Course Title: Develop workplace policy and procedures for sustainability
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2020
Course Code: BUSM7938C
Course Title: Develop workplace policy and procedures for sustainability
School: 650T Vocational Business Education
Campus: City Campus
Program: C5395 - Diploma of Information Technology
Course Contact: Val Christou
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 5076
Course Contact Email: val.christou@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Course Leader: Nicky Sephton
+61399255423
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.
It applies to individuals with managerial responsibilities who undertake work developing approaches to create, monitor and improve strategies and policies within workplaces and engage with a range of relevant stakeholders and specialists.
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
Details of Learning Activities
A range of learning activities are planned for this course on a variety of topics as shown in the teaching schedule.
This may include self-paced and collaborative classroom activities such as:
- Class exercises
- Problem solving
- Project work
- Quizzes
We expect you to participate and contribute in all scheduled learning activities as each week builds on the next.
Teaching Schedule
Course Delivery:
The nominal hours associated with this are a guide only and represent the total teaching time and student effort required to successfully complete the course. This may include not only scheduled classes but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.
Course Schedule: Develop workplace policy and procedures for sustainability | ||
Week |
Topic |
Assessment |
|
Week 1 10 Feb 2020 |
Introduction and Sustainability definition and purpose |
|
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Week 2 17 Feb 2020 |
Sustainability aim & objectives |
|
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Week 3 24 Feb 2020 |
Legislation and Resources |
|
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Week 4 2 Mar 2020 |
Benefits for the organisation and the risks of non-sustainable practices |
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|
Week 5 9 Mar 2020 |
Work on Assessment Task 1 |
DUE Assessment Task 1- Knowledge Task |
|
Week 6 16 Mar 2020 |
Work practices and processes |
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Week 7 23 Mar 2020 |
Develop workplace sustainability policy: Strategies and Recommendations |
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Week 8 30 Mar 2020 |
Develop workplace sustainability policy: Reporting processes |
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Week 9 6 Apr 2020 |
AT2.1 In class student review of draft |
AT2.1 In class student review of draft |
Break (Thursday 9th April to Wednesday 15th April – inclusive) | ||
|
Week 10 20 Apr 2020 |
Communicate workplace sustainability policy: Action Plans |
DUE Assessment Task 2.1 PROJECT: Sustainability Policy Development, Framework, Processes & Scope of Policy |
|
Week 11 27 Apr 2020 |
Communicate workplace sustainability policy:
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Week 12 4 May 2020 |
Implement, Monitor and Review:
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Week 13 11 May 2020 |
Student review of draft |
AT2.2 In class student review of draft |
|
Week 14 18 May 2020 |
Completion of Assessment 2 in class |
DUE Assessment Sub-Task 2.2 PROJECT: Sustainability Practices, Policy Implementation, Communication, Monitoring, and Review |
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Week 15 25 May 2020 |
In class feedback and resubmit of AT1 if required |
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Week 16 1 Jun 2020 |
In class feedback and resubmission of AT2 if required |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
You will need laptop with charger for each class
You may also refer to various media, websites, textbooks and e-books as indicated in Canvas
Overview of Assessment
In order to achieve competency in this unit, you must provide:
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, you 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.
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
Assessment Tasks
You are required to complete 2 assessment tasks within this course. You must successfully complete both the assessments to be deemed competent in this unit.
ASSESSMENT TASK 1: Knowledge Task - Due: Week 5
This task involves written answers for open ended questions. The topics covered include;
- the environmental or sustainability legislation, regulations and codes of practice applicable to the organisation,
- internal and external sources of information and how they can be used to plan and develop an organisation’s sustainability policy
- policy development processes and practices
- organisational systems and procedures that relate to sustainability
- typical barriers to implementing policies and procedures in an organisation and possible strategies to address them.
Sometime will be made available to work on the knowledge task in class, however it is expected that most of the work will be conducted outside of class time.
This is an individual assessment task.
ASSESSMENT TASK 2 - PROJECT: Sustainability Policy Development
This task requires you to develop a sustainability policy for the organisation. This is an individual assessment task, however you will be required to collaborate with your fellow students in order to have your policy reviewed and the feedback incorporated into your draft policy.
The task consists of 2 sub-tasks that should be included as part of the workplace policy. Refer to the sub-tasks below for description and due dates.
ASSESSMENT TASK 2.1 - PROJECT: Sustainability Policy Development, Framework, Processes & Scope of Policy - Due: Week 10
This is the first part of your workplace policy development for own or an organisation of your choice. To build a context around your policy, you are required to create a business organisation of your choice, in which such policy will be implemented and deployed. You will outline your organisation's resources, and those which you wish to target to improve your organisations sustainability practices.
Develop strategies and recommendations on how you are going about achieving better sustainability results in your business processes and in what timeframe.
Based on the best practice examples discussed in class and what you will have researched, consider now how you are going to optimise the resource usage, e.g. through preventing unnecessary waste and developing potential recycling opportunities for your organisation, where applicable.
You will be given a template to guide you through this process, which you will progressively complete until the end of the semester.
You will be assigned a student partner in which you will be required to review their draft policy and provide constructive feedback to help them to improve. And you will ask them to review your policy and provide constructive feedback for your policy.
Student review will be conducted in class in Week 9 – Attendance is required
You will then incorporate the feedback provided to you by your student partner and update your draft version of your policy.
You will be asked to submit the draft of your first half of the policy, the feedback you have provided to another student, the feedback that has been provided to you from another student and the newly updated first half of the policy that includes the tracked changes made as suggested by your reviewer.
ASSESSMENT SUB TASK 2.2: PROJECT: Sustainability Practices, Policy Implementation, Communication, Monitoring, and Review - Due: Week 14
This is the second part of your workplace policy for your organisation. This Sub-Task focuses on the detailed steps required to start acting upon your developed policy content.
This is about the implementation phase of the strategies and recommendations you have outlined in the previous sub-tasks.
You will then look at each strategy separately and list action items that need to be done, including the allocation of resources and responsibilities.
Then state how you propose to communicate, monitor, review to continuously improve your policy.
You will be assigned a new student partner in which you will be required to review their draft policy and provide constructive feedback to help them to improve their work. And you will ask them to review your policy and provide constructive feedback for your policy.
Student review will be conducted in class in Week 13 – Attendance is required
You will then incorporate the feedback provided to you by your student partner and update your draft version of your policy.
You will be asked to submit the draft of your entire policy, the feedback you have provided to another student, the feedback that has been provided to you from the student reviewer, the new version of the entire policy with tracked changes as suggested by your reviewer, and the final version of the policy includes the changes made as suggested by your reviewer.
Assessment Matrix
Elements/Performance Criteria |
Assessment Details |
|
1. Develop workplace sustainability policy 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
|
Knowledge Assessment Task 1 Project Assessment task 2.1 |
|
2. Communicate workplace sustainability policy 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
|
Project Assessment task 2.1 Project Assessment task 2.2 |
|
3. Implement workplace sustainability policy 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
|
Project Assessment task 2.1 Project Assessment task 2.2 |
|
4. Review workplace sustainability policy implementation 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 |
Project Assessment task 2.2 |
Performance Evidence |
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|
Evidence of the ability to:
|
Project Assessment task 2.1 Project Assessment task 2.2 |
Knowledge Evidence |
|
|
To complete the unit requirements safely and effectively, the individual must:
|
Knowledge Assessment Task 1 Project Assessment task 2.1 Project Assessment task 2.2 |
Other Information
Submission Requirements
You should:
- Ensure that you submit assessments on or before the due date via CANVAS.
- Always retain a copy of your assessment tasks. (hard 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, sign and submit a cover sheet with all 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.
- Each page of your assessment should include footer with your name, student number, the title of the assessment, unit code and title and page numbers. For example, Julie Macpherson, 324567, Task 2, OHS2345C Ensure safe workplace, Page 1 of 10.
- Projects must be submitted via Canvas.
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: https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment/extensions-of-time-for-submission-of-assessable-work
Form to use: http://mams.rmit.edu.au/seca86tti4g4z.pdf
Special Consideration Procedures
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: https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment/special-consideration
Online special consideration link: https://specon.rmit.edu.au/specon/
Resubmissions
If you are found to be unsuccessful 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.
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 circumstances under which the assessment arrangements might be granted please access the following website.
More Information: https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment/adjustments-to-assessment
Marking Guide (Courses delivered in accordance with competency-based assessment):
You must demonstrate that you have all the required skills/knowledge/elements in the unit of competency you are studying. You will receive feedback on each assessment task that will inform you about your progress and how well you are performing.
CA Competency Achieved
NYC Not Yet Competent
DNS Did Not Submit for assessment
Course Overview: Access Course Overview