- Assignment 1 tasks (each part is progressively added to your wiki in stages, until final submission via Turnitin)
Part A: Organisation and boundaries (8 marks)
Briefly describe the organisation including size, location, products and/or services provided, provide an overview of the relevant production and/or operating systems and explain your connection to this organisation. (2 marks)
Select a segment of the organisation which you will transform into a sustainable business segment. This segment may be a department of the business, or a functional entity within the business, or a product or service which the company provides, or (part of) the organisation’s production, operating or administrative system. (2 marks)
Clearly define the organisational segment which you will transform and clearly identify the boundaries of your segment. Note that every organisation requires human resources; staff facilities; cleaning; numerous administrative and managerial support services as well as purchasing, accounting and distribution services; capital equipment and premises from which they operate. Using an appropriate diagram, show your organisational segment and the key service and production functions which support the provision of the organisation’s product or service to customers. Which of these support functions are included and which are excluded from your sustainability transformation? Draw boundaries around your chosen business segment clearly showing these inclusions and exclusions from your study. (4 marks)
(Note that the business segment must be broad enough so that you have the opportunity to make 15 recommendations for transformation to sustainability in part C).
Part B: Input-output chart (12 marks)
Prepare an input-output chart which identifies all major resource and energy inputs and pollution and production outputs at each separate stage in the production and distribution systems within your organisational segment. You are not required to include actual quantities of inputs and outputs. (8 marks)
Utilising your input-output chart identify the major causes of unsustainability with direct reference to specific inputs and outputs at critical stages along the production/operating/distribution cycle. (4 marks)
Part C: Recommendations to improve sustainability performance (30 marks)
Provide 15 specific recommendations for transformation to sustainability in the following performance categories -
Management of land and biodiversity on which business premises are located;
Water management;
Energy and carbon management;
Supply chain and transport management;
Waste, pollution and recycling management.
Many of these recommendations will apply the principles of eco-efficiency, dematerialisation and conservation of resources to reduce the unsustainability of the organisation’s operations.
You need to provide at least one recommendation in each of the 5 categories and a maximum of 4 recommendations in any one category. You do not need to estimate the cost of any of the recommendations, however if this information is readily available you may include it.
Recommendations must apply sustainable business principles, be specific, targeted at the unsustainable aspects of your chosen business and linked to the organisation’s industry sector and its specific products and services. Significant detail must be provided to demonstrate that each recommendation is viable for your business from a sustainability perspective, although you do not need to establish that the organisation has sufficient financial resources to implement your recommendations. (15 x 2 marks each)
Part D Product or process redesign to achieve long term sustainability (15 marks)
Drawing on the principles of cradle to cradle design, waste equals food, biomimicry and natural capitalism design a closed loop production system for your organisational segment, product or service to achieve sustainability in the long term. Where relevant you may draw on recommendations from part C. Describe existing barriers to becoming sustainable and identify appropriate new technology and behavioural change to overcome such barriers.
Part E Social impact of the organisation (10 marks)
Discuss the major social impacts which your organisation has and make recommendations how it can improve its social performance. Note that this social analysis can be focused at the organisational level. Your suggestions may remove existing negative social impacts and/or improve positive social impacts.
Note: Past reports prepared by students are provided in unit documents to illustrate the style and standard required for this assessment, but please note the assignment instructions have changed significantly from previous years.
Target dates for completion of Assignment 1 parts A, B and C.
There is the opportunity for you to receive feedback from teaching staff prior to submission of parts A, B and C of Assignment 1. This feedback can only occur if you build your final report in stages on your Wiki.
Part A – It is essential that your concept for an organisation and relevant segment to transform is approved by week 2. As well as the wiki, you can also use the online discussion forums and classes to discuss this.
Part B – It is recommended you complete at least the input-output chart by week 4.
Part C – Complete a draft of 15 recommendations by week 10.
Staff will comment on your proposals after week 5 and week 10. The more progress you have the made the more scope there is for useful feedback prior to final submission. Marks will only be awarded for the final report submitted through Turnitin. No feedback as to likely grades will be provided.
