Part - 1
Tata Steel is the second largest steel producer in Europe and has its main steelmaking plants in the UK and Holland. It supplies steel and related services to major industries, such as construction, vehicle production and packaging.
Tata Steel is committed to tackling the challenges of sustainability. This means that it takes its responsibility towards both the environment and its communities seriously, balancing these against the need to make a profit. It has put systems in place to meet international standards for environmental management such as 15014001.
This case study shows how Tata Steel can tackle the relevant sustainability challenges and in particular satisfy all its relevant stakeholders. Analyse the given case study in your own words and answers the following questions;
1. Explain how Tata Steel's approaches to CSR and its priorities that help the company make ethical and sustainable decisions
2. Based on this case, explain how sustainable practice can help a business to compete
3. Analyse why LCA is a more accurate type of analysis than just looking at the carbon footprint of the 'usephase' of a material
4. Evaluate the contribution of Tata Steel to sustainable and ethical business practices
You may research company's website and collect more data about the relevant, and updated, sustainability principles, policies and practices of the company.
Assessment Criteria
The following assessment criteria will be used for marking this assessment task. Ensure that you have addressed all of the criteria in your work.
- Responses to the case study shows case comprehension and an understanding of sustainability principles and practices
- Answers are within the context of the given case and drawn from the given case contents and the organisation (e.g. website)
- Described how the sustainability policy helps the company achieve its legislative and ethical responsibilities
- Outlined key priorities that underpin company's vision with regards to climate change
- Analysed the Life cycle assessment process through examples
- Analysed the automotive industry case study given by the company to underpin the use of LCA an accurate type of analysis
- Explained the concept of sustainability as a competitive advantage through the analysis of the packaging industry as used in the case
- Described how ethical and sustainable approaches help the company to leverage its position and encourage sustainable decisions in others
- Summarised company's commitment to sustainable and environmental practices
- Explained how company's ethical principles and core values help it tackle the challenges of sustainability
- The case analysis is structured and integrates a number of external sources and analyses with the case study
- Cited external sources using an appropriate referencing system
Part -2:
A Sustainability Policy is a 'Statement of Intent' that can be used to communicate to staff and customers a commitment to improving environmental and social sustainability over time (Tourism Queensland, 2013).
In this assessment task, you will be required to review and analyse a sample sustainability policy. One of the sample policies used is of Fujitsu Australia, a leading service provider of business, information technology and communications solutions; and the third largest ICT Company in the Australian and New Zealand marketplace. Your trainer/assessor may also provide you with other/different policy documents for analysis.
Analyse the given policy based on;
- Purpose and scope of the policy
- Key stakeholders identified in the policy document
- Relevant legislations and standards covered in the policy document
- Sustainability goals and expected outcomes
- Mechanisms for realising sustainability goals including roles of key stakeholders
- Factors that drive company's sustainability strategy
- Link to other policies
Note, an analysis is NOT a summary of contents. An analysis typically implies a breakdown of texts/contents into parts or ideas; and examining the details and structure of these texts/contents. Simply summarising the same contents will not be considered an analysis. You will be required to explain the above policy components from your own point of view.
You may also have to research company's website or review theoretical concepts through online research to gather more information for your analysis and support your viewpoint.
Assessment Criteria
The following assessment criteria will be used for marking this assessment task. Ensure that you have addressed all of the criteria in your work.
- Used an appropriate policy document for the task
- Analysis is developed through own view points of key policy aspects
- Identified key points and issues from the policy
- Described how the company develops and implements the policy through various methods
- Analysed how various stakeholders contribute towards implementation of the policy
- Analysed how the company is able to realise its sustainability goals through policy implementation
- Gathered and used the required details from given document, company's website, and other sources to support own viewpoints
- Analysis is focussed on key aspects of the policy, succinct, and supported by analytical evaluations (not descriptive)
- The analysis is structured and integrates a number of external sources and analyses with the case study
- Cited external sources using an appropriate referencing system
Part -3:
Description:
Writing a sustainability policy requires a clear and through understanding of business activities, environmental impact of business activities, requirements of respective laws and standards, and sustainability outcomes of an organisation. Sustainability goals are an integral part of an organisation's strategic and business plans.
In this assessment task, you will be required to develop (write) and present a Sustainability Policy for an organisation your choice. Organisation can be your past or present organisation. Alternatively, you may use any organisation with a likely/expected environmental footprint. In today's technology-enhanced business environment, sustainability issues impact almost every organisation.
UTMOST care should be taken to avoid plagiarism - especially in lifting and using policy contents or documents from the internet.
Based on your selected organisational profile, develop;
- A brief summary of the organisation and its business activities
- Why sustainability is important for the organisation
- Specific business area/function where sustainable practices are critical
- Key sustainability principles and/or philosophy
- Policy goals and objectives
- Scope of the policy
- Key stakeholders and their roles and responsibilities
- Relevant laws and standards, including equal employment opportunity, equity and diversity principles and OHS implications of policy being developed
- Industry best practice (e.g. examples of what other similar organisations are doing in this area - at least two such organisations)
- Expected outcomes
- Methods for implementation (your recommendations)
You may use examples of policy document structures from the sample documents provided. All external sources must be cited using an appropriate referencing system.
Presentation:
When developed, present the policy to the class audience, assuming the class audience as organisational stakeholders. For the purpose of simulation, your trainer/assessor will play the role of your manager/supervisor and also provide feedback on you policy contents from strategic point of view.
Assessment Criteria
The following assessment criteria will be used for marking this assessment task. Ensure that you have addressed all of the criteria in your work.
- Selected and used an appropriate organisational profile/example for this task
- Outlined key business activities and their likely impact (ecological footprint) on the environment
- Sustainability principles and approaches are consistent with industry best practices and relevant laws and standards
- Policy scope defines specific business areas for sustainability initiatives, including environmental, economic and social aspects (as applicable based on the organisation type)
- The policy document is appropriate structured and presented as a formal business document
- Policy layout and contents are consistent and cover all the required policy areas
- Reference to relevant laws, standards, guidelines and approaches reflect the planned/anticipated sustainability initiatives and approaches
- Policy purpose and goals are clearly set out and reflect their relationship to company's overall strategic priorities
- Key stakeholders are identified and their roles and responsibilities are outlined in relation to implementation and management of the policy
- Policy statement is consistent with overall sustainability goals and provides a cohesive framework for managing sustainability with the organisation
- Methods for implementation are outlined as policy options based on likely effectiveness, timeframes and cost
- Relevant laws and standards are identified and listed with appropriate links and/or references
- Policy measures are enhanced by the use of industry best practices and/or benchmarks with at least two examples
- Presentation was structured, concise and aimed at promoting the policy to the stakeholders
- Presentation covered information relevant to the stakeholders including outcomes expected, activities to be undertaken and responsibilities assigned
- Maintained positive body language, audience contact and interest
- Answered audience questions and gathered feedback
Part -4:
Description:
In this team project, your team (maximum 4 members) will be required to develop implementation strategies for the policy document development in Assessment Task3. Essentially, you will focus on implementing the sustainability initiatives (policy) with a view to achieve stated sustainability goals.
Team should be formed at the beginning of the term and delegate project tasks to members based on their assigned role and responsibilities.
Strategies may include (but are not limited to);
- Promotional activities
- Raising awareness among stakeholders
- Training staff in sustainability principles and techniques
Assume that your team has been given the responsibility to implement and promote the Sustainability Policy across the organisation. As your team will have access of all the policy documents developed by team members in the previous task, only ONE of the policy must be selected for this task.
Develop a comprehensive document the covers;
1. Purpose
2. Strategies for minimising resource use
3. Strategies for reducing toxic material and hazardous chemical use
4. Benefits of employing life cycle management approaches
S. Communication plan for involving all stakeholders in the implementation process
6. Procedures for implementing policy initiatives (a brief procedure for each policy initiative)
7. Measures or benchmark indicators to identify the outcomes achieved (e.g. how will we know if a particular goal has been achieved)
8. Key responsibilities
9. Processes to collect and analyse feedback once the policy has been implemented
10. Plan for continuous improvement using Deming's PDCA cycle
You team will be expected to undertake the project work during assigned project time in training sessions. Teams will be expected to delegate roles, responsibilities, and tasks; and maintain team communication throughout.
In additional the above, teams will need to provide a team statement highlighting roles and responsibilities of team members, and a summary of contribution from each member.
The suggested strategies should be enhanced by the use of charts (e.g. likely resource consumption), flowcharts, and graphs as needed. The final document should be word processed and structured as a formal business document reflecting a real-life approach.
Assessment Criteria
The following assessment criteria will be used for marking this assessment task. Ensure that you have addressed all of the criteria in your work.
Note to Assessors: Equal contribution from team members must be ensure to maintain equity and fairness in marking/grading. Groups should be encouraged to set rules on non-attendance and under-performing members and report any problems to the assessor at the earliest.
- Formed a team and delegated the required roles, responsibilities, and tasks
- Maintained effective team communication and participated in in-class project work when assigned
- Team statement demonstrates cohesive and collaborative team culture; and an effective organisation of work
- Developed strategies for addressing a range of sustainability and environment issues relevant to business activities
- Life Cycle approach is highlighted with articulation of the concept supported by examples
- Described how life cycle management approach provides a more sustainable outcome as opposed to analysis of a use-phase
- Key stakeholders are identified and their roles and responsibilities are outlined in relation to implementation and management of the policy
- Communication plan outlines a range of communication methods to engage the key stakeholders across the organisation
- Developed procedures for implementing sustainability initiatives
- Procedures provide an appropriate mechanism for implementing policy initiatives
- Individual procedures are developed for each policy measure
- Policy outcomes are evaluated against set measures or benchmarks consistent with industry best practices
- Policy implementation measures are developed with a continuous improvement focus and provide a cohesive approach towards achieving sustainability goals
- Feedback mechanisms and a plan to use the feedback data is developed with a view to monitor and continuously improve the process
- Plan for continuous monitoring and improvement of policy measures is developed using Deming's PDCA model
- The continuous improvement process, and use of feedback back data is outlined through the PDCA model
- Used a range of visual data including charts and graphs to emphasise key details/data
- The document is appropriately structured and prepared using a Word processing or any other suitable software
- Documentation includes profiles of team members and their specific contribution to the project
- Team statement describes key team processes including team meetings
- Project tasks were identified and delegated to team members with specific responsibilities