Research for Action

AICC works with partners on a "learning journey" towards sustainable value creation with specific outcomes and capacity building for the partner organisation (companies, NGOs, public institutions, etc.), for AICC and for the public at large. The actual "learning journey" is based on action research methodology and can have different outcomes such as case study development, toolkits, etc. The journey can be undertaken between the partner and AICC or can include other organisations working with the partner organisation such as consultants. Likewise, AICC invites consultancies to engage AICC on a "learning journey" with their respective clients.

Components

In the learning journey the partner organisation will benefit from AICC’s international experience, local knowledge, and the AICC knowledge resources – including our previous and ongoing research projects.

Components of a learning journey may exist of:

A strategic planning process;
Facilitation;
Focus areas such as: Work-/marketplace; responsible competitiveness and innovation; sustainable value and opportunity creation; and environmental and supply chain responsibility;
Management assessments;
In-house briefings; and
Facilitation of creative conversations and visits to museums and other locations such as the Inner City.

The AICC partner, UNISA Centre for Corporate Citizenship, will play an active role in the ‘learning journeys’ both in developing the case studies, toolkits, and action research methodologies but also importantly in ensuring that the outcomes are made available to the public through the different educational activities undertaken by the UNISA Centre for Corporate Citizenship.

AICC expects commitment from the partner organisation for public domain products such as case studies or tool kits. All outcomes will be made available through the AICC website in a proper format in agreement with the partner organisation.

Why we do action research?

Action research forms an integral part of how AICC works, because action research is firmly founded in real life situations and practical solutions. AICC believes in action-based research where feedback can immediately be put to work and applied in order ‘to make it happen’ and create the necessary organisational value. At the same time action research outcomes such as case studies are excellent tools to ‘prove’ the business case for corporate citizenship / corporate social responsibility – changing the minds of disbelievers and educating African leaders of tomorrow.

Selected case studies will be made available to a larger international audience through the AICC partnership with UK-based AccountAbility and their programme “Conversations with Disbelievers”.

Methodology

At AICC, we regard action research as a technical competency – forming part of all our programme areas.

Since its foundation in 2001, AICC has produced a number of case studies – e.g. on the following projects:

For the UN Global Compact
For AccountAbility’s programme “Conversations with Disbelievers
For the Sustainable Banking in Africa Report.

AICC is currently producing an interesting case study on the Thabazimbi Local Economic Development Initiative - a tri-sector partnership for managing social issues in a mining community.

AICC adopts the case study / action research methodology for each individual project – building on international best practice.

African Corporate Sustainability Forum | Centre for Sustainability Investing | Competitiveness & Innovation | ReportCom