Social Impact: Entrepreneurs and Social Innovation (Core Introductory Course)

This course examines the accelerating economic relationship between government, business and the third sector to deliver social and environmental value in communities and the way in which this drives social innovation. The course first examines the social economy through the emerging spectrum of organisational forms that generate both social and economic value: from traditional charities, to social enterprises, through to socially responsible business and traditional corporations. It looks at why the traditional boundaries between government, business and the third sector have become blurred and fluid and what that means for the capacity to deliver new forms of social impact. Second, the course examines trends and drivers re-shaping the dynamics of social impact. It reviews the key changes that have occurred within each of the sectors: the changing role of government from direct provider to enabler; the emergence of corporate responsibility within the business sector; the emergence of social enterprises and socially responsible businesses within the third sector and the consequent implications for leadership; and the emergence of new forms of philanthropy and social investment. The course examines the ways in which these changes drive social innovation and it concludes with a review of global trends and organisations that effect social change and impact.

Corporate Responsibility and Accountability

This course examines how business manages its social, environmental and economic impact on society. The course first reviews the historical evolution and development of the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Citizenship and why it is now a key part of managing the business enterprise. Second, the course examines what acting responsibly means for corporations in terms of the market, community, environment, workplace and government. Issues covered include business and human rights, business-community partnerships, corporate philanthropy, the human resource management implications of CSR, business and the environment and businesses' relationship with government. Third, the course examines how business accounts for its behaviour and impact in society through sustainability reporting and the role of external assurance and outlines debates on the appropriate role of government policy in either regulating and/or enabling responsible corporate behaviour.

Social Investment and Philanthropy

Major changes are reshaping the role of philanthropy both internationally and in the Australian context: global economic realignments, the privatisation of community services; new patterns of wealth distribution and of inter-generational wealth transfer; greater expectations of the role of corporate citizenship and of corporate philanthropy. These forces are also extending the meaning of philanthropy by encouraging the growth of new forms of 'social investment', in which commercial enterprise is being shaped by social as well as financial goals, to create innovative, and sometimes hybrid, models of sustainable community services, environmental protection and social development, as well as new business opportunities.

This course will introduce the history, core concepts and current issues in the fields of philanthropy, fundraising and social investment. It will also examine patterns of fundraising and giving, ethical and philosophical perspectives and the management and legal aspects of social investment programs.

Leadership for Social Impact

Leadership for Social Impact is designed for a new generation of leaders

• Those who seek a leadership career in social enterprises, and those already in the sector who wish to enhance their professional capacity to create social and environmental value through leadership of third sector/not-for-profit organisations
• Those who aspire to hold executive positions in companies which are committed to maximizing social benefit and meeting corporate responsibilities through their products and practices
• Those who wish to become senior public administrators working with community groups, or public service executives with a responsibility for developing the public policy framework; and
• Those individuals and foundations that seek to ensure that their social investment is applied to greatest social impact.

The course provides students with an introduction to the challenges and opportunities of leading organisations with the purpose of improving social outcomes. The course will examine the following areas: current challenges in achieving social benefit; leadership in the social economy; challenges and opportunities of leadership during a time of inflexion; a model of leadership centred on identifying adaptive challenges for leaders; intervention of leaders and practices for more effective and positive social outcomes; new forms of organising designed to address breakdowns in the social economy; governance systems and demands; diagnosis of leadership challenges.

Demonstrating Social Impact

Demonstrating Social Impact is offered at UNSW. It is an elective subject for the Graduate Certificate in Social Impact and M Com, MBT or AGSM MBA programs. It provides an overview and introduction to evaluation and social impact assessment, the underpinning principles of evaluation and social impact assessment and examines some of the key social impact measurement approaches increasingly used by leading Third sector organisations in Australia and internationally, including Logic Models such as LogFrame; Social Return on Investment (SROI); and Social Accounting and Audit (SAA). Other frameworks used to measure the impact of corporate social initiatives will also be discussed. The course will provide the knowledge and tools necessary to understand and apply social impact frameworks and methodologies at a project and organisational level.

More information

> Download course brochure.

For further course information, including fees, intake dates, and how to apply:

> The Australian School of Business, University of New South Wales

> Melbourne Business School, University of Melbourne

> Faculty of Business and Enterprise, Swinburne University of Technology.