ORGANISATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY FRAMEWORK ANALYSIS ASSESSMENT

PURPOSE

The objective of the Organisational Sustainability Framework Analysis is to:

• Develop a robust understanding of an organisational sustainability/planning perspective to stemming sustainability issues.
• Consider the sustainability issue from an organisational perspective and how they grapple with what aspects of manufacturing/production etc to mitigate their sustainability impact, and that they do not.
• Evaluate the sustainability frameworks (or not) that the organisation/brand implements to stem the sustainability issue.
• Consider future sustainability recommendations for your chosen product category

Drawing on the knowledge harnessed from course lectures, you will critique the extent to which your chosen brand integrates sustainability frameworks (UN Sustainable Development Goals, footprint analysis, cradle to cradle lifecycle approach/circular economy etc) to mitigate the impact of the chosen sustainability issue.

From an industry perspective you will harness understanding of the value of sustainability framework integration to future proof business strategy to address the impacts of global ecological trends affecting the world. Key influences affecting business include increasing requirement to demonstrate ethical behaviour and evidence sustainability authenticity/transparency, as well as a growing consumer base who are more in touch with the connection between the environment and the products/services they buy. As such ‘sustainability’ becomes a synonym for the capability of organizational capability to adapt to the mega-trends; to improve day-to-day operations and to look at business transformation for the future – new products, new business models or a new purpose.

NOTE: this assessment has altered this the last offering of this course!

Prior to commencing A1 complete the following:

1. Choose one organization company from the following to analyse:
   • Country Road
   • Patagonia
   • IKEA
   • Starbucks

(these organisations have been chosen specifically for their diversity of sustainability actions and available data/information).

2. Choose ONE sustainability issue that your chosen organization addresses.
3. In relation to the chosen sustainability issue critically evaluate how the organization embeds sustainability frameworks within their sustainability policy/strategy to guide and mitigate the impact of your chosen sustainability issue.

Report Structure

Use the following section headings (and well as sub-headings denoted in the guidelines below) in your report. The report headings align with the Assessment 1 marking rubric.

Cover page:

• identify the:
  • Organisation
  • Country analysis is undertaken
  • Sustainability issue,
  • Product category and
  • Student name and ‘S’ number

Assessment Structure

1. Sustainability Issue/Organisation Overview (10%, 200 words)
2. Societal Impacts analysis (20%, 600 words)
3. (insert name of organisation) Sustainability Framework Analysis: (50%, 1000 words)
4. Organisational Sustainability Framework Recommendations: (15%, 200 words)

References/Appendices

This assessment is collecting data for assurance of learning: PLO 1 Effectively communicate with diverse audiences through a variety of modes and media

Word limits across sections are approximations.

Marking rubric: Review the marking rubric. This assessment examines your ability to effectively communicate with diverse audiences.

Your report should be supported by extensive research of secondary sources relating to population and social trends, incidence statistics, previous campaigns as well as relevant, current academic literature (ie. academic journal articles). It is expected that you will use at least 10 current academic journal articles (published within the last 5 years) to support your analysis. You must use APA referencing style.

ASSESSMENT GUIDELINES

• Sustainability Issue/Organisation Overview

Remember choose ONE sustainability issue the organisation is addressing to analyse.

In this section you are required to clarify and justify the organisation’s perspective of the chosen sustainability problem; its impact at a global level and impact at the business level. What is the severity of the chosen sustainability issue relative to the chosen product category? Does the organisation evidence a sustainability value chain linking brand sustainability purpose and vision to sustainability strategy? Discuss issues that may challenge the organisation, ethical conflicts and/or social responsibilities in relation to the chosen sustainability problem impacting the organisation’s capability to enact sustainability strategies.

This analysis is a macro global view of the chosen sustainability issue linked to how the organisation views the issue. It is expected that you will substantiate verification of the problem severity to your chosen product category with facts, figures and evidence from journal articles + other publications.

Use statistics of the country in which you are addressing the sustainability problem.

• Societal Impacts analysis  

This section requires you to harness a solid understanding of the broader societal/market impacts facing businesses to implement strategies to mitigate your chosen sustainability issue.

The market plays a vital role in influencing organisation and consumer’s sustainability decision-making and related actions. Using the PESTLE (political, economic, socio-cultural, technological, legal/political, environmental) framework explore the macro-market influences impacting market attitudes and perceptions towards your chosen sustainability issue. Not all aspects of PESTLE will be relevant.

Potential issues to consider:

• Countries differ in relation to adoption and enactment of specific sustainability initiatives (eg single use plastic, recycling, water/electricity sustainability etc.). Consider the broader impacts within society influencing adoption of your sustainability issue within your country.

• What political actions influence the sustainability issue within your chosen country?

• To what extent is there socio-cultural movement in relation to your chosen sustainability issue?   

• What laws are relevant to a sustainability topic?

• To what extent does the economic situation of a country or global economy impact organisation’s capability to enact sustainability strategies

• Organisation Sustainability Framework Analysis

1. Document the sustainability frameworks the organisation is integrating within their sustainability strategy to reduce the impact of your chosen sustainability issue.
   1. Create a table to denote sustainability purpose, objective, goal etc (you will need to create the table headings as they suit the available data)
      • The table can be single spaced
      • Ensure you give due consideration to the content in this table to ensure information is succinct and clear. The purpose of a table is to provide snapshot overview of key information – do not use full sentences!

1. Evaluate the sustainability frameworks implemented and related performance to reduce the impact of your chosen sustainability issue.

• Remember you are critically addressing the extent to which your chosen organisation engages frameworks to reduce impact of your chosen sustainability problem and evidences efforts to reduce problem issue impact.
• Some organisations do this more effectively than others – yet each organisation can improve. You are required to engage your critical mind to evaluate – NOT SIMPLY regurgitate information.

You will need to edit your analysis to ensure a tight, robust argument that addresses the requirements identified in this guideline is presented and referenced accordingly with academic journal articles + other relevant sources.

DO NOT ANSWER THE POINTS BELOW – they are to assist your critical thinking not simply answer!

• Do sustainability reporting metrics and evidence of success in reducing impact of your chosen sustainability issue
• Are UN Sustainable Development Goals addressed, if so which ones are addressed? If so, discuss how the brands are leveraging practices in relation to those goals.
• To what extent does the brand refer to the Natural Framework conditions 1&2 (designing products for no increase in earth’s degradation), 3 (limits harvests to sustainable processes), or 4 (design products to improve human capital, health and wellbeing in relation to the sustain issue)
• Is LCA engaged? Discuss
• Are ecological footprint processes reported? If so, discuss
• Are sustainability metrics, reports and processes. Discuss.  
• Are global sustainability agreements referred to? Discuss
• Where there is ambiguity in organisational reporting discuss.

• Organisational Sustainability Framework Recommendations

From your analysis identify and justify 2 strategic sustainability directions – in relation to your chosen sustainability issue – that the organisation needs to address. It is critical that your recommendations stem from your analysis.

For example: in relation to micro-bead plastics two recommendations could be:

1. Develop a beauty industry body addressing micro-bead plastic harms

• Justify the value of this body to the industry

2. Develop an industry micro-bead plastics policy

• Justify the aims of the policy and influence within the beauty industry

• Presentation mechanics

See the marking rubric.

Referencing

You are to justify your argument by citing academic journal articles plus other credible resources. You are required to:

• Use a minimumof 10 academic journal articles that are current (ie within the last 5 years)
• In addition to the 10 academic journal articles you may use business magazines, websites etc.
• Referencing style to be used is APA.
• DO NOT rely solely on content from weblinks to substantiate your argument.

Final checklist prior to submission:

Ensure you edit your assignment – assignments that engage deep analysis represent a process of significant editing and critical thinking. As such, this assignment will require to you spend quality time and effort on your analysis.

Your assignment will address the following:

• Presented in report essay format (with required section headings and additional subheadings – to organise your thinking as they provide structure for you (as writer) and a guide for the reader.
• A maximum of 2,000 words (+ / – 10%)
• Include a cover page detailing chosen brand, your name and student ID + other required information
• Referencing style to be used is APA
• Appendices can be included BUT will not be read as supporting content. If the information is critical to your argument – integrate within the body of the assessment.
• Maintain within the word limits! This will be a challenge, yet you need to learn to write succinctly! Yes, words in tables are counted in the word limit!
• No table of contents or executive summary necessary
• Writing quality is important, so please edit and reviseyour writing for careless spelling, formatting and poor grammar as these give the reader the impression of carelessness and a lack of regard for the assignment.  Also, good sentence and paragraph construction helps with the presentation and flow of your ideas and arguments.
• Prior to submission your essay must meet these requirements: 5 spacing; 2.5cm margins; single sided; 12 font, TIMES NEW ROMAN style (the default Calibri is too small when reading many assignments online)
• Submit your document with .docx file extension only!
• Do not submit your document as a google docor a .pages extension or any other file extension as the system does not support these formats. Any assignments that cannot be opened will receive a mark of ‘0’.
• Use CHROME browser platform - Do notuse Microsoft Edge to upload assignments as they cannot be accessed.
• Triple check that your assignment has been uploaded correctly – blank documents will receive a mark of ‘0’.
• Ensure you have uploaded the FINAL assignment (not a working document or a blank page).
• Name your assignmentas per the following requirement:

Lastname_Firstname_snumber_AssignmentName (eg Smith_Jane_s123456_Assign1)

• Submission via Learning@Griffith by due date/time
• Please consult your marking rubric as a guide.  

• It is not necessary to identify definitions – you are expected to apply theory to practice. Cluttering your essay with definitions demonstrates you are wasting words! Make every word count in your assignment!