This course is developed under a collaborative agreement with the Learning Strategies Group, a division of Simon Fraser University Business. It is one of a series of courses on business administration applications in mining.

Understanding and managing the interactions along the interface between business, community, and government is becoming an increasingly critical component of managerial competency and organizational success.

The focus of the course will be to highlight the nature and dynamics of these interactions among multiple players with different goals and concerns—corporations, communities, First Nations, interest groups, unions, governments—and the development of perspectives, tools, and strategies that today's leaders and managers can put to use on the ground and in the boardroom.

Examples of the topics covered include:

• Understanding responsibility and relationships;
• Recognizing power and values;
• Turning differences into assets;
• Creating clear expectations as a foundation for effective working relationships;
• Developing the capacity to anticipate issues and putting in place proactive structures to deal with disputes when they arise;
• Recognizing and valuing relationships as assets;
• How and when to use negotiation and consensus building appropriately and effectively both within the organizations and with external interests and stakeholders;
• Creating sustainable outcomes through sustainable relationships.

Objectives
 

Content

This course is presented as 11 viewing sessions, each of 30 - 60 minutes viewing duration, plus three interactive reviews that confirm the viewer's achievement of learning objectives. The total duration of the course is approximately eight hours.

Learning Outcomes

• Identify the requirements for dealing effectively with interactions among diverse interests.
• Identify the requirements for building, maintaining, and enhancing relationships among diverse interests.
• Recognize how and when to use negotiation and consensus building effectively both within organizations and with external interests and stakeholders.
• Apply the knowledge gained to creating sustainable outcomes through sustainable relationships.

Recommended Background

A basic understanding and experience of the requirements and objectives of different stakeholders in the context of mineral exploration and mining projects including corporations, communities, First Nations, interest groups, unions and governments.