social@risk -a web-based platform for managing social and environmental risks

Important results from the project

In 2016 Globalworks Lund AB developed an Internet-based business intelligence platform for managing social and environmental risks. The system was trademark registered under the name social@risk. social@risk screens social media, blogs, bulletin board systems, online complaint sites, etc. and extracts information on grievances related to a specific location, industry, or corporation. social@risk is envisioned as a tool to monitor compliance with global standards and corporate codes of conduct.

Expected long term effects

social@risk reached all milestones planned for 2016. The system collects information from Chinese social media. It categorises information based on complex behavioural rules or identifies social and environmental issues with a machine learning algorithm. The structured data is stored in a relational database, s@rdata. Experts can use s@rdata to compare topics, users, or time periods. s@rdata serves as an interface where experts calibrate rules and algorithms on the one hand and interpret retrieved information on the other.

Approach and implementation

Programming of social@risk and analytical development of s@rdata were pursued in parallel. We deployed an agile software development approach with working packages of 2-3 weeks each. We conducted a pilot to test social@risk. To this end we followed up on a case with significant impact on public procurement practices in Sweden. We discussed our results with the national coordinator for social responsibility in public procurement. During 2016 we developed social@risk´s basic functions. In the next phase social@risk and s@rdata will be adapted to the needs of selected clients.