Closure and aftermath

Kuva Pexels Magda Ehlers 17.02.2022

Somehow I feel like this head scratching monkey in the picture: I'm thinking what just hit me! It feels like this course had so many new things that it was almost too much. But still, here I am: on the other side at a point where I am supposed to reflect on what I have learned during this process. 

As a closure I can say that even though the course schedule was tight, this method of studying seems to work for me. I could see myself working on a portfolio in the context of another course as well. I would probably want to try a different kind of portfolio next time, just to learn something new again. Now that this was my first time using a portfolio as a tool of learning, it was only natural to choose a way I was familiar with.

The course went really fast. It feels like I was just getting started and yesterday I realized that we will have the last classes tomorrow. Despite the fast schedule, I learned so much during the course: I tore myself out of my own formulas, challenged my own ability to learn and study independently, and learned a lot about the importance and challenges of self-direction. I now realize that self-direction is, if not vital, very important in the hectic way of life today. In our small peer group, I learned important active listening. During group work, I learned a lot from others and myself, and it was enlightening to see how different perspectives we have on things.

I also learned, during the course, that learning is not about the beginning and the end but about the process. And what matters is not that you hang on to your initial assumptions with all your force, but that you are openly curious about things and able to change your thinking while learning. The evolution of thought is thus the greatest gift that the learning process can give. Whether evolution occurs through the action of a group or oneself is also a side issue. I also learned that the process can’t be right or wrong, it just is. This thinking process was concretely approached through group work, when the group worked according to the given instructions. I thought I was lucky to get into a group that had a good spirit and a safe atmosphere from the first encounter, but hearing the stories from the other groups revealed that the good spirit covered the entire course.

So what's left of this? Self-direction, the ever changing flow of learning and active attention. I believe that these skills will also be useful in future studies.

Kuva Pexels Ketut Sybiyanto 17.02.2022

Inhale 3 and updated mind map

Transformative learning has been playing a big role behind the scenes and the high light, on my part, was Inhale 3; the small group meeting on one Thursday afternoon. In brief, Inhale 3 was going to guide the group to a process where everyone has the opportunity to present to others the idea and challenges of their portfolio and to get sparring on it. For me, it was difficult to see the point to this kind of working in before hand but at the end of our 2 hours Inhale, I had a totally different opinion.

In short, the process of Inhale 3 went like this and was repeated as many times as there were participants in the group:

1. 10 min: A explains the idea of ​​the portfolio and talks about the work and possible challenges. Others (B) focus on listening in depth but may ask clarifying questions. Don't give advice!

2. 3 mins: listening in silence. Listen to your heart and body. Listen to what resonates: What images, metaphors, emotions and gestures rises.

3. 10 min: mirroring. Each listener takes turns sharing, while A is listening in silence, born images / metaphors, emotions or gestures. After that, A reflects back on what he/she had heard and what thoughts or feelings it had aroused.

4. 10 min: generative (~ creative) dialogue. Reflect on A's remarks together and move on to discuss how these observations could provide new perspectives. Have conversation: listen carefully and try to understand each person’s words and relate to the ideas presented by others. Strive to serve the A's case without giving advice or providing solutions.

After these rounds everyone in turn tells how they are feeling about their cases now and what new thoughts rose about taking the process further. Finally, everyone gives thanks to others for sparring in their own words.

Kuva Pexels, fauxels 15.02.2022

We had four people in our group and each of us were in a bit different phases of the process. We followed the program by going through all the rounds as instructed. It was really interesting to learn how others had decided to build their portfolios and also to hear how they perceived the things I told them about my process. Reflecting one another was rewarding and time flew by really fast. Peer support was important and helped me to really find my way with my portfolio. I also understood that I do have the tendency to make things more complicated than what they really are and I sometimes take things, and myself, too seriously.

So even though I enjoy working alone, I'm still glad this course wasn't just my solo act but we had this small group that acted as a peer support. I will not be going in deeper detail about transformative learning but you will find sources, where you can investigate it further, at the bottom of this post.

As you may or may not remember, my mind map from the beginning of this portfolio, was hardly a map at all because I simply didn't know much about the subject in before hand. Obviously I still don't know everything but I do think I could strike a plausible conversation with someone about it. Here is my updated mind map. If I have used a new source, that I haven't already mentioned, it will be mentioned at the bottom of this post.

https://www.kuluttajaliitto.fi/materiaalit/yhteiskuntavastuu/

https://www.businesscredit.fi/blog/vastuullisuus-liiketoiminnassa

https://planergy.com/blog/corporate-social-responsibility-challenges/

https://www.ecolas.eu/eng/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Mezirow-Transformative-Learning.pdf

https://www.wgu.edu/blog/what-transformative-learning-theory2007.html

Corporate responsibility: possibilities and challenges

Lapland UAS Journal is a great source when it comes to sustainability, corporate responsibility and resource-wiseness. Sustainable development and the UN Agenda 2030 goals have been included in the curricula of Lapland University of Applied Sciences' education since 2017. The themes of sustainable development have also been involved in research, development and innovation (RDI) for a long time (home page of Lapland University of Applied Sciences).

Irma Kuusijärvi (2020) declares that responsibility is the new normal. She goes on by saying that responsible business is a way of risk management, can be a method of influencing in peoples perceptions and creating an image but it can also create a competitive advantage. Kuusijärvi continues and points out that corporate responsibility is mainly an ethical question and is strongly related to values. Rohweder (2004, s.81) continues on the subject that incentives for corporate responsibility are economical, governmental, stakeholder driven and ethical. And the possible benefits? 

Atao Oy has developed a software to manage corporate responsibility and on their web page

Kuva Pexels Samuel Theo Manat Silitonga 17.02.2022

they have listed the expected benefits from responsible business. According to them, the benefits may include: 

• reputation management
• understanding future challenges 
• committed staff and 
• direct cost savings from reduced use of materials and loss.

There are even more possibilities but on the flip-side of the coin, there are also challenges. Many organisations may see only the challenges and not the possibilities and benefits beyond the hard work. investments can be a huge challenge for some smaller businesses and the fact that change takes time, can be overwhelming for some. Here is a simplified figure by Mirja Mikkilä (2006) describing the challenges:

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Challenges-to-corporate-responsibility_fig6_42425730

https://atao.fi/vastuullisen-liiketoiminnan-hyodyt/

https://www.lapinamk.fi/fi/Esittely/Vastuullisuusraportti-kevat-2021/Vastuullisuus-ja-kestava-kehitys-Lapin-AMKissa

https://blogi.eoppimispalvelut.fi/lumenlehti/category/1-2020/

Kuusjärvi, I. 2020. Vastuullisuus on uusi normaali.  https://blogi.eoppimispalvelut.fi/lumenlehti/2020/02/04/vastuullisuus-on-uusi-normaali/

Rohweder, L. 2004. Yritysvastuu - kestävää kehitystä organisaatiotasolla. Helsinki: WSOY.

Mikkilä, M. 2006. The many faces of responsibility: Acceptability of the global pulp and paper industry in various socities. Dissertationes Forestales. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/42425730_The_many_faces_of_responsibility_Acceptability_of_the_global_pulp_and_paper_industry_in_various_societies

This is what it's all about

The European Green Deal is currently The Program with an ambitious goal to transform the EU into a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy, ensuring:

• no net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050
• economic growth decoupled from resource use
• no person and no place left behind

The program is taking actions on climate, energy, agriculture, finance, environment, finance and regional development, and so much more. It's a huge joint effort where countries are committed to work towards common goals. It's all very overwhelming but one of the pursuits is that no-one is left behind so that all of EU can work together as one front.

https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en

The program takes into consideration all three aspects of corporate responsibility: ecological, economical and social. This program was also the first thing I learned about when I hadn't even started my studies yet, because it was used as a material for the entrance exam.

The image above paints a beautiful picture of the future where all the goals of the Green Deal have been met. There are, however, many possible obstacles and difficulties on the way before we reach the finish line. I'm hoping to get into them on my next post. But until then, let's enjoy this beautiful picture of the desirable future.

I have to say, that this self learning has so far been really rewarding. Even though some of the things have been somewhat familiar, I have learned something new through each of my posts. Writing has also made me think about what I am writing about and why. It has made me wonder the direction I am going and whether it genuinely serves the purpose of this course and myself. I really hope to get answers to these questions in the upcoming small group discussion called Inhale 3.

https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en

From words to action

Diving into two (2) interesting books I learned even more about what makes business responsible and resource-wise. But not only that, I learned about something I have never heard of before: the concept of compliance as a way to force companies and organisations to do business in a responsible way or "face the consequences" as an alternative.

Let's start with by what rules a society, consumers and governments are expecting the businesses to operate in order to "do it right". Do it right by whom? I would say, by you, by me, by us and by them. Tarja Ketola (2005) divides corporate responsibility in three categories in her book Vastuullinen liiketoiminta - sanoista teoiksi (Corporate responsibility - from words to action):

1. Economical responsibility which first brought to mind the owners of the company or the stock holders. Ketola, however, reminds that even though it's a necessity for the business to keep the owners and financiers happy, corporate economical responsibility goes also towards the workers, suppliers, contractors and partners. Also paying taxes is considered a way to be economically responsible.

2. Social responsibility. For me this concept was harder to grasp but luckily Ketola is here to 

guide me! I wasn't able to see the bigger picture but Tarja Ketola describes corporate social responsibility covering for example taking care of the well-being and safety of the people (workers, consumers...) and honoring the basic human rights. I guess this was hard for me to realize because things are so good in Finland. It's hard to see and analyze something you take for granted but obviously things aren't the same all over the world. Child labour, insufficient pay and dangerous working conditions all fall under social responsibility.

3. Ecological responsibility was the most familiar category. This, for me, feels so obvious it wouldn't even need to be mentioned separately but at the same time it's so important I'm not sure it can be emphasized enough. Businesses need to consider the ecological side in every move they make: the smaller the ecological foot print, the better it is for the environment, and for us. Using less packaging, producing goods that work longer and can be fixed, using recycled materials, saving energy and resources for example through joining forces with other businesses.

So bear in mind those three categories of corporate responsibility as I briefly tell what I found 

out about compliance when I read Niina Ratsula's (2016) book explaining the concept. The term compliance refers to compliance with laws, rules and regulations. Today, however, it is no longer enough to follow just these, but organizations are supposed to comply with the moral and ethical requirements of society. Corporations are therefore expected to act responsibly in all their activities. A violation of compliance therefore occurs when an organization violates the requirements imposed on it. This is all explained in Compliance - eettinen ja vastuullinen liiketoiminta (Compliance - ethical and responsible business) with much more detail. 

In one of my previous posts, I briefly considered ways in which companies could be encouraged or compelled to act responsibly and resource-wisely. The compliance program, described by Ratsula, is an in-build activity and it's often juxtaposed with ethics. Compliance in it's smallest and at the same time biggest form is the way each staff member acts. 

A company builds a compliance program which defines the obligatory laws and regulations the company must follow as well as the values and the ethics of the company itself. With the help of the program, companies are then able to bring more emphasis on their will to act responsible, assess possible compliance risks and promote ethical and responsible practices. More over, they can act as an example to others.

Kuva iStock by Getty Images

Hmm... now that I read what I wrote, I perceive that I totally misunderstood the whole idea of the compliance at first. I thought it was a tool for punishment but I see now that it is actually a helpful tool for the organizations to manage their operations responsibly and ethically. Even though Ratsula points out many ramifications that might follow a compliance violation, I still feel that the compliance program is meant to work as tool to help avoid those violations rather than coming up different ways to punish companies for any wrongdoings. 

Ketola, T. 2005. Vastuullinen liiketoiminta - Sanoista teoiksi. Helsinki: Edita.

Ratsula, N. 2016. Compliance - Eettinen ja vastuullinen liiketoiminta. Helsinki: Talentum.