Unit Outline

Organisations will often have a vision and a mission which will in turn link to goals and objectives and related strategic planning. To enable an organisation to achieve is mission, objectives, and goals requires a well-designed, organisational-relevant governance system. An organisational governance system will have a myriad of integrated policies and procedures inclusive of various forms of social and environmental audits.

The extent to which an organisation is effectively applying particular governance procedures can be assessed through various forms of independent social and environmental audits, the results of which will be reported through different forms of audit/assurance reports. Selecting and/or developing appropriate policies and procedures, such as those referred to above, is a fundamental role of management. Quests to operate sustainably demand a suite of sustainability-related policies and procedures which requires critical thinking. Appropriate governance policies reduce the risks, and heighten the opportunities, that the sustainable development agenda creates for an organisation.

It is important that graduates understand the need and role of good governance. Employer groups, professional accounting bodies and course advisory committees have consistently highlighted the need for business students to be critical thinkers; be able to demonstrate skills that extend beyond technical competencies; and to be able to demonstrate an understanding that organisations are part of a broader social system on which they rely for organisational survival.

This unit responds to this expectation, as it:

• Explores the meaning and role of organisational governance in helping an organisation be a valuable member of society

• Identifies the components of a well function governance system with a particular focus on policies and procedures aimed at addressing problems associated with modern slavery, environmental performance generally, and climate change

• Explains the role of social audits and how to implement them

• Explores the types and roles of third-party assurance statements particularly as they relate to non-financial aspects of performance

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1.	Critique various governance procedures that can be used to improve an organisation’s performance with respect to its social and environmental (climate-change) performance.
2.	Explain the need for ‘social audits’ and prescribe how to implement them
3.	Critically reflect on the features of a well-designed environmental management system aimed at assessing the quality of environmental management systems
4.	Critically evaluate the role and contribution of audit/assurance statements particularly as they relate to aspects of social and environmental performance.
5.	Communicate sustainability-related governance information and recommendations to a professional audience.

Alterations as a result of student feedback

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Individual Assignment	Week 5	35 %	LO1, LO3, LO5
Assessment Task 2:	Individual Assignment	Week 9	35 %	LO1, LO2, LO4, LO5
Assessment Task 3:	Team Project	Week 13	30 %	LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Individual Assignment

Task Description:

Produce a report for management of the case organisation in which you clearly define ‘organisational governance’ and explain which forms of governance might be particularly relevant to the organisation for managing its social and environmental risks

Task Length:

1500 Words

Due Date:

Week 5

Weight:

35 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Analyse internal corporate governance mechanisms for environment management systems (EMS) to be effective	LO3
2	Analyse and evaluate corporate governance policies to address potential risks and opportunities confronting the organisation from a sustainability perspective	LO1
3	Professionally communicate your findings in a report to management	LO5

Assessment Task 2: Individual Assignment

Task Description:

Produce a video for management of the case organisation explaining the meaning, roles, and types of ‘social audits’ from an organisational perspective. You are then required to explain to management how the case organisation might use ‘social audits’ to address the issue of ‘modern slavery’. Further, you are to advise management on the steps that need to be taken to ultimately produce a publicly available ‘Modern Slavery Statement’.
Management wants you to prepare the video so that it is ‘educational’ or ‘instructional’ in nature so that it can be used within the organisation to explain to various staff members why and how the organisation will be utilising social audits, as well as explaining to staff the relevance of ‘modern slavery’ and the role that a ‘Modern Slavery Statement’ plays. The video is not to exceed 8 minutes.

Task Length:

8-minute video

Due Date:

Week 9

Weight:

35 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Justify a need for a ‘social audit’ and its role in enhancing good governance in organisations	LO1
2	Critically analyse how social audit fosters transparency and accountability in the case organisation	LO2
3	Critically review the role of audit statements and how assurance providers assess the systems and process that the company uses to collect, manage and report ESG data	LO4
4	Communicate case study findings to managers.	LO5

Assessment Task 3: Team Project

Task Description:

Produce a video for the Board of Directors of the case organisation in which you explain the costs and benefits associated with having the organisation’s sustainability report subject to an independent third-party review. In preparing the report you should also describe some of the decisions the assurance provider will likely need to make in undertaking the assurance work

Task Length:

10-minute video

Due Date:

Week 13

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Critically reflect on the role and benefits associated with having a sustainability report subject to an independent review	LO2
2	Demonstrate knowledge of the processes applied by a third-party assurance provider	LO4
3	Analyse and evaluate whether assurance services provided in relation to a sustainability report need to also involve an assessment of the organisation’s environmental management system	LO3
4	Demonstrate collaboration, cooperation and teamwork when making decisions and working with people from diverse backgrounds	LO5

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.