Socially Responsible Management Systems

Supplier Development: Assessing and Building Socially Responsible Management Systems

Traditional social responsibility (SR) programs have fallen short of creating real change for factories and their workers because of their tendency to be brand-driven, top-down, problem-finding, perceived as policing, reactive and costly. Verité’s Supplier Development course for internal auditors and factory management is designed to bridge these pitfalls by focusing on the need to:

  • Better understand how suppliers and factories operate and why problems happen
  • Support suppliers in problem-solving
  • Find solutions that are doable and durable
  • Bring better alignment for better Code performance

The highly experiential workshop, which can include a factory practicum, covers the knowledge, skills, attitudes and structures that support a systems approach to SR. The course can take place over four or five days. Our teaching methodology, which is rooted in adult-learning principles, includes a combination of structure learning exercises, presentation, panel discussion, case study analysis, small group work, role play, practicum and open discussion.

 

Sample five-day agenda

DAY 1

Module 1: Introduction to Social Compliance Systems Assessment as Key Component in Supplier Development
Module 2: Current Practices: Social Compliance Management Systems

DAY 2

Module 3: Assessing Management Systems for Social Compliance Risks
Module 4: Requirements for Conducting Facility-level Management Systems Assessment

Day 3

Module 5: Setting up a Social Compliance Management Systems at the Facility-Level

Day 4

Module 6: Factory Practicum: Facility-level Systems Assessment

DAY 5

Module 7: Developing recommendations towards action/next steps
Module 8: Course Synthesis