Course coordinator
Dr Cristyn Meath
Course overview
- Study period
- Summer Semester, 2024 (06/01/2025 - 01/02/2025)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Business School
One of the key challenges faced by organisations in dealing with environmental, social and economic sustainability issues is the development of management systems and decision making structures that enable value oriented actions to be taken. This course looks at the need for reporting systems in the context of current and future sustainability challenges and how this can be met by present reporting frameworks.
This course introduces students to the many impacts facing organisations associated with sustainability challenges around the world. Literature on organisational decision making is covered to give students a deeper understanding of how decisions are made and what information is required for effective decision making for sustainability.
Students will also be introduced to a wide range of reporting tools for sustainability and will have the opportunity to investigate one or more reporting frameworks of their choice in detail as part of their individual assignment.
Course requirements
Restrictions
Quota: Minimum of 15 enrolments
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Cristyn Meath
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Please note: Teaching staff do not have access to the timetabling system to help with class allocation. Therefore, should you need help with your timetable and/or allocation of classes, please ensure you email business.mytimetable@uq.edu.au from your UQ student email account with the following details:
- Full Name
- Student ID
- Course Code
Aims and outcomes
The course aims to provide students with an in depth understanding of the various aspects of organisational decision making and reporting for sustainability. An introduction to sustainability is followed by investigation of decision making literature which is key to understanding how executives make sense of the complex nature of sustainability, and how they try to future proof their organisations from challenges associated with climate change, resource scarcity and more. Finally, reporting tools and frameworks available to assist organisations to make meaningful change and add value to their organisation are analysed. Students are expected to leave the course with the skills to analyse the most effective reporting tools and frameworks for a given organisation based on their operations and knowledge of decision making within organisations, in addition to in depth knowledge of a number of sustainability challenges facing organisations.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Recognise and consider the interface of businesses and the natural environment;
LO2.
Evaluate and interpret the theories, concepts and techniques used in decision making/reporting for sustainability;
LO3.
Critique and recommend different means by which organisations can implement, measure and report progress towards becoming more sustainable;
LO4.
Recognise and consider managerial perspectives when addressing sustainability issues;
LO5.
Ability to work as a team to summarise and interpret the academic research that provides the basis of knowledge in sustainability;
LO6.
Apply your theoretical understanding of sustainability challenges and decision making by managers to critique and recommend reporting tools currently available and develop solutions to overcome current limitations.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participation/ Student contribution |
Class Activities
|
55% |
13/01/2025 1:00 pm 15/01/2025 1:00 pm 17/01/2025 1:00 pm
Case study conducted in teams during class. Individual preparation is due at 10am at the start of the case study classes. |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Presentation |
Organisational reporting for sustainability
|
45% |
7/02/2025 2:00 pm |
Assessment details
Class Activities
- Team or group-based
- In-person
- Mode
- Oral, Written
- Category
- Participation/ Student contribution
- Weight
- 55%
- Due date
13/01/2025 1:00 pm
15/01/2025 1:00 pm
17/01/2025 1:00 pm
Case study conducted in teams during class. Individual preparation is due at 10am at the start of the case study classes.
- Other conditions
- Peer assessed.
Task description
Individual preparation will be undertaken prior to each of the three case study activities. Participation in a group discussion and subsequent summary prepared by your team will be written and submitted during class. These case study activities are worth 15%, 20% and 20% including individual and team items and are due on the 13th, 15th and 17th January. The overall course mark from the three activities combines to equal 55%.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Blackboard and in class submission
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Students not able to attend the case study dates with a valid justification will conduct the team assessment at an alternative date with other students or the course facilitators. Please contact the teaching team regarding case study alternative date applications.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Late submission of individual or team submissions will incur the standard late submission penalties.
Organisational reporting for sustainability
- Online
- Mode
- Oral, Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Presentation
- Weight
- 45%
- Due date
7/02/2025 2:00 pm
Task description
Write a report to the CEO of your chosen organisation outlining why they require reporting for sustainability. Specific reporting recommendations are to be made and an explanation of how these will provide value to the organisation based on a discussion of the relevant decision-making, reporting, scientific and social sustainability literatures.
You are encouraged to point out limitations of the reporting frameworks currently available for managing impacts that your organisation is expected to experience and how these may be overcome.
A 5 minute video summary must be submitted as well as a 2,500 (+/- 10%) word report.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
TurnitIn in the Blackboard Assessment link.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 29 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 30 - 46 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 47 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Additional course grading information
Grades will be allocated according to University-wide standards of criterion-based assessment.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
Learning resources are provided through the course Blackboard site and are not required readings.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 |
Seminar |
Monday 6/01/2025 - Introduction to sustainability |
Seminar |
Tuesday 7/01/2025 - Managing organisational risks & opportunities |
|
Seminar |
Wednesday 8/01/2025 - Decision making |
|
Seminar |
Thursday 9/01/2025 - Introduction to reporting |
|
Seminar |
Friday 10/01/2025 - Reporting: Mandatory & industry standard |
|
Week 2 |
Case-based learning |
Monday 13/01/2025 - Case Study 1 Assessment |
Seminar |
Tuesday 14/01/2025 - Voluntary & emerging reporting for sustainability |
|
Case-based learning |
Wednesday 15/01/2025 - Case Study 2 Assessment |
|
Seminar |
Thursday 16/01/2025 - Integrated reporting |
|
Case-based learning |
Friday 17/01/2025 - Case Study 3 Assessment |
|
Week 3 |
Seminar |
Monday 20/01/2025 - Voluntary and emerging reporting |
Seminar |
Tuesday 21/01/2025 - Measuring and improving success of reporting |
|
Seminar |
Wednesday 22/01/2025 - Course review |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.