Outline

Overview

Managing organisational sustainability is critical for effective, contemporary managers. This unit focuses on how to conceptualise and to practice sustainability in its broadest sense. Topics covered include the ethical aspects of management and organisational practice, corporate social responsibility, governance models in organisations and managing in diverse environments. Students are encouraged to enhance their understanding of the roles and responsibilities of management and the impact of organisations on stakeholders including staff, government and community.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	SIEN3204
Academic unit	Strategy, Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	WORK2219 or WORK3204
Prerequisites ?	Completion of at least 48 credit points
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	WORK1004 or WORK2201
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Mattia Anesa, mattia.anesa@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Supervised exam ?	Final Exam Written essays and short answers	35%	Formal exam period	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Individual sustainability presentation Individual presentation	5%	Multiple weeks Closing date: 17 May 2023	5 min presentation
Outcomes assessed:
Online task	Individual sustainability reflection Individual written reflection	10%	Multiple weeks Closing date: 24 May 2023	600 words essay
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Sustainability poster presentation Group poster presentation	15%	Week 13 Closing date: 31 May 2023	15 mins
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Sustainability poster essay Written group essay	20%	Week 13 Due date: 28 May 2023 at 17:00 Closing date: 04 Jun 2023	2000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Participation	Group work peer review Peer review	5%	Week 13 Due date: 28 May 2023 at 17:00 Closing date: 04 Jun 2023	15min
Outcomes assessed:
Participation	Tutorial attendance and participation Attendance and participation mark	10%	Weekly	Ongoing
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Individual sustainability reflection: In the first tutorial class (week 1), students will be allocated to present a short (5 minute) summary of one of the tutorial discussion questions for a future tutorial (weeks 2-12). The aim is for students to discuss their reactions to the discussion question and the relevant readings and other material they have consulted. After presenting their tutorial discussion question, each student will write and submit a short 600 word (max) reflection due one week after their presentation. This short essay should include an argued response to the question and include relevant references.
Tutorial participation: Each student will be assessed on their active interventions, i.e. oral contribution to discussions. The tutorials and learning sessions will involve group work, activities, debates and discussion. Preparation will involve completing the required readings and preparing for the work for that week.
Sustainability poster presentation: Students will work in groups (max 4 members) over the semester and develop a poster analysing a sustainability dispute challenging an organisation or industry through the theoretical lens of critique and justification (Boltanski and Thevenot,2006). This theoretical framework will be explained and developed in class through various exercises. By week 4 each group MUST submit a one-page written proposal for their poster presentation outlining the team members and proposed dispute they plan to focus on. In the final tutorial class groups will present their posters to the rest of the class.
Sustainability poster essay: All groups will submit a formal written essay outlining their poster presentation two weeks later. The essay will detail the sustainability dispute you investigated, the findings and central argument. It should include an Introduction, main body (including sub-sections) and a conclusion. The essay should not exceed 2000 words excluding references (APA7 ref style).
Group work peer review: Students will be required to assess individual contributions to the group work via the ‘Feedback Fruit’ platform integrated in Canvas. Through the peer evaluation, students will have the opportunity to give and receive feedback to/from all members of the team. Marks will be made up of the average score from teammates’ rating and engagement with the feedback received.
Final exam: The exam is designed to test both your content knowledge of key sustainability issues as well as your ability to analyze and evaluate information using the theories and concepts we have explored in class. The exam will include a choice of essay questions that integrates material covered in the Unit of Study. You will be asked to support your answers through reference to examples.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Distinction	75 - 84	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Credit	65 - 74	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Pass	50 - 64	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction - What is sustainability?	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 02	The business case for sustainability	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 03	Climate change: The sustainability challenge of our time	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 04	Corporate environmentalism	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 05	Corporate political activity and sustainability	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 06	Social sustainability	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 07	Social movements for sustainability	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 08	Sustainable solutions? Climate reality	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 09	Organisational culture, emotions & sustainability	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 10	Managing sustainability and organisational change	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 11	The Great Barrier Reef: Case study of a sustainability crisis	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 12	Critically evaluating sustainability: alternative paths in the Anthropocene	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 13	Poster presentations	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Recommend and justify integrated organisational and industry strategies, policies and implementation approaches that are appropriate to support organisational sustainability objectives in particular contexts
LO2. Use suitable research methods and information technologies to acquire, analyse and interpret data, concepts and theories salient to addressing particular organisation related sustainability issues and challenges and formulate appropriate findings, recommendations and remedies
LO3. Question, assess and respond creatively to assumptions, propositions and debates within organisational sustainability
LO4. Prepare and present professional reports that address sustainability related problems, propositions and debates within sustainability related organisational theory and practice
LO5. Influence others to work collaboratively to recommend and report on policies and strategies to address complex organisational problems related to sustainability.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

- Separated Individual sustainability reflection from individual sustainability presentation. These are individual tasks that students are allocated to each week (once per student) throughout the semester. - The last Individual sustainability presentation is now due on Week 11 and corresponding submission (reflection) on Week 12. I added only closing weeks, rather than due dates. - Group poster essay moved from exam week to Sunday of week 13 - Peer review survey also moved to Sunday of Week 13. This is just the formalization of the peer review that has been always required to students for their group work, and generally submitted during the exam period. The only difference is that it is now run through feedback fruit. It requires minimum efforts from students, however, if they feel overburdened in week 13 (given the other two assessments due), they can ask for a simple extension.

Additional information

Business School Policies

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

SIEN3204: Managing Organisational Sustainability

Semester 1, 2023 [Normal day] - Remote

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect