In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, conflicts between companies and surrounding communities have become increasingly common. Industries such as mining, renewable energy, infrastructure, and agriculture frequently encounter disputes driven by unmet expectations, historical grievances, or environmental impacts. Globally, companies face growing regulatory scrutiny and pressure from investors and communities to manage these relationships responsibly.
Recognising this pressing need, the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business (UCT GSB) has partnered with Synergy Global Consulting – a leading consultancy with over 20 years of experience specialising in social performance and stakeholder engagement across more than 75 countries – to offer the Company-Community Conflict Management short course. This initiative combines Synergy’s deep practical expertise with UCT GSB’s established leadership training in sustainable business practices.
Bridging the Skills Gap
Professionals managing community interactions often face sensitive situations without sufficient training or resources. Social performance specialists, operations managers, and stakeholder engagement teams frequently find themselves responding to conflicts without structured tools, resulting in costly and unsustainable outcomes.
This course provides practical, hands-on training designed to help participants strategically manage company-community tensions. It is distinctly practical, prioritising real-world scenarios and actionable insights over theoretical frameworks.
Practical Learning Outcomes
Participants in the course will:
- Identify root causes of conflicts in internal and external contexts.
- Apply risk- and impact-based management strategies effectively.
- Integrate conflict-sensitive practices into organisational processes.
- Employ analytical tools to guide conflict responses.
- Recognise and manage trauma-related aspects of conflict.
- Develop and implement robust conflict management plans tailored to specific scenarios.
Course facilitator Alison McCallum, a social performance consultant, highlights the practical essence: “Conflict is an inherent aspect of human interaction. Companies may not control when conflict occurs, but they can choose their response. This course empowers organisations to move from reactive problem-solving towards proactive, constructive engagement.”
Who Should Enrol?
The course is ideal for professionals directly involved in community engagement, including social performance specialists, ESG professionals, sustainability managers, HSE officers, legal and compliance personnel, and project leaders in high-impact industries.
The training is equally relevant for professionals in technical and operational roles whose decisions indirectly influence community dynamics. Sam Choshi, Director of Synergy South Africa, notes, “Professionals in engineering, operational, and legal teams often lack formal training in social dynamics. This course provides them with a practical, shared framework to thoughtfully manage the community relationships their roles impact.”
Delivered through approximately 40 hours of blended learning, the course includes interactive sessions, pre- and post-course assignments, reflective journaling, and group tasks designed to encourage cross-sector collaboration and practical problem-solving.
A Strategic and Thoughtful Collaboration
Randhir Ramharack, who oversees strategic partnerships at UCT GSB, explains, “Our collaboration with Synergy Global reflects a shared dedication to practical, industry-responsive training. We actively listen to the needs of industry professionals to ensure participants gain relevant skills that effectively manage complex community relationships.”
UCT GSB’s commitment to developing impactful, socially-conscious leaders is demonstrated through more than five decades of excellence in African business education. This partnership enhances UCT GSB's ability to address contemporary business and community challenges meaningfully.
Registrations are now open. Organisations can also request tailored, in-house training to build internal conflict management capabilities.
