CBS - Centre for Business in Society

Responsible leadership for a sustainable future


Sustainability


Business Sustainability

 

Sustainability, responsibility, accountability – buzzwords or serious business?

Our drive for Sustainability expresses our acknowledgement that the footprint of our economic activities has simply become too heavy for our planet to sustain for much longer.  Responsibility refers to the standards that we agree to apply and steps that we implement in order to align our impact to what is socially and environmentally appropriate.  Accountability is about recognising the right of society to know what we are doing to help safeguard the future for the next generation.  


Training & development

Organisations are now challenged to align the mission, vision and values of their operations with the requirements of the era of sustainability.

As it is a daunting task for executives and sustainability practitioners to keep up with the proliferation of codes, standards and best practices in this domain, the Centre for Business in Society offers support through training programmes.

Advisory & consulting services

The Centre has entered the field of social impact studies on investment portfolio companies and looks forward to further expanding this service.

The Centre offers guidance in the development of sustainable corporate responsibility strategies.

Research & thought leadership

Research and thought leadership capacity is generated in partnership with:
  • ACCA South Africa (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants)
  • Reciprocity and the Base of the Pyramid Learning Lab at USB
  • GIZ (Gesellschaft fur Internatinale Zusammenarbeit) 

 

 

Upcoming events...

8th Annual ASTD International Conference 
14 - 16 March 2012 @ Drakensberg  

The American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) will present its 8th international conference and exhibition in March 2012. International speakers and local experts will present workshops on innovative thinking and sustainable practices. Dr Arnold Smit, head of USB-ED's Centre for Business in Society will present workshops on Collaborative Practices for Sustainability Strategies and Leading Change for Sustainability.   
Read more

Management Programme for NPOs
21 - 25 May 2012 @ USB, Cape Town  

This programme for Non-profit Organisations (NPOs) is a corporate social initiative programme which aims to develop the managerial sklls of NPO managers. The objective of this programme is to promote social development and education in South Africa by enhancing managerial effectiveness, service delivery and good governance within the NPO sector.
Read more

View all events

Of interest...

Sustainability = On the Agenda = Profits
Two big questions about the ill-defined practice we call "sustainability:" 1) Are companies really doing it?; and 2) Can it make money? Read more 

Sustainability as Economic Game Changer
It is one thing to flirt with an idea, and another thing to be married to it.” –Freud

In founding a new long-term, visionary world economy, there is no more apposite topic than sustainability — where we develop and establish a durable, value-generating business model delivering long-term protection of the global economy, society and natural capital.

And in order to establish sustainability as a business model, organizations need to understand the interdependence between its various capitals – such as human capital, manufactured capital, etc. – and their impacts on energy, water, bio-diversity, green house gas emissions. They must also understand the wider societal impacts of sustainability, and define all of these into one coherent policy and reporting framework. Read more 

The Pros & Cons of Linking Sustainability Successes with Bonuses
Let's face it: Nothing works better than money when it comes to incentivizing employees on anything, especially sustainability. But it's important to think through how to implement it if you want to maximize your success.   Read more