Socioeconomic study is a procedure that ensures that the likely positive and negative impact of a new project on the socioeconomic life of a community is taken into account. It has become a crucial part of sustainable development process. The understanding of socioeconomic study procedures is an increasing necessity for all those involved in the process. Similarly, proper knowledge of the function of socioeconomic study during the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process is of paramount importance for the mitigation of the likely effects of the new development. Furthermore, as the world is gradually growing into a global village, it has become increasingly imperative that organizations integrate the people in their operations' areas in the overall objective of their businesses. Community engagement (CE) is a partnership process that can be used to assess and manage the problem affecting the well-being of a community because of a new development. This research work used the SWOT matrix technique to develop a management framework that companies can use to manage their weaknesses and threats because of inadequate community engagement strategy. To achieve this, the work evaluated the extent to which socioeconomic study is integrated into the EIA processes. It also assessed the extent to which oil companies are using community engagement as a development strategy. The findings of this dissertation revealed that oil explorations in the Niger Delta area have affected the well-being of the people both positively and negatively. Unfortunately, their negative impact outweighed their positive impact. Although they carry out socioeconomic studies, they have been neglecting the recommendations reported in the socioeconomic study document by experts. The level of community engagements therefore has also been very poor. SWOT matrix technique was used to develop the management framework for each company based on the perceived strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the companies as revealed in this research. This should serve as a guide for the companies in their CE strategies. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Development and Management Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

The primary purpose of this study was to determine the social determinants of arts festivals with reference to the ABSA KKNK. This goal was achieved by firstly analysing the event/festival phenomenon and the role thereof in event/festival tourism. Secondly, a literature study was conducted in order to examine the role of the community in supporting events/festivals. And thirdly, the results of the empirical research were discussed. Lastly, conclusions were drawn from the research and recommendations were made with regard to the social determinants of events/festivals. Literature indicated that events/festivals are central to daily living as perhaps never before and it can also be said that events/festivals play certain social, economic, cultural and environmental roles. Events/festivals can have various positive impacts on a community, such as job opportunities, economical growth and upliftment of the community. However it can also create various negative impacts such as crime, prostitution and damage to the environment. It is important to increase the number of positive impacts and decrease the number of negative impacts. This may improve the support of the community for the event/festival and improve the sustainability of the event/festival. The support of the community is also influenced by aspects such as community concern, ecocentric attitudes, community attachment. These social support determinants were measured by means of a questionnaire, as adapted from Gursoy and Kendall (2006) and it was therefore the objective of the questionnaire to analyse the social determinants that that may improve community support. The survey was distributed in the community of Oudtshoorn in 2007 and the determinants, as well as the relationship between the determinants and support for the event/festival, were based on structural equation modeling. A total of 279 questionnaires were completed during the festival. Respondents were, in general, more positive about the festival than negative. The results of the structural equation modelling suggest that community attachment and benefits and costs perceived are the most important social determinants in gaining local support for the ABSA KKNK. In the case of this study, ecocentric attitudes and issues of community concern did not influence the level of support given to the event/festival. / Thesis (M.A. (Tourism))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Socioeconomic study is a procedure that ensures that the likely positive and negative impact of a new project on the socioeconomic life of a community is taken into account. It has become a crucial part of sustainable development process. The understanding of socioeconomic study procedures is an increasing necessity for all those involved in the process. Similarly, proper knowledge of the function of socioeconomic study during the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process is of paramount importance for the mitigation of the likely effects of the new development. Furthermore, as the world is gradually growing into a global village, it has become increasingly imperative that organizations integrate the people in their operations' areas in the overall objective of their businesses. Community engagement (CE) is a partnership process that can be used to assess and manage the problem affecting the well-being of a community because of a new development. This research work used the SWOT matrix technique to develop a management framework that companies can use to manage their weaknesses and threats because of inadequate community engagement strategy. To achieve this, the work evaluated the extent to which socioeconomic study is integrated into the EIA processes. It also assessed the extent to which oil companies are using community engagement as a development strategy. The findings of this dissertation revealed that oil explorations in the Niger Delta area have affected the well-being of the people both positively and negatively. Unfortunately, their negative impact outweighed their positive impact. Although they carry out socioeconomic studies, they have been neglecting the recommendations reported in the socioeconomic study document by experts. The level of community engagements therefore has also been very poor. SWOT matrix technique was used to develop the management framework for each company based on the perceived strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the companies as revealed in this research. This should serve as a guide for the companies in their CE strategies. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Development and Management Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

The primary purpose of this study was to determine the social determinants of arts festivals with reference to the ABSA KKNK. This goal was achieved by firstly analysing the event/festival phenomenon and the role thereof in event/festival tourism. Secondly, a literature study was conducted in order to examine the role of the community in supporting events/festivals. And thirdly, the results of the empirical research were discussed. Lastly, conclusions were drawn from the research and recommendations were made with regard to the social determinants of events/festivals. Literature indicated that events/festivals are central to daily living as perhaps never before and it can also be said that events/festivals play certain social, economic, cultural and environmental roles. Events/festivals can have various positive impacts on a community, such as job opportunities, economical growth and upliftment of the community. However it can also create various negative impacts such as crime, prostitution and damage to the environment. It is important to increase the number of positive impacts and decrease the number of negative impacts. This may improve the support of the community for the event/festival and improve the sustainability of the event/festival. The support of the community is also influenced by aspects such as community concern, ecocentric attitudes, community attachment. These social support determinants were measured by means of a questionnaire, as adapted from Gursoy and Kendall (2006) and it was therefore the objective of the questionnaire to analyse the social determinants that that may improve community support. The survey was distributed in the community of Oudtshoorn in 2007 and the determinants, as well as the relationship between the determinants and support for the event/festival, were based on structural equation modeling. A total of 279 questionnaires were completed during the festival. Respondents were, in general, more positive about the festival than negative. The results of the structural equation modelling suggest that community attachment and benefits and costs perceived are the most important social determinants in gaining local support for the ABSA KKNK. In the case of this study, ecocentric attitudes and issues of community concern did not influence the level of support given to the event/festival. / Thesis (M.A. (Tourism))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Portés par des changements technologiques, des cadres juridiques nouveaux, une demande de financement croissante de la part des entreprises innovantes et une montée en maturité des opérateurs du marché, les professionnels du financement de l’innovation ont pour partie modifié leurs pratiques et de nouveaux outils émergent. Ces nombreuses évolutions posent des questionnements théoriques essentiels.La thèse vise à investiguer trois de ces modes de financement. Le premier, les Social Impact Bonds (autrement dénommés en France Contrats à Impact Social) sont un mode de financement de l’innovation sociale non entrepreneuriale apparu en 2010 en Grande-Bretagne. Le second outil analysé est celui du financement participatif (crowdfunding). Forme émergente de financement des projets entrepreneuriaux par la foule sur internet, il connait une croissance forte depuis une décennie. La thèse questionne l’impact du degré d’innovation sur la réussite des campagnes. Le troisième et dernier outil évoqué dans la thèse est celui des fonds de Multi Corporate Venture Capital (MCVC), et leurs formes organisationnelles. / Driven by technological change, new legal frameworks, growing demand for cash from start-ups, and a growing maturity of market operators, innovation finance professionals have partly modified their practices. On the one hand, traditional financing tools have modernized their organizations and methods, and on the other, new forms of financing have emerged. These numerous evolutions open essential theoretical questions, while questioning the traditional theories of the financing of innovation as well as suggesting new theoretical considerations.The thesis investigates three of these modes of financing. The first, the Social Impact Bonds (otherwise known as Contrats à Impact Social, in France) are a way of financing the non-entrepreneurial social innovation that appeared in 2010 in Great Britain. The second tool analyzed is about equity crowdfunding. Emerging form of financing entrepreneurial projects by the crowd on the internet, it knows a strong growth since a decade. The thesis analyzes the impact of innovation degree on campaigns’ success. The third and last tool mentioned in this thesis is that of the funds of Multi Corporate Venture Capital (MCVC).

Submitted by Milca Neves Tavares (milcant@hotmail.com) on 2018-07-10T15:13:27Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Análise do potencial de transformação de micro e pequenas organizações do terceiro setor em negócios sociais - MPGC 2018.pdf: 1328115 bytes, checksum: a9e8e3c16a8dac68f1002fbbf6297612 (MD5) / Rejected by Simone de Andrade Lopes Pires (simone.lopes@fgv.br), reason: Boa Tarde Milca, Recebemos seu trabalho na biblioteca digital, mas será necessários algumas correções. Encaminharei por e-mail o que deve ser alterado. Faça as alterações e submeta o trabalho novamente na biblioteca digital. atenciosamente, Simone on 2018-07-10T17:37:43Z (GMT) / Submitted by Milca Neves Tavares (milcant@hotmail.com) on 2018-07-18T14:32:55Z No. of bitstreams: 1 TRABALHO APLICADO MILCA NEVES TAVARES 2018 - VF Biblioteca.pdf: 1326445 bytes, checksum: 4fec7d384d37c524c004305027932679 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Simone de Andrade Lopes Pires (simone.lopes@fgv.br) on 2018-07-20T18:29:17Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 TRABALHO APLICADO MILCA NEVES TAVARES 2018 - VF Biblioteca.pdf: 1326445 bytes, checksum: 4fec7d384d37c524c004305027932679 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Suzane Guimarães (suzane.guimaraes@fgv.br) on 2018-07-23T12:50:17Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 TRABALHO APLICADO MILCA NEVES TAVARES 2018 - VF Biblioteca.pdf: 1326445 bytes, checksum: 4fec7d384d37c524c004305027932679 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-23T12:50:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 TRABALHO APLICADO MILCA NEVES TAVARES 2018 - VF Biblioteca.pdf: 1326445 bytes, checksum: 4fec7d384d37c524c004305027932679 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-05-24 / Este estudo investiga o potencial de micro e pequenas organizações do terceiro setor tornarem-se negócios sociais, entendido aqui como aqueles que garantem o compromisso com a missão socioambiental e buscam constantemente a sua sustentabilidade financeira. Por meio de uma pesquisa empírica, utilizando a teoria fundamentada em dados, foi construída uma estrutura de análise para identificar as potencialidades e oportunidades de trinta e duas organizações do terceiro setor. Foi possível concluir que existe potencial de transformação dessas organizações em negócios de impacto devido ao seu compromisso com a missão socioambiental e com os públicos impactados e também dados os mecanismos de negócios que estão começando a ser adotados. Porém, o perfil das lideranças dessas micro e pequenas organizações não apresenta as características dos empreendedores tradicionais, o que traz desafios para uma transição. Este trabalho gera insights e subsídios para organizações que tem entre suas atividades práticas de responsabilidade ou inovação social e buscam nas parcerias com essas micro e pequenas organizações reduzir riscos e aproveitar oportunidades. / This study investigates the potential of third sectors micro and small organizations to become social business, understood here as one that is commitment to the socio-environmental mission and constantly seeks its financial sustainability. Through empirical research, using grounded theory, a framework was constructed to identify the potentialities and opportunities of thirty-two third sectors organizations. It was possible to conclude that there is potential for transformation of these organizations into social business given their commitment to the socioenvironmental mission and the impacted stakeholders and given the business mechanisms that are beginning to be adopted. However, the leader´s profile of these organizations does not show the characteristics of traditional enterprises, it represents a challenge for a transition. This work generates insights for organizations that act on social responsibility or social innovation and seek in partnerships to reduce risks and seize opportunities.

Approcci strategici come lo shared value e il social impact vengono considerati strategie organizzative innovative in grado di ridurre il divario fra business e società facendo leva sulla sostenibilità. Seppur motivati da postulati promettenti, essi vengono spesso biasimati perché considerati scarsamente rilevanti o efficienti. La tesi analizza come alcune organizzazioni che hanno sottoscritto l’idea della creazione di valore condiviso siano in grado o meno di produrre benefici per loro stessi e per le comunità circostanti. Lo studio usa la metodologia del case study per indagare due multinazionali e quattro PMI in Ghana. La ricerca adotta un approccio multidisciplinare allo studio organizzativo e strategico per esaminare le insidie dell’azione strategica in Ghana. Essa analizza il modo in cui i principi socioeconomici locali condizionano le scelte strategiche e la performance organizzativa. Il contributo maggiore della tesi è l’introduzione di una versione rivisitata del sistema di azione concreto (Crozier e Friedberg), per identificare le strategie di creazione di valore condiviso e impatto sociale efficientemente radicate nel contesto. Inoltre, la ricerca dimostra che i principi socioeconomici locali sono dei meccanismi dinamici di resilienza messi in atto per mezzo di controllo, collusione, negoziazione e resistenza. / Strategic frameworks like shared value or social impact creation have been posited as innovative organizational strategies capable of mending the gap between business and society through inclusive sustainability. If their claims are promising, they still face much criticism concerning their relevance and effectiveness. The dissertation investigates how organizations which have endorsed the idea of shared value creation are efficient, or not, at yielding benefits for themselves and their host communities. It uses the case study methodology to explore four SMEs and two multinational companies in Ghana. The research builds on a multidisciplinary approach to organizational behavior and strategy to dig to ground the pitfalls of strategic action in Ghana, an epitome of the recent Africa Rising narrative. It scrutinizes the way local socioeconomic mores affect strategic choices and organizational performance. The major contribution of the thesis is to introduce a revisited version of Crozier and Friedberg’s concrete system of action for efficiently embedded strategies of shared value and social impact creation. With this, the work reveals that local socioeconomic mores are dynamic resilience mechanisms of control, collusion, bargaining, and/or resistance, which strategists must take account of in designing sustainable strategies, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Titel: Är hållbarhet lönsamt? – En undersökning av cirkulära orsakssamband mellan hållbarhetsprestationer och lönsamhet Nivå: Examensarbete på Grundnivå (kandidatexamen) i ämnet företagsekonomi Författare: Clara Lundell och Jenny Olofsson Handledare: Jan Svanberg Datum: 2018 – januari Syfte: Hundratals forskare har studerat om ett företags engagemang i Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) har positiv inverkan på dess lönsamhet, den finansiella prestationen (FP). CSR är inget kvantitativt mått och därför används begreppet Corporate Social Performance (CSP). De tidigare studierna har resulterat i varierande utfall och för att tydliggöra relationen mellan CSP och FP har ett fåtal forskare även undersökt FP:s effekt på CSP, vilket genererar en dubbelriktad relation. För att en gång för alla kunna förklara relationen mellan CSP och FP samt urskilja existensen av eventuellt dubbelriktade relationer mellan dem har vi delat in CSP i de tre dimensionerna miljö, den sociala dimensionen och företagsstyrning. Vi undersöker sedan om det existerar en god cirkel mellan dessa dimensioner och FP. Metod: Studien antar en positivistisk forskningsfilosofi med en hypotetisk-deduktiv ansats. Tidsperspektivet består av en longitudinell design som genomförts med data över tio år på 546 bolag över hela världen. Studien är enbart baserad på data av sekundär art och variablernas information har inhämtats från databasen Thomson Reuters Datastream. Datan har analyserats i de två statistikprogrammen SPSS och Stata. Resultat & slutsats: Resultatet ger bevis för att det existerar en positiv dubbelriktad relation mellan total CSP och FP samt mellan CSP-dimensionen företagsstyrning och FP. Företag som har en hög nivå av FP väljer att spendera mer på CSP, CSP-investeringar som i sin tur genererar högre nivå av FP, det existerar en god cirkel. CSP-dimensionen miljö och den sociala CSP-dimensionen visar negativa dubbelriktade relationer med FP. Examensarbetets bidrag: Studien ger bevis för att den positiva cirkeln mellan total CSP och FP tycks erhållas enbart genom CSP-dimensionen företagsstyrning. De andra två CSP-dimensionerna genererar negativa dubbelriktade relationer. Resultatet bidrar med värdefull teoretisk information avseende varför tidigare studier visat olika resultat för relationen mellan CSP och FP, men också praktiska bevis för hur CSP ska implementeras för att bli lönsam. Förslag till fortsatt forskning: Ett förslag till fortsatt forskning är att använda förmedlande variabler för att urskilja orsakssamband, att det verkligen är ökade CSP-aktiviteter som leder till ökat FP. Eftersom studien inte kan generaliseras till mindre bolag är ett andra förslag till framtida forskning att genomföra en liknande studie på sådana bolag. Vidare föreslår vi att en liknande studie genomförs men med en tidsförskjutning mellan variablerna för CSP-dimensionerna och FP för att se om ett annat resultat erhålls. / Title: Is sustainability profitable? – An examination of circular causation between sustainability performance and profitability. Level: Student thesis, final assignment for Bachelor Degree in Business Administration Author: Clara Lundell and Jenny Olofsson Supervisor: Jan Svanberg Date:  2018 – january Aim: Hundreds of scientists have studied companies commitment in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), if it has any positive effect on its profitability, the financial performance (FP). CSR is not a quantitative measure, and therefore the term Corporate Social Performance (CSP) is used. Previous studies have varying outcomes and to clarify the relationship between CSP and FP, a few researchers have also investigated FPs effect on CSP, which generates a bidirectional relationship between them. To explain the relationship between CSP and FP once and for all and to distinguish the existence of potentially bidirectional relationships between them, we have divided CSP into the three dimensions of environment, the social dimension and corporate governance. We then examine if a good circle between these dimensions and FP exists. Method: The study assumes a positivistic research philosophy with a hypothetical-deductible approach. The time perspective consists of a longitudinal design, implemented with ten-year data of 546 companies worldwide. The study is only based on data of secondary art and the variables information have been collected from the database Thomson Reuters Datastream. The data have been analyzed in two statistical programmes called SPSS and Stata. Result & Conclusions: The result gives evidence that positive bidirectional relationships between total CSP and FP, and CSP for corporate governance and FP, exists. Companies whom have a high level of FP choose to spend more money on CSP, CSP-investments in turn generates higher levels of FP, a good circle exists. The CSP dimension environment and the social CSP dimension show negative bidirectional relationships with FP. Contribution of the thesis: The study that we have done gives evidence that the entire positive circle between the total measure of CSP and FP appears to be obtained only through the CSP dimension corporate governance. This is when the other two CSP dimensions generated negative bidirectional relationships. The result gives valuable theoretical information as to why earlier studies have different results for the relationship between CSP and FP, but also practical evidence of how CSP should be implemented to become profitable. Suggestions for further research: One suggestion for further research is to use intermediary variables to separate causation and that it really is the increased CSP-activities that leads to increased FP. The study cannot be generalized to smaller companies, therefore a second proposal for future research is to do a similar study but on data obtained from these. Furthermore, we suggest that a similar study is made with a time-lag between the CSP dimensions and FP to see if it shows different results.

Designing for Social Impact is an approach of social sustainability that presents an alternative way to improve living conditions in low income communities, of low income countries, by providing solutions that will enable them to meet their basic needs. Some current methods and tools used by social designers are focused on specific social aspects and often fail to engage communities to participate actively in the design processes. A non-linear Design Research Method was used to engage experts from the Design for Social Impact sector, Product Service System “PSS”, and social designers. A case study based in Gambia was used to study if “PSS” could encourage social designers to co-design with these communities as a way to promote positive solutions. Thus, strategic actions were collected from the research findings as a way to promote co-designing with involved stakeholders in low income communities. / ING/School of Engineering +46 455 38 50 00

This report has investigated the ethical issues associated with mining or processing of materials that make them considered as controversial. For each material, the main areas of use and the top producing countries are analysed, followed by social and/or environmental issues as well as potential problems in the future. In total, 13 materials are discussed, of which most are minerals. The overall issues, that are recurring throughout the report and are important to be aware of are: child labor, low safety standards, mining activity resulting in deforestation or harming biodiversity, mining processes that affect communities (e.g. because of large water consumption) and the risks associated with widespread illegal mining. The report also provides research about organisations and initiatives that aim to affect the problems, and gives a brief view over tools that can be used to increase awareness of these issues.