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Social License to Operate

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025

Definition

A social license to operate refers to the acceptance and approval of a company's activities by the local community and other stakeholders. It goes beyond legal requirements and involves earning the trust and support of the public through responsible and ethical business practices.

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5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. A social license to operate is essential for companies to maintain long-term viability and avoid conflicts with local communities.
  2. Earning a social license requires ongoing engagement, transparency, and responsiveness to the concerns of stakeholders.
  3. Companies that fail to obtain a social license may face reputational damage, legal challenges, and operational disruptions.
  4. Proactive management of environmental and social impacts, as well as community investment, can help companies build and maintain their social license.
  5. The social license to operate is particularly important for companies operating in sensitive industries or regions with significant social and environmental concerns.

Review Questions

  • Explain how the concept of a social license to operate is related to the idea of managing a socially responsible business.
    • The social license to operate is closely tied to the concept of managing a socially responsible business. Obtaining and maintaining a social license requires companies to go beyond legal compliance and actively engage with their stakeholders, including local communities, to address their social and environmental concerns. This involves adopting ethical business practices, minimizing negative impacts, and contributing positively to the communities in which they operate. By managing their business in a socially responsible manner, companies can earn the trust and acceptance of their stakeholders, thereby securing and preserving their social license to operate.
  • Describe how the stakeholder theory relates to the idea of a social license to operate.
    • The stakeholder theory, which emphasizes the importance of considering the interests of all parties affected by a company's operations, is closely aligned with the concept of a social license to operate. Obtaining a social license requires companies to engage with and address the concerns of a wide range of stakeholders, including local communities, employees, suppliers, and regulatory authorities, not just shareholders. By adopting a stakeholder-centric approach and balancing the needs and interests of all affected parties, companies can build trust, demonstrate their social and environmental responsibility, and ultimately secure and maintain their social license to operate.
  • Evaluate the long-term implications for a company that fails to obtain or maintain a social license to operate.
    • The failure to obtain or maintain a social license to operate can have significant long-term consequences for a company. Without the acceptance and support of local communities and other stakeholders, companies may face reputational damage, legal challenges, and operational disruptions that can undermine their long-term viability. Furthermore, the lack of a social license can make it difficult for companies to secure necessary permits, access resources, or expand their operations, ultimately limiting their growth and profitability. In today's business environment, where public scrutiny and expectations of corporate social responsibility are high, the inability to maintain a social license can pose a serious threat to a company's long-term sustainability and success.