Topic: Sustainability in theory and practice

ASSIGNEMENT SERIES L6-10 Word counts: Total 5035

Lesson 6: Applying Data

L6-1-(300-400 words)

As a formative exercise, complete the following task based on the scenario:

You feel that awareness of ‘sustainability’ could be more prominent within your organisation and have identified that an in-house training course would be ideal to raise awareness. Draft a brief report of around 300/400 words to your manager/senior manager outlining the need for such a training course. Highlight the potential benefits and justify the staff time and cost in creating and attending such a course.

Silvius, G., Schipper, R., Planko, J., Brink, J.v.d and Köhler, A., 2012. Sustainability in Project Management. Farnham: Gower Publishing.

From page 61 in this chapter we consider sustainability at the project manager level in more detail, including aspects such as assigning responsibility for sustainability and developing sustainability competencies. The chapter then focuses on sustainability at the organisational level including a helpful table which considers sustainable portfolio management.

L6- 2 (200 words)

Consider a project where you have been a member or manager of a project team. Answer the following questions:

Was responsibility for sustainability allocated to any of the management/team?

If, so, what were the actual responsibilities? If not, do you think a manager or team member should have been responsible?

How was the inclusion of sustainability within the project promoted by the project lead?

What do you consider would be the best way of promoting sustainable values within a project environment?

L6-3 (250 words)

Robertson, M., 2014. Sustainability Principles and Practice. London: Routledge - Chapter 16 (Working in an Organization)

This chapter builds on the discussions from the previous page 09 and includes discussion of aspects such as making the business case for sustainability. Please read this chapter and then make notes on the chapter review questions numbered: 3,6,7 and 8.

Also consider this ‘Critical Thinking and Discussion’ question:

“Some businesses that adopt green business practices see real financial and market benefits. If that is the case, then why haven’t more businesses moved in this direction?”

L6-4 (150 words )

You should now watch and make notes to summarise the findings from the video presentation entitled, ‘The Properties of Sustainability Performance Measures (KPIs)’ by Aldonio Ferreira from Monash University, available from YouTube

https://youtu.be/zNusF4QLexc

https://youtu.be/zNusF4QLexc?t=1459

L6-5 (10 slides)

To help you consolidate your learning from this lesson, please now attempt the following formative activity based on the various topics covered in the lesson:

As a formative activity, please prepare a presentation of a maximum of ten slides explaining why and how you would embed sustainability into the organisational culture of an organisation of your choice. Justify your reasons. This could be based on your current or previous employer or an organisation known to you. Please post your presentation to your Notebook space at least two weeks before the submission date of the final assignment. Feedback will be provided by your tutor within seven days of that date. You can either work alone for this activity or with one or two of your fellow students on the course.

Lesson 7: Legislative and Regulatory Approaches in Public Policy

L7-1 (300 words) Area: Essex

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/2010-to-2015-government-policy-sustainabl

Research your local area to find out and make notes on what direct regulation enforcement steps have been taken by national or local government. Do you think this policy works?

Identify one piece of environmental legislation that impacts on your organisation (or an organisation known to you).

Also identify one incentive for adopting best practice in sustainability that could encourage your organisation to be more sustainable.

Share your thoughts on the Lesson 07 Discussion Forum.

L7-2 (300 words)

Exercise

You should now read a paper which examines Carbon tax in Australia entitled Australia’s Carbon Tax: An Economic Evaluation by Alex Robson from Economic Affairs Volume 34, Issue 1, Article first published online: 24 January 2012

Note the following from the extract:

“Overall, the policy was poorly thought through, badly implemented, and lacked majority public support before it began. Australia’s carbon tax experience is an interesting case study in how not to go about implementing climate change policy.”

Question 1: Is what the author states correct and has he justified it by looking at the subject in an unbiased manner?

Question 2: By references to a successful scheme, can you suggest how the Australians could have done better? Hint: Look at the British Columbia scheme.

Post your answers to the Lesson 07 Discussion Forum. The answers should be a total of approximately 300 words

L7-3 (300)

Exercise

The Role of Tradable Permits in Water Pollution Control by R. Andreas Kraemer, Eleftheria Kampa and Eduard Interviews from Ecologic, Institute for International and European Environmental Policy, Germany, which is available here:  Tradable Permits in Water Pollution Control

Answer the question in the following exercise.

Carefully read section 6.3.4. Compatibility with established principles of environmental policy.

Take any two of the case studies in Section 4, Tradable Water Pollution Rights: The International Experience, and answer the following question:

In what way do your choices meet the author’s general summary of compatibility expressed in section 6.3.4?

Post your answers to the Lesson 07 Discussion Forum. The answers should be a total of approximately 300 words

L7-4 (400 words)

Exercise

You should now read the paper on Sustainable Development in Malaysia: A Case Study on Household Waste Management, by Dr. Md. Abdul Jalil from the Journal of Sustainable Development Vol. 3, No. 3; September 2010.

Available here:  Household Waste Managemen t

The author introduces benefits from the use of vermicompost (page 97 in the article, page 7 in the pdf version). He finally goes on to state in the final sentence of the conclusion:

“So, the finding of this paper is that using household organic waste for making vermicompost will be very beneficial for Malaysia and for the world environment”.

Question 1. Given the figures in the article for the total waste in Malaysia; is it reasonable to believe that vermicompost will make a significant contribution to removing the problem of waste in Malaysia?

Question 2. Private enterprises benefit from pre-sorted rubbish yet do not make any payment for it. Why should householders separate their rubbish for the benefit of private enterprises? Consider the hidden costs in this approach in your answer.

Post your answers to the group learning space. The answers should be a total of approximately 400 words.

Lesson 8: Embedding Sustainability in Public Policy

L8-1 (250 words)

Please answer the following question: The end of poverty by 2029 is forecast in the video. In approximately 250 words comment on the accuracy of Jeffrey Sachs by referencing suitable sources. www.cpsl.cam.ac.uk

Post your answer to the Lesson 08 Discussion Forum

L8-3(300 words)

Watch the video by Jeffrey Sachs who is the author of The End of Poverty. This interview was conducted on 11 August 2008 by Dr Wayne Visser, Senior Associate, Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership, for the Cambridge Top 50 Sustainability Books Project. The video is titled ‘The WTO and Hope for the Future’ and you can find the video on YouTube

Based on your viewing of the video and your notes on please consider the following question.

What breakthroughs are discussed and are any of them likely to come about in the next five years? Answer the question in approximately 300 words with references. Post your answer to the Lesson 08 Discussion Forum

L8-4 (300 words)

Payments for Ecosystem Services schemes involve payments to the managers of land or other natural resources in exchange for the provision of specified ecosystem services. Payments are made by the beneficiaries of the services in question, for example, individuals, communities, businesses or governments. Read the article: Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) available here:  Payments for Ecosystem Services , then answer the following question.

The article notes three potential risks to the scheme. Imagine the scheme was introduced into your country or a country you know something about. Then give examples where the following risks might occur.

· Is there a risk that increasing the provision of an ecosystem service in one area will lead to pressure on ecosystem services elsewhere (leakage)?

· Is there a risk of the PES scheme being perceived as unfair?

· Is there a risk of creating perverse incentives?

Answer the questions in no more than a total of 300 words and post your answer to the Lesson 08 Discussion Forum

Assessment L8-5 (300 words)

Read the introduction to the plan and then chapter 4.2.3.2 Tourism beginning with the WSSD goals. The plan is available here:  Malawi National Plan

Question: The plan was published in 2004. How well has Malawi done in achieving the objectives of the plan in the tourism sector?

Answer the question in 300 words approximately and post your answer to the Lesson 08 Discussion Forum. Remember to reference your answer.

Assessment L8-6 (300 words)

Read the case studies in “Experiences of Strategic Environmental Assessment in Developing Countries and Emerging Economies-Effectiveness, Impacts and Benefits” by Dragana Davidovic, University of Gothenburg, available here:  Experiences of Strategic Environmental Assessment  or at

Select two case study countries and summarise a comparison of their experiences of SEAs. Post your answer of approximately 300 words to the Lesson 08 Discussion Forum

Assignment L9-1(300 words)

Watch the lecture and take notes regarding the key points Friedman makes in “Milton Friedman - Is Capitalism Humane? (Lecture)” Available on YouTube

Question: Do you believe he is correct? Using a referenced argument give your answer in approximately 300 words and post it to the Lesson 09 Discussion Forum

Rather than answer the question directly; you should now read the article, Rethinking the Social Responsibility of Business John Mackey, September 28, 2005 A debate from Reason magazine featuring Milton Friedman, Whole Foods' John Mackey, and Cypress Semiconductor's T.J. Rodgers.

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/blog/john-mackeys-blog/rethinking-social-responsibil...  

This article gives the other viewpoint and has several contributors who agree and disagree in an informed debate.

L9-2 (185 words)

exercise

You should now watch and make notes on “McDonalds CSR Corporate Social Responsibility Making Progress” available at

Please consider the following question: Are McDonald’s views on the environment and CSR driven by the bottom line?

Post your answer in less than 200 words to the Lesson 09 Discussion Forum

Lesson 10: Sustainability and the Organisational Perspective

L10-1(200)

Please revisit Chapter 16 of the following text you can access on EBSCO:

Robertson, M., 2014.  Sustainability Principles and Practice . London: Routledge.

This chapter focuses on ‘Working in Organisations’ including the planning process, making the business case for sustainability and implementation.

Let’s consider two of the Critical Thinking and Discussion Questions:

(1) “A company where you work would like to implement a green purchasing policy. What are some potential barriers? What benefits might result from such a policy?’

L10-2 (300 words)

Undertake research to locate two academic or business related articles which consider best practice in developing competence training on sustainability and ethics for your organisation. Summarise the key findings in around 300 words and post this summary to the Lesson 10 Discussion Forum to compare with the research conducted by your colleagues.

L10-3 (300 words)

Imagine you are given the task of communicating sustainability events and procedures across an organisation like PepsiCo. Write approximately 300 words as an outline of a communication plan which will ensure all sustainability related items are brought to the attention of the relevant staff. You should look at PepsiCo reports to establish what they do. Save the plan to your Notebook space.