Course Title: Implement and monitor environmentally sustainable work practices
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term2 2014
Course Code: EASC5040C
Course Title: Implement and monitor environmentally sustainable work practices
School: 650T TAFE Business
Campus: City Campus
Program: C4340 - Certificate IV in Frontline Management
Course Contact : Sylvia Baroutis
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 5469
Course Contact Email:sylvia.baroutis@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Margaret Stewart 9925 5493 margaret.stewart@rmit.edu.au
Nominal Hours: 40
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 performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to effectively analyse the workplace in relation to environmentally sustainable work practices and to implement improvements and monitor their effectiveness.
This unit requires the ability to access industry information, applicable legislative and occupational health and safety (OHS) guidelines.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
BSBSUS301A Implement and monitor environmentally sustainable work practices |
Element: |
1. Investigate current practices in relation to resource usage |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 Identify environmental regulations applying to the enterprise |
Element: |
2. Set targets for improvements |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 Seek input from stakeholders, key personnel and specialists |
Element: |
4. Monitor performance |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1 Use and/or develop evaluation and monitoring, tools and technology |
Element: |
3. Implement performance improvement strategies |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 Source and use appropriate techniques and tools to assist in achieving efficiency targets |
Learning Outcomes
Details of Learning Activities
Students should attend all classes to study and complete activities. Attendance is mandatory for all in-class assessments. The class activities provide an opportunity to develop skills and apply theory to real life situations.The learning activities may include:
• Case studies and project work
• Collaborative classroom activities and team activities
• Peer interaction, reflection and discussion
• Games and simulations
• Reading the text book and accessing materials on Learning Hub
Teaching Schedule
| Week Number and Date | Elements and Performance Criteria | Content and Assessments |
| 1. 7 July | Introduction to course | Course overview, Assessment overview, Academic administration |
| 2. 14 July |
1. Investigate current practices in relation to resource usage 1.1 Identify environmental regulations applying to the enterprise |
Regulations, environmental laws, International, Commonwealth , State and Territory laws, Local government, codes of practice. Text 1.1. 1.2 |
| 3. 21 July | 1.2 Analyse procedures for assessing compliance with environmental/sustainability regulations |
Assessing compliance, Industry bodies, compliance audit. Text 1.1. 1.2
|
|
4. 28 July
|
1.3 Collect information on environment and resource efficiency systems and procedures, and provide to the work group where appropriate |
Examine current practices, legal reporting, research competitors, best practice, customers and other stakeholders, websites and media Assessment 1a Portfolio - Tasks 1-5 due |
|
ONLINE CLASS 5. 4 August |
ONLINE CLASS 1.5 Measure and document current resource usage of members of the work group |
Resources, usage, energy, water, waste, human resources
|
| 6. 11 August | 1.6 Analyse and document current purchasing strategies 1.7 Analyse current work processes to access information and data to assist in identifying areas for improvement |
Purchasing strategies, internal audits. external research. Workplace processes, audits |
| 7. 18 August |
2. Set targets for improvement 2.1 Seek input from stakeholders, key personnel and specialists 2.2 Access external sources of information and data as required 2.3 Evaluate alternative solutions to workplace environmental issues |
Who are the stakeholders, seeking input, consultation. External sources of info
|
|
8. 25 August ONLINE CLASS |
ONLINE CLASS 2.4 Set efficiency targets |
ONLINE CLASS - NO FACE TO FACE CLASS Efficiency targets, communication |
| 1-7 September |
MID-SEMESTER BREAK |
|
| 9. 8 September | 3.2 Apply continuous improvement strategies to own work area of responsibility, including ideas and possible solutions to communicate to the work group and management 3.3 Implement and integrate environmental and resource efficiency improvement plans for own work group with other operational activities |
Continuous improvement, strategies
Assessment 2 In-class open book test covering Tasks 6-21 ATTENDANCE MANDATORY |
| 10. 15 September | 3.4 Supervise and support team members to identify possible areas for improved practices and resource efficiency in work areas 3.5 Seek suggestions and ideas about environmental and resource efficiency management from stakeholders and act upon where appropriate |
|
| 11. 22 September | 3.6 Implement costing strategies to fully value environmental issues |
Costs, activity based costing, full-cost accounting
|
|
12. 29 September ONLINE CLASS |
ONLINE CLASS 4. Monitor performance |
ONLINE CLASS - NO FACE TO FACE CLASS Benchmarks, measure performance, checking, corrective action, audit forms Assessment 1b Portfolio - Tasks 22, 26, 27, 32 due |
| 13. 6 October | 4.2 Document and communicate outcomes to report on efficiency targets to key personnel and stakeholders |
Reports, quarterlies, annual, meetings etc
|
| 14. 13 October | 4.3 Evaluate strategies and improvement plans 4.4 Set new efficiency targets, and investigate and apply new tools and strategies |
Risk, evaluation, identifying issues Address conflicts, efficiency targets, implementation, monitoring |
| 15. 20 October | 4.5 Promote successful strategies and reward participants where possible |
Internal promotion, competitions, memos/emails, PR, website, AGM, industry awards Report on Home Sustainability due |
| 16. 27 October | Course review | Review and feedback |
NOTE : This schedule may be amended due to student progress or other circumstances but students will not be disadvantaged as a result
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
Cole, K 2013 Management: theory & practice, Pearson Australia |
9781442550681 |
Griffith, S and Jones, L (eds) 2009 Implement and monitor environmentally sustainable work practices, Software Publications Pty Ltd, Sydney. |
1-74123-950-8 |
References
Other Resources
1. RMIT Library
2. Handouts and exercises will be given in classs as appropriate
3. myRMIT Blackboard
4. The Learning Lab is a learning and study skills site developed by the Learning Skills Unit offering online interactive tutorials, printable handouts and an email Learning Query service. The site is helps students develop capabilities for tertiary study. http://www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/lsu/
Overview of Assessment
Assessment may incorporate a variety of methods including technical requirements documentation, homework, assignments, group and/or individual projects, in class exercises, written and practical assessments, problem solving exercises, presentations, direct observation of actual and simulated work practice, presentation of portfolio of evidence which may comprise documents, and/or photographs and/or video and audio files, review of products produced through work based or course activities.
Students are advised that they are likely to be asked to personally demonstrate their assessment work to their teacher to ensure that the relevant competency standards are being met. Students will be provided with feedback throughout the course to check their progress.
Assessment Tasks
Assessments will consist of a portfolio of responses answering tasks listed in the prescribed text, Griffith, S and Jones, L (eds) 2009 Implement and monitor environmentally sustainable work practices, Software Publications Pty Ltd, Sydney, and a major assignment outlining sustainability improvements for an existing home
Assessment 1a - Portfolio due week 4 via myRMIT
Students will write individual responses to Tasks 1-5 in the prescribed text by Software Publications
Assessment 2 - In-class test - week 9 ATTENDANCE Mandatory
Students will complete an in-class open book test based on Tasks 6-21 in the prescribed text by Software Publications. The test will use a selection of tasks and they are to be answered according to the task instructions
Assessment 1b - Portfolio due week 12 via myRMIT
Students will write individual written responses to Tasks 22; Task 26; Task 27; Task 32 in the prescribed text by Software Publications
Assessment 3 - Report due week 15 via myRMIT - 2000 words
Students will produce a Home Sustainability Report for an organisation that improves current residences to the highest possible sustainability level
It is suggested that you use your own home as the reference building for the report
Your report will analyse the following criteria and suggest solutions for improvements taking into account
1. Current practices in relation to resource usage
2. Targets for improvement
3. Performance improvement strategies
4. Performance monitoring
The following areas are to be covered by reporting on
1. the current situation
2. what should be done to improve sustainability
Social sustainability
Safety
• A safe and secure home reduces the likelihood of injuries in and around the home.
Security
• A secure home uses designs and fittings to reduce crime.
Universal design
• A home that is universally designed is flexible and comfortable for people with varying abilities at different stages of their lives.
Environmental sustainability
Water efficiency
• A smart and sustainable home saves on water which also saves money in the long term. Water efficiency may be achieved by choosing water-saving showers and taps and considering the use of water tanks for the garden and flushing the toilet.
Waste efficiency
• Careful design and planning can limit waste during any re-construction. It may also reduce the need for expensive modifications as needs change.
Energy efficiency
• A smart home reduces energy consumption, and saves money. Passive solar design features such as ventilation, insulation and adequate shading can improve energy efficiency. In some cases, homes can be cool in summer and warm in winter without artificial heating and cooling devices.
Economic sustainability
A smart house is cost-efficient. This means smart features are included in any re-design and re-construction, reducing the cost of changes in the future.
Smart design principles and choice of construction materials can have a considerable effect on refurbishment costs, as well as costs over the life of the house.
Construction costs
• You can achieve cost savings at the initial design and construction stage through the use of cost-efficient building materials, economic planning and ’smart’ ideas. For example, standardising the size of wardrobes, kitchen cabinets, windows and bathroom vanities and specifying recycled and readily available materials can save money.
Ongoing running costs
• Ongoing costs can really add up over the life of the home. Significant savings are to be gained by carefully considering the design of the home and which fixtures and fittings to include. For example, energy-efficient showers and taps use less hot water and can save up to $100 or more a year on energy bills.
Living costs
• Smart design features can save you money on a variety of everyday expenses such as cleaning, replacements and repairs as a result of accidents and breakages.
Long-term maintenance costs
• Careful choice and selection of materials and the well-thought out design of a smart and sustainable home reduces repair and ongoing maintenance costs. Prepare an indicative maintenance management plan. Often the ongoing and long-term savings will outweigh any initial cost.
Future modification costs
• People’s needs change over time. A couple becomes a family, an individual makes the move to work from home or an older person becomes less mobile. Each will require their home to work in different ways.
Resale value
• Smart and sustainable home features can lead to a greater demand for any home - the greater the demand, the higher the resale value as it will meet the needs of a greater range of people and therefore attract a larger market. With a massive increase in our ageing population and more people wanting to stay in their own home longer, a flexible and accessible home will become an increasingly valuable commodity.
Peace of mind
• In a smart and sustainable home, the design and choice of fixtures and fittings have been carefully considered to ensure the safety and well-being of the occupants. This may reduce the risk of injury and therefore save on medical expenses, hospital bills and lost wages due to time off work.
Cost efficiency for our community
• Cost-efficient housing also means savings for our community by reducing the cost of housing on the environment; reducing the likelihood of injury and the burden on the health care system; and reducing the incidence and cost of crime.
Further details will be discussed in class
Assessment Matrix
Required Skills and Knowledge
This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.
Required skills
• analytical skills to analyse problems, to devise solutions and to reflect on approaches taken
• change management skills
• communication skills to answer questions, clarify and acknowledge suggestions relating to work requirements and efficiency
• communication/consultation skills to support information flow from stakeholders to the work group
• innovation skills to identify improvements, to apply knowledge about resource use to organisational activities and to develop tools
• literacy skills to comprehend documentation, to interpret environmental and energy efficiency requirements, to create tools to measure and monitor improvements and to report outcomes
• numeracy skills to analyse data on organisational resource consumption and waste product volumes
• planning and organising skills to implement environmental and energy efficiency management polices and procedures relevant to own work area
• problem solving skills to devise approaches to improved environmental sustainability and to develop alternative approaches as required
• technology skills to operate and shut down equipment; where relevant, to use software systems for recording and filing documentation to measure current usage; and to use word processing and other basic software for interpreting charts, flowcharts, graphs and other visual data and information
• supervisory skills to work effectively with a team.
Required knowledge
• best practice approaches relevant to own area of responsibility and industry
• compliance requirements within work area for all relevant environmental/sustainability legislation, regulations and codes of practice including resource hazards/risks associated with work area, job specifications and procedures
• environmental and energy efficiency issues, systems and procedures specific to industry practice
• external benchmarks and support for particular benchmarks to be used within organisation, including approaches to improving resource use for work area and expected outcomes
• OHS issues and requirements
• organisational structure and reporting channels and procedures
• quality assurance systems relevant to own work area
• strategies to maximise opportunities and to minimise impact relevant to own work area
• supply chain procedures
• terms and conditions of employment including policies and procedures, such as daily tasks, work area responsibilities, employee, supervisor and employer rights, equal opportunity.
Other Information
Academic Administration Procedures
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the presentation of the work, idea or creation of another person as though it is your own. It is a form of cheating and is a very serious academic offence that may lead to expulsion from the University. Plagiarised material can be drawn from, and presented in, written, graphic and visual form, including electronic data and oral presentation. Plagiarism occurs when the origin of the material used is not appropriately cited. Examples of plagiarism include:
• Copying sentences or paragraphs word-for-word from one or more sources, whether published or unpublished, which could include but is not limited to books, journals, reports, theses, websites, conference papers, course notes, etc. without proper citation;
• Piecing together text from one or more sources and adding only linking sentences;
• Copying or submitting whole or parts of computer files without acknowledging their source;
• Copying a whole or any part of another student’s work; and
• Submitting work as your own that someone else has done for you.
For further information including “Plagiarism (and how to avoid it): Resources for Students” refer to the Plagiarism section of the RMIT Policies, at http://www.rmit.edu.au/governance/policies in the Teaching and Learning Policy section. Penalties include official reprimand, recording of a failure result or expulsion from the University.
Referencing
Students are to use the Harvard Referencing System. Essays which do not use the Harvard system of referencing will not be graded until referencing is correct. Wrong referencing includes using the footnote system instead of the Harvard (author-date) system, no page numbers in references where there is a quote, being unable to use the formula for in-text referencing, using a bibliography instead of a reference list, having no reference list, failing to show where a quote begins and ends, writing out the book title because you don’t know how to use references and not using all elements of the reference citation i.e. surname, initial, date published, title (correctly signified), publisher and place published. Minor errors such as wrong punctuation, a wrong page number or a simple typographical error in a date are not defined as an error.
Submission Requirements
Assessment tasks need to be via electronic submission from the students via MyRMIT and then hard copies (if required by your teacher) handed in during class.
Late Submission Procedures
You are required to submit assessment items and/or ensure performance based assessment is completed by the due dates.
If you are prevented from submitting an assessment item on time, by circumstances outside your control, you may apply in advance to your teacher for an extension to the due date of up to seven calendar days.
More information: http://www.rmit.edu.au/students/assessment/extension
Form to use: http://mams.rmit.edu.au/seca86tti4g4z.pdf
Where an extension of greater than seven days is needed, you must apply for special consideration. Applications for special consideration must be submitted no later than two working days after the assessment task deadline or scheduled examination.
More information: http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=g43abm17hc9w
Form to use: http://mams.rmit.edu.au/8a5dgcaqvaes1.pdf
Resubmissions:
If you are found to be Not Yet Competent in a Course Assessment Task you will be allowed one resubmission only. Your teacher will provide feedback regarding what you need to do to improve and will set a new deadline for the resubmission. The highest grade you will receive if your resubmission is successful is "CAG".
If you are still not meeting the assessment requirements you must apply to your Program manager in writing outlining the steps you will take to demonstrate competence in your course. Your submission will be considered by the Program Team and you will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible.
Adjustments to Assessment
In certain circumstances students may be eligible for an assessment adjustment. For more information about the cirumstances under which the assessment arrangements might be granted please access the following website:
More Information: http://rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=7usdbki1fjf31
You should:
• Ensure that you submit assessments on or before the due date. If your performance in the assessment is affected by unexpected circumstances, you should consider applying for Special Consideration. Information on the process and application forms is available at myRMIT and check links in your Student Diary.
• Always retain a copy of your assessment tasks (hrd copy and soft copy)
• When you submit work for assessment at RMIT University you need to use a cover sheet that includes a declaration and statement of authorship. You must complete and submit an Assessment Record/Cover Sheet with work you submit for assessment, whether individual or group work. On the cover sheet you declare that the work you are presenting for assessment is your own work. You will find the relevant Assessment Record/Cover Sheet on Blackboard.
• Each page of your assessment should include a footer with your name, student number, the title of the assessment, unit code and title and page numbers.
Marking Guide (competency):
Vocational Education and Training (VET) is based on current industry needs and the focus on preparing you for the workplace. Because VET courses are informed by practical application of knowledge and skills, they are based on a system known as ‘competency based training’ (CBT). So when you are assessed in VET it is about whether you are competent to do the job, as well as having a firm grasp on the knowledge and skills required to do that job, as opposed to traditional curriculum based education settings that are often based on knowledge retention.
You need to demonstrate you are competent in each element of the unit of competency you are studying. You will receive feedback on each assessment task that will inform you whether you are competent or not and how well you are performing. Once competent in all elements of the unit you pass that unit of competency.
Marking Guide (Grading)
Each assessment task is marked as Competent or Not Yet Competent, but not graded until achieving competency across the assessment tasks. We then grade your performance in the unit; this gives you the opportunity to have the level of your performance formally recognized against industry standards and employability skills.
The grading is according to the following criteria:Marking Guide (Grading)
After achieving competency we then grade your performance in the unit; this gives you the opportunity to have the level of your performance formally recognised against industry standards and employability skills.
Final Grades Table:
CHD Competent with High Distinction
CDI Competent with Distinction
CC Competent with Credit
CAG Competency Achieved – Graded
NYC Not Yet Competent
DNS Did not Submit for assessment
1. LEVEL OF INDEPENDENCE, INITIATIVE, ENTERPRISE AND PERFORMANCE OF WORK TASK
We are looking for a high level of ability to complete all tasks independently as per the specifications as well as demonstrating a high level of initiative in your approach to implementing sustainability in a workplace situation
2. DEMONSTRATED BREADTH OF UNDERPINNING KNOWLEDGE AND A WILLINGNESS TO CONTINUE LEARNING
We are looking for depth of understanding of the key concepts and knowledge required in sustainability in the workplace.. You should be able to demonstrate a thorough understanding of all applicable sustainability principles in all the assessment tasks.
3. TECHNIQUES & PROCESSES, TECHNOLOGY SKILLS AND PROBLEM SOLVING
We are looking for appropriate use of technology to assist in presenting all tasks clearly and suitable for the intended audience. You also need to show an understanding of the kinds of problems that can arise in sustainability in a workplace with people and teams and how these might be addressed.
4. WORK ORGANISATION, PLANNING AND SELF MANAGEMENT
We expect to see class time used well, ie regular attendance, on time, planning what work to do and complete every week, use of a range of methods to monitor own output and quality of work, and timely submission of all assessment tasks.
5. COMMUNICATION, PEOPLE NETWORKING, LANGUAGE AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS AND TEAMWORK
We expect to see contributions to class discussion and student team work. Your work should demonstrate a knowledge of interpersonal skills and group discussion techniques, good research and people networking skills.
Course Overview: Access Course Overview