Signature assignment

**Signature Assignment** Assignment 4: “Operationalize” Sustainability Handout

See Separate Rubric

Length: The guideline is 5 - 6 pages, double-spaced (Times Roman 12 font with standard 1”

margins). Students may find that they need to use more pages to cover the assignment.

Due: Week 7 Saturday by midnight

Post: Week 7 Assignments folder

This assignment is designed for you to analyze an organization and to help develop a plan for that organization to better Operationalize sustainability in the future. You may not use any organization that you have used on any other assignment in this class (but you must get approval first). This is your Signature Assignment for this course. This means that all that you have learned in this course is to be highlighted in this paper. This is the paper you will keep as part of your MBA Portfolio which you could show to current or future employers to demonstrate all you have learned.

1. Each student is to analyze an instructor approved organization. 2. Students are to analyze the current steps the organization has taken to “Operationalize”

sustainability, with recommendations for the future. Operationalize means to “put into practice” or to “put to work.”

3. The organization is to be evaluated on at least three of the following criteria (it would be a good idea to use the criteria you use as headings for your paper – of course using APA Headings).

Economic

How do the profit motives for the organization become evident in their sustainable practices now? Have they increased revenue or reduced costs through sustainability yet? If they have, how? If not, is this an option for them? Why or Why not? How or How not?

Social

How has sustainability brought about culture changes in any of the following areas (diversity, agricultural impact, community service, fair wage, safety and/or human rights)?

Sustainability Efforts

Name a few of the association the organization or employees have joined as a result of sustainability efforts? What other organizations would you suggest?

Environmental

What are the efforts to reduce water, energy, solid waste, transportation usage? Can you show demonstrated savings, either in what they have already done, or your proposal for the future?

Measurement

Is there a presence for sustainability on the organizations Website, in the Mission Statement? What percentage of the total employment has sustainability in their job description? What public awards or recognition have employees received for sustainability? What recommendations do you have for this organization? How would you rewrite their Mission or Vision Statement to include sustainability in their goals?

Be sure you have an introduction, an analysis and a conclusion. See the Signature Assignment rubric for

grading criteria. You need to compare and contrast your research to the three texts in the course and

have at least three citations from each of the textbooks in this course.

Your paper will answer the following issues (not necessarily in this order). Remember you are making

recommendations or presenting options you never write what a company must or should do.

 What are the economic, social, environmental and measurement considerations for this organization?

 What are the politics (both global and domestic) that this company must consider for their particular product or service?

 Does this company use any resources that are limited?

 What are the different theories presented in the three different texts and from your research on this company’s sustainability strategy?

 What are the current efforts for this company for Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability? How can your proposal provide additional ROI, customers or innovation for the company?

 Describe ways that the Human Resources Department of this organization could promote corporate social responsibility? (Be sure you view what they are already doing and add to their efforts).

 How would they Operationalize improvements you suggest? Be sure that your recommendations for implementation are clear and concise.