Course Title: Develop workplace policy and procedures for sustainability
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2017
Course Code: BUSM7938C
Course Title: Develop workplace policy and procedures for sustainability
School: 650T Vocational Business Education
Campus: City Campus
Program: C6155 - Advanced Diploma of Marketing and Communication
Course Contact: Julia Makin
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 5175
Course Contact Email: Julia.Makin@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Maroun Chamoun
maroun.chamoun@rmit.edu.au
Nominal Hours: 50
Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.
Pre-requisites and Co-requisites
None
Course Description
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to develop and implement a workplace sustainability policy and to modify the policy to suit changed circumstances.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
BSBSUS501 Develop workplace policy and procedures for sustainability |
Element: |
1. Develop workplace sustainability policy |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 Define scope of sustainability policy 1.2 Gather information from a range of sources to plan and develop policy 1.3 Identify and consult stakeholders as a key component of the policy development process 1.4 Include appropriate strategies in policy at all stages of work for minimising resource use, reducing toxic material and hazardous chemical use and employing life cycle management approaches 1.5 Make recommendations for policy options based on likely effectiveness, timeframes and cost 1.6 Develop policy that reflects the organisation’s commitment to sustainability as an integral part of business planning and as a business opportunity 1.7 Agree to appropriate methods of implementation, outcomes and performance indicators |
Element: |
2. Communicate workplace sustainability policy |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 Promote workplace sustainability policy, including its expected outcome, to key stakeholders 2.2 Inform those involved in implementing the policy about expected outcomes, activities to be undertaken and assigned responsibilities |
Element: |
3. Implement workplace sustainability policy |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 Develop and communicate procedures to help implement workplace sustainability policy 3.2 Implement strategies for continuous improvement in resource efficiency 3.3 Establish and assign responsibility for recording systems to track continuous improvements in sustainability approaches |
Element: |
4. Review workplace sustainability policy implementation |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1 Document outcomes and provide feedback to key personnel and stakeholders 4.2 Investigate successes or otherwise of policy 4.3 Monitor records to identify trends that may require remedial action and use to promote continuous improvement of performance 4.4 Modify policy and or procedures as required to ensure improvements are made |
Learning Outcomes
Students will develop skills to develop approaches to create, monitor and improve strategies and policies within workplaces and engage with a range of relevant stakeholders and specialists.
Details of Learning Activities
A range of learning activities are planned for this course including self-paced and collaborative classroom based activities.
We expect you to participate and contribute in all scheduled learning activities. Students are encouraged to attend all sessions to gain the most from this course.
Teaching Schedule
Week No |
Date |
Topic |
1 |
Feb 06 |
Course Induction
|
2 |
Feb 13 |
Apply CSR policy to PR strategies |
3 |
Feb 20 |
CSR – Development process |
4 |
Feb 27 |
Assessment 1 - Presentations |
5 |
Mar 6 |
Policy options |
6 |
(Mon Labour day) Mar 14 |
Methods of implementation |
7 |
Mar 20 |
Recommendations & Promotion of Sustainability & CSR to stakeholders |
8 |
Mar 27 |
Delegating responsibilities |
9 |
Apr 3 |
Implementation of Policy |
10a |
Apr 10 |
Review and evaluate policy - Continuous improvement |
Apr 13 -Apr 19 |
Mid Semester Break |
|
10b |
Apr 20 |
Review and evaluate policy - Continuous improvement |
11 |
Apr 24 |
Assessment 2 - Major Research Project |
12 |
May 1 |
Modification of policy |
13 |
May 8 |
Revision |
14 |
May 15 |
Assessment 3 - Presentation |
15 |
May 22 |
Assessment 3 - Presentation |
16 |
May 29 |
Assessment feedback /resubmissions |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
Overview of Assessment
Performance Evidence
Evidence of the ability to:
- scope and develop organisational policies and procedures that comply with legislative requirements and support the organisation’s sustainability goals covering at a minimum:
- minimising resource use
- resource efficiency
- reducing toxic material and hazardous chemical use
- employing life cycle management approaches
- continuous improvement
- plan and implement sustainability policy and procedures including:
- agreed outcomes
- performance indicators
- activities to be undertaken
- assigned responsibilities
- record keeping, review and improvement processes
- consult and communicate with relevant stakeholders to generate engagement with sustainability policy development, implementation and continuous improvement
- review and improve sustainability policies.
Knowledge Evidence
To complete the unit requirements safely and effectively, the individual must:
- outline the environmental or sustainability legislation, regulations and codes of practice applicable to the organisation identify internal and external sources of information and explain how they can be used to plan and develop the organisation’s sustainability policy
- explain policy development processes and practices
- outline organisational systems and procedures that relate to sustainability
- outline typical barriers to implementing policies and procedures in an organisation and possible strategies to address them.
Assessment Conditions
Assessment must be conducted in a safe environment where evidence gathered demonstrates consistent performance of typical activities experienced in the sustainability field of work and include access to:
- relevant legislation, regulations, standards and codes
- relevant workplace documentation and resources
- case studies and, where possible, real situations
- interaction with others.
Assessors must satisfy NVR/AQTF assessor requirements.
You are advised that you are likely to be asked to personally demonstrate your assessment work to your teacher to ensure that the relevant competency standards are being met.
Feedback
Feedback will be provided throughout the semester in class and/or online discussions. You are encouraged to ask and answer questions during class time and online sessions so that you can obtain feedback on your understanding of the concepts and issues being discussed. Finally, you can email or arrange an appointment with your teacher to gain more feedback on your progress.
You should take note of all feedback received and use this information to improve your learning outcomes and final performance in the course.
Assessment Tasks
Overview
Students must demonstrate an understanding of all elements of competency to be deemed competent.
A range of assessment methods are used to assess practical skills and knowledge
There are 3 assessment tasks in this unit. You must successfully complete all 3 assessments to be deemed competent in this unit.
Evidence of the following is essential:
- Candidate’s involvement as a key person in planning, developing, implementing and evaluating CSR policies and that the developed policies apply to workplace PR strategies
- Implementation strategy, as part of the policy, that has been devised, implemented and reviewed showing a measurable improvement.
- Communicating with stakeholders to discuss possible approaches to policy development and implementation
- Reviewing and improving policies by identifying improvements and benchmarking against industry best practice and attempting new approaches continuously over time.
Assessment 1 – Case study Presentation - 25%
Date handed out: Week 1
Date and time due: In class - Week 4 Feb 27
Group or Individual: Group – Maximum of Three people
This assessment has been designed to allow students to investigate CSR relationship to Public Relations, based on an assigned article in addition to internet research
Requirements:
You are to read assigned article and research the required topics to present your findings to the audience.
Refer to Marking Guide for details on specific elements required.
Produce a 5-minute presentation (using PowerPoint, Prezi etc.) that covers the requirements. Ensure that your text, graphs and images are readable and your presentation looks professional and complete. Rehearse your presentation with your peer before the presentation day.
Each student will prepare: and submit supporting material for their presentation, including:
- Speaking notes (to include Presentation plan)
- Visual aids
Assessment 2 – Major research project - 50%
Assessment Task 2 – Written Portfolio
Date handed out: Week Two
Date and time due: Week 11 – to be uploaded by Sunday April 30 @ 23:59
Group or Individual: Group – maximum THREE
Purpose:
Students must demonstrate an understanding of all elements of competency to be deemed competent.
A range of assessment methods are used to assess practical skills and knowledge
There are 3 assessment tasks in this unit. You must successfully complete all 3 assessments to be deemed competent in this unit.
Requirements
Students are to prepare:
- Research an Australian organisation that incorporates “Corporate Social Responsibility” & Sustainability in its strategies.
- Describe their CSR & Sustainability policies and discuss. Analyse its activities and how those activities are reflecting on their performance.
- How do the activities align with the overall organisational strategies?
- Review and make recommendations on how to develop and improve areas related to these strategies.
Refer to Marking Guide for details on specific elements required.
To facilitate your task, ensure that the chosen Australian organisation has published/ communicated environmental or corporate responsibility reports.
You will need to cover areas including:
Its Corporate Responsibility Strategy
Its Workplace Sustainability Strategy
To whom does the organisation have responsibilities?
Its Ethical and Sustainability Startegy/ies
Environmental Management
Its CSR Reporting standards
Continuous Improvement
Submission Requirements:
- Report title page
- Table of contents
- Use of Heading styles
- Referencing
- 2000 word (guideline)
- Name your presentation file MC_ACSR-SUS_A2_yourname_yourpartnersname
- Your report to be pasted to this document and submitted via Blackboard (Turnitin)
- Be aware that your file will need to be a Microsoft Word file (Apple Pages is not recognised by Blackboard)
Assessment Task 3 – Presentation – 25%
Date handed out: Week 10a & 10b - Week of Apr 10 & 17
Date and time due: Week 14 & 15 - Week of May 15 & 22
Group or Individual: Group (maximum Three, same group members as assessment 2), as per second assessment
Purpose:
Based on Assessment two report, students will present their work to class.
Requirements:
The weighting of the mark is:
25% for team preparation
75% of the mark for individual delivery and ability to demonstrate understanding of all elements
Attendance in week 14 & 15 is COMPULSORY. Failing to attend both sessions will result with an NYC grade unless a Special Consideration has been granted by the University
You will need to identify the following for your selected organisation:
- The corporate social responsibility values for your chosen organisation (from project) and how they relate to organisation’s mission
- Determine which of the three models of CSR (Classical/ Contemporary/ Stakeholder) is most applicable for your chosen organisation and explain the reasons behind that.
- Write a CSR statement for your selected Company based on the model selected. (Provide examples to support your approach)
- Recommend PR activities to promote CSR policies and support environmental sustainability values
- Provide examples from your project/research to support your approach. Justify your recommendations with examples.
- The benefits and drawbacks of the organisation’s CSR & Sustainability initiatives
- Examples of ethical and unethical means the company could use to influence people through PR
- Review workplace sustainability policy implementation
- Based on your recommendation, explain the PR methods and tools that should be used by your chosen organisation to promote its CSR values.
Refer to Marking Guide for details on specific elements required.
Details of Assessment:
Presentations will be done in class – this is an essential component of achieving competency in this subject.
Assessment Matrix
Course Overview: Access Course Overview