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: C6155 - Advanced Diploma of Marketing and Communication

Course Contact: Felicity Burns

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 5486

Course Contact Email: felicity.burns@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Marion Camilleri

 

marion.camilleri@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

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 as to outcomes expected, activities to be undertaken and responsibilities assigned

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 to use recording systems for tracking 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

It includes developing and implementing policies and procedures to continuously support positive organisational initiatives through its activities on the environment, consumers, employees, communities, stakeholders and all impacted members of the public sphere.

The course is delivered 'face to face' during weekly lecture/tutorial sessions, however you are expected to do some research and writing outside of class time.


Teaching Schedule

This course is co delivered and co assessed with BUSM7938C Develop workplace policy and procedures for sustainability. The nominal hours associated with this are a guide only and represent the total teaching time and student effort required to successfully complete this 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.

Apply Corporate Social Responsibility to Public Relations and Develop workplace policy and procedures for sustainability

Week

Commencing

Topic

Assessment

Week 1

10 Feb. 2020

 

Introduction to course/ Course Induction
• Course delivery and assessment details
• Course support documents
• Online learning environment
• Grading
• Plagiarism
• Appeals
• Extensions
• Feedback
• Privacy
• Submission requirements
• Resubmission policy
• Where to get support 
• Student responsibilities
• Blackboard

 

Week 2

17 Feb. 2020

Apply CSR policy to PR strategies

 

Week 3

24 Feb. 2020

CSR & Ethics

 

Week 4

2 March 2020

CSR & Sustainability- Adopting a positive view of a sustainable future

Assessment Task 1 Due - ASCR investigations

(CANVAS Upload) Sunday, 11:59 PM 

Week 5

9 March 2020

Assessment 1 - in class Presentations

Assessment Task 1: Presentation - Compulsory attendance

Week 6

16 March 2020

Assessment 1 - in class Presentations

Assessment 1: Presentation - Compulsory attendance

Week 7

23 March 2020

Environmental Sustainability

 

Week 8

30 March 2020

Methods of implementation

 

Week 9

6 April 2020

Mid Semester Break 9-15 April

 

Week 9

(Thursday 16/4/20)

Recommendations & Promotion of Sustainability & CSR to stakeholders

 

Week 10

20 April 2020

Delegating responsibilities

 

Week 11

27 April 2020

Implementation of Policy

 

Week 12

4 May 2020

Modification of policy

Assessment Task 2 Due: ACSR Report

Week 13

11 May 2020

Continuous improvement and Modification of policy

 

Week 14

18 May 2020

Assessment Task 3 writing workshop

 

Week 15

25 May 2020

Assessment Three feedback

Assessment 3 Due: Modify CSR Policy / Procedure

Online submission Sunday, @ 11:59 PM

Week 16

1 June 2020

Student  reviews 

 

Week 17

8 June 2020

Re-submissions (if required)

 





Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

All resources will be available in CANVAS.


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

 This course is co delivered and co assessed with MKTG7881 Apply Corporate Social Responsibility to Public Relations

 Assessment Instructions   Overview   You 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 the two 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 and Sustainability policies - That the policies apply to workplace PR strategies - Implementation strategy, as part of the policy, has been devised, implemented and reviewed showing a measurable improvement - Communicate with stakeholders to discuss possible approaches to policy development and implementation - Review and improve policies by identifying improvements and bench marking against industry best practice by attempting new approaches continuously over time.     Assessment 1 – Case Study Presentation   Date handed out: Week 1   Date and time due: Online submission (Week 4) In class presentation due - Week 5 & Week 6     Group or Individual: Group – Maximum of Three people       Purpose:   This assessment has been designed to allow you to research and investigate Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility Concepts. You will also investigate CSR relationship to Public Relations based on an assigned article.     This assessment has been designed to:

·    Allow students to investigate CSR relationship to Public Relations, based on research and an assigned article.

·      Explain policy development processes and practices of CSR and Sustainability

·      Outline organisational systems and procedures that relate to CSR and Sustainability

There are 3 assessment tasks in this unit. You must successfully complete both assessments to be deemed competent in this unit.

  Requirements:  

You are to research Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Concepts and read assigned article referring to Marking Guide for details on specific elements required and present your findings to the audience.

Note: The article does not cover all requirements. Your work will need to be supplemented by research (using library resources and the internet) to respond to all Marking Guide requirements, as the assigned article does not cover all required elements.

Produce a 7 to 10-minute presentation (e.g. PowerPoint).

Your presentation should cover all components of Observation Checklist, including the key aspects of your article.

Rehearse your presentation with your peer before the presentation day.       Submission Requirements: 

Group to submit to Canvas a combined file of the following (note: email submissions not accepted):

  1. Assessment Cover sheet
  2. Presentation file
  3. Speaker’s notes

Suggested structure and guides will be prepared and discussed extensively during classes. Refer to Marking Guide for details on specific elements required and on how this assessment will be graded.

    Assessment 2 – Group Research Project (Written Report) Date and time due: Week 14    Group or Individual: Group – maximum THREE in group     Purpose:   You must demonstrate an understanding of all elements of competency to be deemed competent.  

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.
  • Ensure all points in Observation Checklist are covered in your project
  Requirements   Overview of Assessment 
  • 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?
  You must participate in “Review Pit Stops” in Week 8, Week 10, Week 12 and Week 14:   As an integral part of this assessment FOUR “Review Pit Stops” will be conducted during class time. Each group member will chair at least one of the pit stop meetings held with the client (the teacher). Criteria for what constitutes a successful pit stop meeting is provided as part of the marking guide for this assessment.   While the project itself will receive an overall group grade, individual grades will be adjusted downwards accordingly for any group member who does not participate in all pit stop meetings or does not chair a successful pit stop meeting     Assessment 3 – Review and Recommendations (Report)

This is a ‘paired’ or ‘individual’ assessment task

Summary and Purpose of Assessment

This assessment has been designed to:

  • Allow you to investigate CSR relationship to Public Relations, based on research
  • Explain policy development processes and practices of CSR and Sustainability
  • Outline organisational systems and procedures that relate to CSR and Sustainability

You are to investigate a business enterprise and provide a detailed report on the business’ application of corporate social responsibility (CSR) policy (i.e. planning and communicating the establishment and maintenance of resource efficient and environmentally sustainable work practices. These include developing and implementing policies and procedures to continuously support positive organisational initiatives through its activities on the environment, consumers, employees, communities, stakeholders and all impacted members of the public sphere.).

The ‘CSR Report’ is to be written in a ‘business’ format (executive summary, table of contents, summary/conclusion, referenced, bibliography). Word count apx. 3,000 words, excluding charts, graphs and bibliography).

The ‘CSR Report’ is in the context of public relations, and the content should cover the following as a minimum:

  • Explore, identify and describe the application of CSR policy across a business enterprise, and include the PR strategies applied to them
  • Identify and describe the key stakeholders as a key component of policy development process, including different points of view from dissenting stakeholders
  • Describe the business strategies for minimising resource use at all stages of work
  • Analyse CSR policy and discuss the intended outcomes, strategies for continuous improvement, and feedback to key PR personnel and stakeholders
  • Describe the methods of implementation of the CSR strategy, and document the actual outcomes
  • Include relevant information relating to environmental or sustainability legislation, regulations, compliance, codes of practice and quality assurance systems applicable to industry of organisation
  • Analyse, list and describe records that identity trends in the CSR that may require remedial action and use records to promote continuous improvement in the workplace
  • Make a recommendation for continuous improvement in resource efficiency and business ethics to PR activity, including a policy and procedure
  • Suggest future policy options based on likely effectiveness, triple bottom line, and if possible, include timeframes and cost. Include WHS implications of the policy being considered.
  • List your resources and sources of information (multiple sources are required)

Where

You will be allocated class time to undertake this exploration task and prepare the report. You are expected to utilise time outside of class time to support this task requirement.

How

You will be assessed against the criteria as listed in the checklist in Section B of this task and how well you answer the questions asked by your assessor.

You will be assessed as satisfactory, not satisfactory, or DNS (did not submit) / Not Observed

To achieve a satisfactory result, students will need to address all criteria satisfactorily.

Each student is required to upload a copy of this task onto CANVAS by the due date.

Students must ensure they have an appropriate cover sheet that includes the following information:

  • Student name, number
  • Date of submission
  • Assessment task number and title
  • Course name
  • Equity of contribution statement, detailing all major tasks completed by each contributor
 


Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix that maps all the assessment is available on CANVAS.   Submission Requirements   You should:

  • Ensure that you submit assessments on or before the due date.  
  • Always retain a copy of your assessment tasks.
  • When you submit work for assessment at RMIT University you need to use the Assessment task document that includes a declaration and statement of authorship.
  • 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. 

Other Information

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   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   Resubmissions:   If you are found to be unsuccessful in a particular Course Assessment Task (or you do not submit/attend) you will be allowed one resubmission.  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.   Grading & re-submissions   Successful re-submissions will contribute a CAG only (Competency Achieved Grading) result to your overall grade for the course.   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:  https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment/adjustments-to-assessment   Marking Guide (Competency):    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.    Marking Guide (Grading)    After achieving competency we then grade your performance in the unit and you will achieve one of the following grades:    Final Grades table:     CAG Competency Achieved NYC Not Yet Competent DNS Did Not Submit for assessment   Further information regarding the application of the grading criteria will be provided by your teacher.

Course Overview: Access Course Overview