Corporate Social Responsibility: How Can Learning Contribute?

One emerging element in executive education has been corporate social responsibility. How can the learning organization encourage this sort of behavior, which ultimately has a positive effect on the bottom line?

The idea that education is the key to everything isn’t new. Plato was a fervent critic of the civilization in which he lived, which was rife with corruption, and saw education as a means of creating the ideal society. Confucius believed education not only offered a means to establish a reign of virtue, but could also change human nature and improve it in a qualitative way.

In some ways, the world hasn’t changed much since antiquity. Human behavior — its foundations, selfishness and selflessness — remains unchanged. Virtue is still a much sought-after commodity, and education is the best means of finding solutions to the world’s ills. Companies’ efforts to spread awareness of corporate social responsibility (CSR) among their stakeholders is very much a part of education’s salvational role.

It is encouraging to note that, under the combined influence of scientists, international organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the media, the world of work is embracing the ideals of CSR. Companies are drawing up ethical charters; creating sustainable development and diversity management departments and drawing up budgets for them; and publishing an annual environmental and social report. While companies are taking a genuine, ethical interest in major social and environmental causes, there are often other reasons associated with their image and business: the need to satisfy their stakeholders’ demands.

Among the latter are the employees who, as brand representatives, want their companies to implement meaningful policies and demonstrate virtuous behavior. This is what emerges from research conducted by Right Management, which confirms there is a “growing demand to demonstrate elevated socially responsible and compassionate behavior.”

So how, if not through education, can companies respond to this demand, which is grounded in reason, emotion, common sense and ideals? Companies can’t just wave a magic wand to show they’re being responsible. Responsibility isn’t a question of communication or making declarations. That would be too simplistic. Responsibility only comes from education, reflection, exchange, sharing and sustained effort.