As indicated in the Module Outline, the assessment structure for this course consists of the use of scenarios and cases in line with current industry practice to check that you have met the intended learning outcomes (A5, B4, and C2).
Summative Assessment:
Individual written ‘Sustainability Consultancy’ report on the fictional case
The Summative Assessment comprises one single component in the form of an individual Sustainability Consultancy ‘SC’ report, worth 100%TMM, covering the intended learning outcomes: A5, B4, and C2.
However, this summative assessment comprises : the full written Sustainability Consultancy (‘SC’) report, and a brief (5 to 10 minutes) in-class presentation of the case and of the recommendations in your report.
The mark will be one for the overall simulation activity (i.e. the full written report and the highlights of the report presented in class), and will mostly depend on the quality of your report and the depth and relevancy of the demonstrated research.
The full written ’Sustainability Consultancy’ report should be no longer than 2500 words. It has to be submitted via Turnitin in BB by the end of week 12.
Indicative notes on how to develop and structure the ’Sustainability Consultancy’ report:
Drawing from the main case presented in the formative assessment, you will have to research further in order to produce an individual and well-sustained Sustainability Consultancy (‘SC’) report.
To make it more challenging, it can either be strictly based on the one single real case you presented during the formative assessment, or, alternatively (if you wish) it can be a semi-fictional setting that you build drawing on the case you identified for the formative assessment, to which you add some additional details from other diverse events/issues/occurrences you may have come across whilst researching other companies or events. You may even name it with a fictional name (e.g. the ‘Gama incident November 2016’). This will allow you to identify a wider variety of issues on which you can then work for the report.
For ethical reasons, a disclaimer naming the exact companies/cases/incidents used to develop the fictional scenario is required, stating that these incidents have been used exclusively to build the fictional case for the purpose of this academic assessment.
It is recommended that you use fictional company names in the fictional case.
The full written report and the brief presentation may be structured as follows (these points are just indicative, you mat structure as best fits your style and the case, but you should keep it realistic, even if fictional, and close to professional standards):
i. A disclaimer mentioning the company/companies and agencies that you used to feed into this fictional case
ii. A summary of YOUR (semi-fictional) case, including a brief list of the critical issues to be addressed. This should also include an overview of the semi-fictional company's relevant culture, structure, standards, policies and procedures in place, alongside any other details you may consider relevant to include. You are also expected to describe and emphasize the financial and trading impact the case had on the financial sustainability of the company studied.
iii. Then, for a Consultancy report, you should provide:
Consultancy report: A Consultancy report is an advisory document, the nature and scope of which are agreed with the client and which are intended to add value and improve an organization’s governance, risk management, and control processes without the internal auditor assuming management responsibility.
As a consultant, you do not have any managerial or decision-making responsibility. Controlling and managing risk is one of management’s biggest concerns. Instead of just an audit report, as a consultant you will help develop and implement risk controls. You will give advice and suggest changes to improve the department, and work with managers to implement the changes and assist with employee training.
So, when preparing a Consultancy report you should include the whole set of issues identified, prioritize them (time it would take to implement corrective actions for each and how much it would cost – you can set it in xyz terms, no specific currency nor value, just for the purpose of this exercise).
You then have to provide a detailed and well sustained set of recommendations on how to address the key priority issue or gaps identified, or how to act in the near future if any similar situation arises (focus mainly on the environmental, social, ethical and health and safety standards, policies and procedures and examples of poor practice/best practice) and a plan for action, with timeline and budget for each step of the change process.
As this is an exercise for academic purposes, you will need to include a properly set Reference list. The use of academically reliable sources, as well as reference to the appropriate laws, regulations, standards, policies, frameworks, and procedures and any other relevant management tools considered essential is required.
Adequately acknowledging the sources of the images/data used (if applicable) is also required.
The overall key evaluation criteria and their relative weighting are detailed below:
CRITERIA INDICATIVE % weight
Structure and consistency of the coursework 10.0
Demonstrated in-depth level of the analytical research 30.0
Critical overview and quality of the arguments and 30.0 recommendations put forward
Presentation and argumentative skills 20.0 References and Acknowledgments 7.5 Time management skills 2.5
Expected attitude in live presentations: relaxed but focused, not reading from notes nor from the screen. Expected dress code: professional
Written feedback will be provided via Blackboard, after moderation, within the timeframe set in the University guidelines. All coursework will be moderated and the marks are non- negotiable. The marks will be indicative until the final exam boards, after which the official final marks will be released.
The presentations in class will be video-recorded strictly for assessment and moderation purposes according to the University guidelines.
Sample Solution