Social Issue Understanding Field Study

Corporate executives to visit NGOs/Social Enterprises to
understand specific social issue in depth

Having conducted many projects aimed at relatively young employees in Japanese corporates, Cross Fields now focuses on raising awareness of social issues among senior employees as well, who have an influential voice in decision-making and hold the key to creating greater social impact.

Our Field Study is a program for corporate executives or a senior management team to deepen their understanding of social issues and the role of corporates in the society. For 3-5 days, participants visit a specific country to learn firsthand the social issues on the ground and have dialogues with leaders of NGOs/Social Enterprises who address those issues. We have organized Field Study in Japan and abroad several times.

Program Flow

Preparatory Session
(1-2 days)

Understand the objective of the field study and reflect on their personal values

Learn about social issues in a visiting country and NGOs/Social Enterprises
On-site Field Study
(3-5 days)

Visit the activity sites of NGOs/Social Enterprises to see firsthand and interact with those affected by the social issues

Have dialogue sessions with leaders of NGOs/Social Enterprises who address the social issues

Have on-site reflection session on what participants learnt and felt during the visit
Reflection Session
(1 day)

Reflect on the field study and what they have learnt

Have discussion on how to utilize their learning to their daily work

repare declaration time for each participant on their course of action going foward

Case Story

Case 1

In 2015, seven executive members of Honda Motor Company visited Indonesian NGOs/Social Enterprises working on environmental and urban social issues. Through their visits and discussion, they realized the importance of taking action, however small, in order to solve issues. Upon their return, they developed a long-term strategy focused on creating social impact.

Voice of Participants

By learning the reality of industrial waste management, I realized the responsibility of businesses to reduce environmental burden through supply chain management.

Although NGO and Honda differ in the form of organization, we both have strong aspiration to make the society prosperous.

Corporate executives of Honda exchanging their thoughts with Indonesian NGO leaders. They visited several sites to deepen their understanding.
Case 2

In 2017, 12 senior management members of Ezaki Glico Co., Ltd, a food company, visited Vietnam. Through their visit to a disadvantaged community and discussions with NGOs/Social Enterprise leaders who address issues like poverty and disadvantaged children, the participants had an opportunity for an in-depth understanding of social issue, as well as for reflecting on the social philosophy behind their own company.

Voice of Participants

All the leaders I have met in Vietnam have strong aspirations which give them the power to overcome hardship and their leadership.

I reaffirmed my belief that solving a social problem is the origin and the purpose of our business. Now, I am proud, more than ever, of the mission of Glico’s business.

Participants of Glico interacting with a Social Enterprise leader and visiting a disadvantaged community in Hanoi.

WHAT WE DO

Social Issue Understanding Field Study

Corporate executives to visit NGOs/Social Enterprises tounderstand specific social issue in depth

Preparatory Session

On-site Field Study

Reflection Session

Voice of Participants

Voice of Participants

Corporate executives to visit NGOs/Social Enterprises to
understand specific social issue in depth