Directors, …)
  • Business and the natural Environment
  • Business and Globalization
  • Corporate Sustainability: the Sequel