Impact Identification, Rating, and Management

Question 1

What is the Hanna et al. paper about the scoial impacts of large project on indigenous peoples about?

Answer 1

It discusses methodologies and practices for identifying, assessing, and managing social risks related to corporate operations, particularly in large projects impacting local or Indigenous communities.

Question 2

What is the general conclusion of Hanna et al.?

Answer 2

The chapter underscores that managing social risks is not solely about mitigating immediate operational threats but fostering respectful, collaborative relationships to support long-term project and community well-being.

Question 3

Explain the most important conclusions from Phillipes PhD.

Critical Role of Community Engagement:

Limitations of Traditional Risk Management:

The Need for a Holistic Approach:

Social License to Operate:

Integration of Community Relations with Corporate Strategy:

Challenges of Cultural and Institutional Barriers:

Answer 3

Critical Role of Community Engagement:

Effective management of social risks requires proactive, transparent engagement with local and Indigenous communities.
Early involvement in planning helps prevent costly conflicts and disruptions.

Limitations of Traditional Risk Management:

Conventional risk management approaches often fail to address social risks adequately due to their technical focus.
Non-technical risks, such as community dissatisfaction, are frequently overlooked despite their significant impact on project outcomes.

The Need for a Holistic Approach:

Companies should integrate social and technical risk management, involving interdisciplinary teams that include community representatives.
A balanced, value-driven strategy that incorporates stakeholder interests can lead to sustainable operations and reduced conflict.

Social License to Operate:

Achieving and maintaining a “social license” is essential for project success, requiring respect for community rights and interests.
Community trust and acceptance are more critical than formal regulatory approvals alone.

Integration of Community Relations with Corporate Strategy:

Community relations (CR) should be recognized as a strategic business function rather than a crisis management tool.
Elevating the importance of CR within corporate structures helps align company operations with social and environmental sustainability.

Challenges of Cultural and Institutional Barriers:

Companies must overcome internal resistance and cultural biases that marginalize social considerations.
Viewing community concerns as strategic opportunities rather than risks supports both business and community well-being.

Question 4

What is risk from a sociological pov?

Answer 4

A Social construct: societies conceive and address risks in terms of what is considered currently important in social and political terms.

Question 5

What is the anthropoligcal cultural theory about risks

Answer 5

People will perceive risks because of their cultural perceptions. Based on their existing way of life and political-ideological prefererence

Question 6

How can risk assessment be improved?

Answer 6

• Multi-discpilinary. Rate it separately first
• Community members should participate at risk assessment teams
• Good practices, such as adopting a Human rights policy and adopting Free, Prior and Informed Consent principle mitigate social risks, and not risk management in itself.

Question 7

Explain the mitigation hierarchy

Answer 7

• Avoid
• Reduce to most extend possible
• Repair
• Compensate in kind
• Compensate by other means

Question 8

There are three levels of enhancement. Which ones?

Answer 8

1. Project enhancement: projects can have positive and negative effects. Innovative design can enhance positive features
2. Local area enchancement
3. Wider area enhancement: cumulative positive impacts