This will be the beginning of a very long paper that will come in parts every week, it is important that the writer stick to the instructions and read carefully every detail. For this week the writer will just be preparing the (SSP) proposal which will have to be approved first before other parts of the paper can be added. The writer may use the same company that was use in the paper with reference #112472 of my previous paper. The writer must detail respond to all the points raise below in the questions. Also take note that they will be a template for this paper that the writer will follow strictly, written directly on it following the instructions that are clearly giving. For this week the writer will not need the template as we are still in the process of approving the proposal.
Sustainable Solutions Paper (SSP) Proposal.
There is little question that the global business landscape in the 21st century is different from the landscape of the 20th century. Companies that have been in existence for nearly the entire 20th century are now out of business. Camera maker Eastman Kodak was one of many such companies who did not develop a sustainable business model that would allow it to adapt to a changing environment.
Modern consumers are increasingly demanding that organizations not only meet the needs of those they serve today but also the needs of future generations. In order to survive, organizations must develop a sustainable model that incorporates social responsibility. Studies, such as those by Kanzah (2013), show that companies who adopt sustainability practices that address environmental issues, societal issues, and workforce development positively impact short-term efficiency and operations management. These organizations also reduce risk. Such results indicate that developing an organizational sustainability strategy is not a moral obligation but also a business imperative.
To prepare, begin by thinking about the organization you have chosen that could benefit from applying both the concepts of sustainability and strategic thinking for which you would like to create a sustainable solution. Review the Senge course text. Identify an issue that interests you that may provide an “opportunity hook” into exploring the underlying systemic relationships and business models that Senge argues may be unsustainable.
Prepare and submit approximately a 2-paragraph SSP proposal. In your proposal,
identify the organization you have selected and provide background on its history and present position within its industry.
Be sure to identify two of the organization’s main competitors.
Then specify its relevance for study, place the organization in the context of the course, providing supporting evidence/reference(s). Use proper APA citation(s), grammar.
Resources.
Readings
• Harvard Business School Press. (2005). Strategy: Create and implement the best strategy for your business. Boston, MA: Author.
o “Introduction” (pp. xi–xxi)
The Introduction to the text presents the ideas of strategy creation and implementation. The book defines strategy and illustrates and contrasts it against the term “business model.” It outlines business strategy as a process, moving from the establishment of goals to the implementation of those goals. The Introduction ends with an overview of the remainder of the text from Chapter 1 through Chapter 9.
• Senge, P., Smith, B., Kruschwitz, N., Laur, J., & Schley, S. (2008). The necessary revolution: Working together to create a sustainable world. New York, NY: Broadway Books.
o Chapter 1, “A Future Awaiting Our Choices” (pp. 3–13)
In this chapter, the authors introduce readers to the idea that the Industrial Revolution is coming to a close. The authors assert that ways of thinking, being, and consuming that many have grown accustomed to are now being called into question. They begin to suggest that new ideas are emerging to solve the new challenges surfacing in our world. This resource is useful for completing your SSP Proposal and your SSP in the coming weeks.
o Chapter 9, “Positioning for the Future and the Present” (pp. 119–139)
The authors present several approaches in this chapter. They suggest breaking sustainable value into four quadrants—providing a framework within which today’s companies can evaluate their strategies and project the payoff of making changes. Throughout the chapter, the authors provide examples of companies who are succeeding in the present while positioning their businesses to meet the needs of the future in this quickly changing environment. This resource is useful for completing your SSP Proposal and your SSP in the coming weeks.
o Chapter 11, “Building Your Case for Change” (pp. 157–164)
In this chapter, Senge et al. (2008) provides strategies for communicating change and soliciting “buy-in” from decision makers. They revisit the sustainable value matrix from Chapter 9 and outline specific steps for building consensus. This resource is useful for completing your SSP Proposal and your SSP in the coming weeks.
• Millar, V.E. & Porter, M. E. (1985, July–August). How information gives you competitive advantage. Harvard Business Review, 63, 149–160..
In this seminal work, Porter and Miller (1985) articulate the strategic significance of the information revolution on competitive advantage. While the aspects of this article related to information technology may now seem dated, the core management principles are still very much in use today. Focus on the Exhibits as they relate to your understanding of the analysis of value chains for use in this week’s paper
• NetMBA. (2010). The value chain. Retrieved August 6, 2013, from http://www.netmba.com/strategy/value-chain
The site briefly introduces the value chain concepts and the value chain’s relationship to cost and differentiation strategies. The site also identifies technologies that can be employed in many value chain activities. The site stresses the importance of linkages between value chain activities and analyzing these interrelationships. It explains the outsourcing of activities and the development of value systems.
SAMPLE ANSWER
Sustainable Solutions Paper (SSP) Proposal
Apple Inc., is one of the most world influential and popular company. The company deals in production of computers and communication gadgets such as iPhone, iPod, Smartphones among many others. The company pioneer and founder Steve Jobs started the company together with Steve Wozniak. (Apple Case Study, 2012). The company has grown and expanded over the years to its status. The leadership was visionary and valued its customers. Creativity and innovation of the leaders and employees as well contributed to its success (Millar & Porter, 1985). The position of the company is to meet the needs and tastes of the customers. The company ensures that it produces products that are of high quality and innovative. Furthermore, the company has invested more in training and development and research and development to ensure future sustainability.
The company has a number of competitors that compete for the same markets. Competitors as well deal in similar products hence reducing the market share of the company. Some of these competitors include, Nokia and IBM (Sahoo, 2012). Therefore, this company is important in this study, as it will help to understand the strategies employed to remains sustainable in this competitive markets. It will also provide insights on how it creates its values and how it can even do better by adapting to other strategies
References
Apple Case Study (2012). Apple Inc.: The Steve Jobs Effect. The Steve Jobs Effect, 1-16
Millar, V., & Porter, M. (1985). How information gives you competitive advantage. Harvard Business Review, 63, 149–160.
Environmental impacts are the positive or negative effects that are used as symptoms to predict the environmental consequences of a policy, program, plan or project. Impacts usually help in the understanding of a projects potential benefits or harm to the immediate environment. Usually, the level or degree of the environmental impact or potential impact in relation to a project determines the cost and benefits related to the project. Halley (2009) identifies that the words impact and effects can be used hand in hand.
The impacts that are related to a project are usually measured through impact assessments to propose measures that can either adjust the impacts to acceptable levels or investigate new ways in which those impacts can be mitigated say through integration of new technological solutions. Four environmental impacts in relation to the future government project to expand the Camisea gas field of the San Martín reservoir will be discussed in this paper. They include the biological impacts of the project to human beings as well as other living things in the area, the impact of the project to the surface and ground water systems as well as the impacts to the lithosphere and atmosphere at large.
The impacts of the gas expansion project can also either is irreversible, synergistic, cumulative or positive in nature. Irreversible impacts are those that can never be changed ones they occur. Synergistic effects on the other hand are environmental impacts that arise between two or more factors or substances that produces an effect greater than the sum of their individual capacities. Mayes and Lewis (2012) define cumulative effects in environmental impact assessment as the net result of environmental impact from a number of projects and activities. Many environmental problems for example, such as increase in air pollution result from the cumulative effects of human activities or effects such as acid rain, loss of biodiversity and rapid climatic changes. Cumulative effects are therefore the combination of multiple activities.
According to Banqueri (2006), the biosphere is the zone of life on the earth as it is the combination of all ecosystems. It integrates all living things including plants and animals as well as microorganisms. In order to extract and transport natural gas from the Urubamba River area to major markets around the Americas, construction to place manmade structures such as pipelines required for the drilling of oil and gas can alter the traditional use of the land by the locals and home the local symbiotic relationships between the ecosystems. This harm could include the advent of soil erosion through the felling if trees in the forests for drilling infrastructure therefore affecting the wildlife ecosystems, their migration and breeding patterns as well as the destruction of the water catchment areas hindering the levels of both surface and underground water sources. This kind of alteration to the environment and soil structure is irreversible in nature and is therefore better prevented than cured (Thomashow, 2002).
When forests are destroyed to clear a site, the construction process also poses a threat with the erosion of minerals and harmful pollutants into streams affecting the river, lake, stream and sea ecosystems through sedimentation which as a result leads to aquatic contamination. Usually, deforestation is always a permanent exercise as nobody cuts trees and plants others. The threat of sedimentation because of deforestation is an indication to that the effects of these are synergistic in nature as the erosion of minerals from the soils also pollutes the water resources (Zelli, 2014). It is clear therefore that the individual impacts from a single factor in the examples given above may not be significant on their own as single entities but when combined with other impacts the effects become significant indicating that all these effects are not just irreversible, synergistic, cumulative or positive in nature but are intertwined and connected (Krzyzanowski, 2010).
The hydrosphere is also affected by the activities of oil and gas exploration through hydraulic fracking. In this process, various chemicals are mixed with a mixture of many gallons of water and sand and then injected into the wells with very high pressure. This fracking method however, has been seen by the locals around the Camisea field to pose threats to water, air, land, and the health of their community. Fracking sites in oil and gas extraction, according to Nagelhout (2014) have caused smog in rural areas over the years around the Camisea field and the San Martín area ecosystems in general. The locals experiences where oil and gas exploration is concerned and their value for the preservation of natural ecosystem services that they have been enjoying prior to the 1980s remain a source of concern for them to the point where it is difficult to convince them that the planned natural gas extension project in the Camisea area will have minimal negative impact. The cumulative effects of these factors to the eyes of the locals have resulted in their negative campaigns against the expansion of the project.
Documented cases of contamination of groundwater near oil and gas with fracking fluids as well as with gases, including methane and volatile organic compounds has also been noted by researchers (Ralph, 2012). Kessler (2005) also reveals that tropical regions such as Peru hold high methane concentrations increasing their probability and possibility of contamination to the environment as improperly constructed or failing wells allow gas to leak into groundwater. Cases of contamination for example have been documented in similar areas in the United States such as Ohio and Pennsylvania (Wilber, 2012).
Since drilling muds, diesel and other machinery fluid are used in the process, leaks and spills also spill at the surface creating permanent damage to the land making it unfit for use for agriculture in the future even when the natural gas deposits dry out. Since fracturing involves the use of a lot of water, the local water supplies may also be strained as a result of expansion of this project. Synergistic and cumulative effects are also bound to emerge when water becomes scarce. When water is scarce, agriculture and food production reduces and therefore the local food supply to the area also declines. A decline in the food supply results in an increase of food demand and therefore the prices of food are likely to increase in the area which will make the cost of living in the area increase. The irreversible impact of fracturing also is that most of the water used in the process is not recoverable.
Where the impact to the lithosphere is concerned, agricultural practice can also be affected by the large quantities of chemicals such as hydrochloric acid, bactericides and friction-reducing chemicals. These chemicals are usually stored in a typical well pad and if not properly managed, leakages and spillages during transport could leak into agricultural land in the area causing massive irreversible losses. The cumulative effects to the atmosphere could include the development of smog should the natural gas be burned in large quantities because of the production of several nitrogen oxides with the air. However, these factors could lead to irreversible public health conditions and illnesses for people in the area because respiratory diseases such as asthma, lung cancer, heart disease and bronchitis have been linked to the said pollutants.
The Impact Evaluation
The impact evaluation seeks to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with the processes of production, processing, transportation, storage and distribution of natural gas and oil to the Peru ecosystem. According to Gertler (2011), impact evaluation should be illustrated using the EIA operating principles of good practice such as scoping, examination of alternatives, impact analysis and mitigation. Scoping is involved with the identifying of impacts that are most important such as the benefits of the project to the local community and the mitigation of the worst possible risks that the locals are concerned about. An examination of alternatives as defined by McCabe (2003) is the establishment of the most preferred environmentally beneficial option for achieving the objectives of both parties where conserving the heritage of the area’s environment and safe and pollution free alternatives are found. Impact analysis involves the identification and the prediction of the related impacts to the most environmentally beneficial option. Impact management and mitigation involves establishing measures that are necessary to mitigate or even avoid completely the predicted adverse effects that would then be incorporated into an environmental management system (Cancilla, 2010).
Where production is concerned, the drilling of the wells and the clearing of forest for creation of the space to construct the central gathering unit that includes pipelines, liquid storage tanks, facilities will result into negative impacts such as increasing soil erosion and sedimentation, pollution of the land and air by the use of separators, pneumatic devices, chemical injection pumps, dehydrators and compressors. The processing unit will include the utilization of gas acid removal units that would help reduce the impact of acid pollution which is a positive impact. Where transportation and distribution of the natural oil and gas is concerned, pipeline networks will have to be build and many trees within the demarcated pipeline plan will have to be fell which would affect the water catchment areas and make the area prone to soil erosion. People living around these networks will also have to be evacuated and resettled for their own safety which might be an inconvenience to them. However, the presence of meter and pressure regulating stations as well as the gas facilities will ensure that general infrastructure such as electricity and roads will be built or upgraded which will speed up the development of that area. Another positive impact would be that jobs will be created as a result of the expansion of the project (Kandiyoti, 2008).
Environmental Management Plan
The environmental management plan will therefore include priorities such as demarcating sensitive lands and watersheds completely off limits to oil and gas production, curbing air pollution from drilling and production to distribution across the system by setting clean air standards that minimize methane leakage and prevention of smog-formation and cancer-causing toxic air pollution, mandating the use of drilling best practices, funding robust inspection and enforcement programs to protect the environment from pollution and setting up commissions and taskforces for the same, and making the local public or government a shareholder of the oil and gas companies ensuring that oil and gas companies post adequate bonds or other financial securities, disclosure of chemical information used in the processes, facilitating the transparency and public participation of regulatory processes associated with oil and gas development and restricting fracking through comprehensive zoning and planning (Montgomery, 2003).
Works Cited
Banqueri, Eduardo. The Biosphere Philadelphia: Chelsea House Pub., 2006.
Cancilla, Riccardo. Global Environmental Policies: Impact, Management and Effects. Hauppauge, N.Y.: Nova Science Publishers, 2010.
Gertler, Paul. Impact Evaluation in Practice Washington, D.C.: World Bank, 2011.
Halley, George T. Environmental Impact Assessments New York: Nova Science Publishers, 2009.
Kandiyoti, R. Pipelines Flowing Oil and Crude Politics London: I.B. Tauris, 2008.
Kessler, John Daniel. Studies on Oceanic Methane: Concentrations, Stable Isotope Ratios, and Natural Radiocarbon Measurements. 2005.
Krzyzanowski, Judi, and Pedro Lara Almuedo. Cumulative Impacts of Natural Resource Development and Ecosystems and Wildlife an Annotated Bibliography for British Columbia Kamloops, B.C.: FORREX Forum for Research and Extension in Natural Resources, 2010.
Mayes, Linda, and Michael Lewis the Cambridge Handbook of Environment in Human Development Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012.
McCabe, Mary. Studies of EIA Practice in Developing Countries Geneva, Switzerland: United Nations Environment Programme, 2003.
Montgomery, Carla W. Environmental Geology. 6th ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2003.
Nagelhout, Ryan. Fracking New York, NY: Gareth Stevens Publishing, 2014.
Ralph, Peter. Dirty Fracking Business Melbourne: Melbourne Books, 2012.
Thomashow, Mitchell. Bringing the Biosphere Home Learning to Perceive Global Environmental Change Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 2002
Wilber, Tom. Under the Surface: Fracking, Fortunes and the Fate of the Marcellus Shale. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2012.
In general, the Journal Article Review must contain an introductory paragraph, the body of the work, and a conclusion. In terms of the body, the following items must be discussed:
1. Brief overview of the theme of the article and its main points.
2. Strengths of the article. Answer questions such as:
a. What did the author do well?
b. Were any points made exceptionally clear?
c. Did the author write with concision and precision?
3. Weaknesses of the article. Answer questions such as:
a. What erroneous assumptions does the author make, if any?
b. Are any factual errors made in the article?
c. Is the scientific method violated in any way?
d. Could the author have stated his/her case better?
4. Remember, every article has weaknesses. You are expected to discuss some of these. Failure to identify any weaknesses in your Journal Article Reviews will negatively affect your grade.
Outline
Use the following outline when writing your papers. Each point on the below outline must be a separate section (with a section heading) within each of your Journal Article Reviews. You will notice that these section headings correspond to the content points above.
I. Introduction
II. Brief Overview and Main Points
III. Article Strengths
IV. Article Weaknesses
V. Conclusion
Length
These reviews are to be 2–3 pages each. Do not exceed this page limit. The title page and bibliography do not count toward this page total.
Format
You must use current APA formatting. Papers must be double-spaced with 1-inch margins all around. The font is to be Courier New or Times New Roman, 12-point. Include a cover sheet with your name, instructor’s name, course number and title, date, and paper title. There is no need to include an abstract in your paper.
Sources
The only source required for each review is the article itself. However, feel free to incorporate other sources if you so desire. Additional sources must be limited to journal articles, manuscripts, scholarly textbooks, and/or internet sites from .edu or .gov sources. Avoid internet sites from .com, .net, .org, etc. sources as the information contained therein are not often peer-reviewed. Also, Study Bibles are not appropriate for this assignment. List all of your sources in a bibliography at the end of the paper.
Citation
Be sure to cite your sources in the body of your paper using proper APA formatting.
SAMPLE ANSWER
East Africa’s Great Rift Valley
Introduction
This Journal Article Review provides an assessment of an online journal article. It provides a concise overview of the article’s theme and the article’s main points. This journal article review also assesses the weaknesses and strengths of the article.
Brief Overview and Main Points
In this article, Wood and Guth (2014) provide a discussion of the general geology of rifts in the East African Rift System (EARS) and give emphasis to the geologic processes that are, or were, involved during their creation. According to the authors, the EARS is a region in which the tectonic forces of the earth are currently attempting to split apart old plates and form new ones. Rifts are cracks in the surface of the earth that become wider over time. The process of how rifting occurs can be seen in East Africa where a new plate-to-be is forming, called the Nubian plate and a smaller one is pulling away known as the Somalian plate (Wood & Guth, 2014). The entire rift system extends thousands of kilometers in the East African region and several thousands more if the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea are included as extensions. One model that explains how the rifts form supposes that increased heat flow from the asthenosphere is resulting in a pair of thermal bulges in the Afar area of north-central Ethiopia and central Kenya. During the formation of these bulges, they stretch and crack the external fragile crust into a string of normal faults, thereby creating the graben and horst structure of rift valleys (Wood & Guth, 2014).
Article Strengths
What the authors did well in this article is making several key points exceptionally clear. For instance, the description of the East African Rift System is clear and unambiguous. They state that the EARS include the Ethiopian Rift, which is in Ethiopia’s Afar area; the Lake Albert Rift that has the East African Great Lakes; the East African Rift; and the Gregory or Kenya Rift. The authors are also very clear on how these rifts formed. By focusing a little more on the East African Rift, they describe explicitly and in an understandable manner how this rift is currently forming; there is the Eastern and Western branch and Lake Victoria is in between these 2 branches. Most of the points made in this article are factual and supported by other geologists and paleontologists. For instance, Wood and Guth (2014) state that the rift’s structure and evolution might have made the region to be more susceptible to climate changes that brought about several alternations between arid and wet seasons. Geologist Gammon (2012) confirms this fact by pointing out that geological evidence suggests alternating dry and wet periods.
Article Weakness
The authors make an erroneous assumption by stating that the old continental masses which the rifts are following collided billions of years forming the African craton. It is not billions of years; it is roughly 25 million years ago. Gammon (2012) pointed out that the western section of the East African Rift System formed about 25 million years. The eastern section formed approximately 25-30 million years back (Gamon, 2012).
Conclusion
To sum up, the theme and main points of the article are that the EARS is an expanse in which the tectonic forces of the earth are at this time attempting to tear apart ancient plates and in so doing form new ones. Moreover, the process of how rifting actually takes place can be seen in East Africa where a new plate-to-be is forming and a smaller one is pulling away. The authors are clear in describing the East African Rift System and the way in which the rifts formed. Most of the points are accurate and supported by other geologists and paleontologists. However, they make an erroneous assumption by reporting that the old continental masses which the rifts are following collided billions of years ago, yet it is roughly 25 million years ago.
References
Gammon, C. (2012). First Humans’ African Home Gets New Birth Date. LiveScience
Estimation of groundwater recharge using a simple spreadsheet model.
Groundwater recharge (defined simply as the rate of water reaching the water table) information is required in the development of water resources for any location where there is no other alternative method of providing the people with the water requirements. This project aims to estimate recharge rates for a suitable location, resulting in shedding light on the availability of groundwater resource for the area.Conduct a thorough research before doing the assignment and submitting
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Write about Heritage and Waste Management.
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Sustainability
Corporate sustainability is an issue that continues to garner increased attention and importance for shareholders, consumers, and companies alike. Since 2004, Corporate Knights, a Canadian media firm, has published a list of the top 100 sustainable companies in the world. The efforts and profits among those highest on the list demonstrate that companies are increasingly able to adopt strategies that are socially and environmentally responsible and financially lucrative. Consider Umicore, the top company on Corporate Knight’s 2013 Global 100 list.
Umicore is a Belgian-based materials technology firm recognized for its treatment of their employees, the products it produces, its profitability, and its efficiency. According to Doug Marrow, Corporate Knight’s vice president of research, “Relative to its global peers in the materials industry group, the company squeezes more revenue out of each resource input (including energy and water), while generating less externalities (greenhouse gas emissions and waste)” (Smith, 2011). However, Umicore’s efforts extend beyond its own sustainability strategies. According to Morrow, “They generate over half of their revenue by selling products that help other firms improve their sustainability performance, such as energy efficiency” (Smith, 2011). The company has, in effect, created a comprehensive business model based on sustainability.
To prepare, consider the implications of expanding the definition of sustainability to include economic and social elements. Think about how implementing a strategy for improving sustainability can benefit the organization you chose for your SSP.
Instruction
By Day 5 of Week 6, read all of your colleagues’ posts and respond to two colleague in one of the following ways:
•Offer insight into an additional systemic benefit of one of the actions proposed by your colleagues.
•Provide insight on any potential obstacles to implementing actions proposed by your colleagues.
•Provide an alternative action that your colleagues’ chosen organizations can take to implement a strategy for achieving sustainability.
•Refute or support the relationships among sustainability and other organizational goals identified by your colleagues.
•Answer one of the questions posed by your colleagues in their posts.
Colleague #1 (Lachaundra)
P&G Sustainability Goals
In 2010, Procter & Gamble (P&G), the largest consumer goods company in the world, publicized its sustainability goals with 2020 targeted as the completion year: (1) 100% renewable energy used to power plants, (2) 100% renewable or recycled materials for products and packages, (3) zero consumer and manufacturing waste related to products going into landfills, and (4) design and sell products that delight consumers while maximizing the conservation of resources (Procter & Gamble Sustainability Report, 2010).
P&G Sustainability Goals Benefits
• 100% renewable energy used to power plants
o For P&G the plan is that by 2020 all energy powering its manufacturing plants will be obtained from renewable sources or power from a grid that is generated by renewable sources (Procter & Gamble Sustainability Report, 2010).. Facilities that run on renewable energy usually require less maintenance than traditional facilities because their fuel is being derived from natural resources thereby reducing the costs of operation (Procter & Gamble Sustainability Report, 2010).. Additionally, renewable energy does not produce carbon dioxide or other chemical pollutants, so the impact to the environment is minimal (Procter & Gamble Sustainability Report, 2010).
• 100% renewable or recycled materials for products and packages
o By 2020, P&G aims to use renewable materials in the construction of their products and product packaging (Procter & Gamble Sustainability Report, 2010). The plan is to utilize materials from traditional sources like biomass and from biological processes like fermentation (Procter & Gamble Sustainability Report, 2010). Using renewable materials means that production will contribute to the destruction of critical ecosystems, loss of habitat for endangered species, or other detrimental impacts on the environment or human communities (Procter & Gamble Sustainability Report, 2010).
• Zero consumer and manufacturing waste going into landfills
o P&G plans to have all waste end up in a valued waste stream like recycling, composting, and waste-to-energy without toxic emissions (Procter & Gamble Sustainability Report, 2010). Currently waste is disposed of by recycling, composting, converting waste-to-energy, and landfills (Procter & Gamble Sustainability Report, 2010). The first three give value to the waste; however, waste in landfills have no value (Procter & Gamble Sustainability Report, 2010).
• Designing and selling products that delight consumers and conserve resources
o No later than 2020, P&G plans to help consumers reduce their individual environmental footprint by designing products that conserve resources (Procter & Gamble Sustainability Report, 2010). In those instances where consumer habit changes are required to deliver the environmental benefit, P&G intends to provide consumer education as part of the sustainability solution (Procter & Gamble Sustainability Report, 2010).
The power of P&G is not only in its large size, it is also in the company’s ability to influence the companies that supply the company’s goods, services, and raw materials (Environmental Responsibility, n.d.). Along with the sustainability goals P&G has set for 2020, it also developed a supplier sustainability assessment to help them look at the way in which their suppliers’ environmental performance is measured and evaluated (Environmental Responsibility, n.d.). Called the “Scorecard” the assessment tool also serves as a communication portal through which P&G can convey what is important to them and by extension should also be too important to their suppliers as well as gather feedback and ideas from the suppliers about P&G processes (Environmental Responsibility, n.d.).
Benefits of P&G Sustainability & Organizational Goal Connections
As a large company P&G has the technical expertise and other resources that their smaller suppliers don’t. P&G’s ability and willingness to share this expertise with their suppliers can aid in the suppliers’ performance and ultimately improve their own. While sharing expertise often requires additional investment upfront, it also leads to efficiencies that reduce costs in the long term. P&G through its Scorecard sets energy efficient targets that it expects its suppliers to meet and then offers research and consulting services to help the suppliers meet them.
P&G Sustainability Plan Ethical Implications
Though P&G enjoys considerable financial gains from their sustainability efforts and for the communities in which they operate, social equity has the clearest ethical connection to P&G, that of socio-economic fairness (Social Responsibility, n.d.). Wealthy countries have the ability to provide choices for sustainable living, while the poor countries do not. Recognizing this P&G’s sustainability plan is built upon the idea of solidarity with the poor and fostering economic development for them that will enhance sustainability (Social Responsibility, n.d.). P&G’s Pur aims to purify 2 billion liters of water in Africa and save 10,000 lives (Social Responsibility, n.d.). Its Beautiful Lengths program, under its Pantene brand, solicits locks of hair to be woven into wigs for women receiving cancer treatments (Social Responsibility, n.d.).
Extended Conversation
How much of an impact do mitigating factors like pricing impact the ability of a company to successfully implement a sustainability program? What could you contribute to the transition to more sustainable living? What ethical argument could persuade society to assume an obligation to preservation of the world for future generations?
International Business Machines (IBM) Global is an IT consulting and manufacturing company, and about 431,212 employees globally including all industrialized countries. IBM focuses the great demands, competition, and technology advancement. Company strategies are business goals, customer-oriented portfolio strategy and human resource transformation (IBM.com, 2013). Their products and services serve the banking and financial institutes, public and governments, manufacturing, distribution, general industry, and other industries.
IBM revenue drop 2.3%, cut resources about 8,000 resources globally, and estimated 1.8% of the total workforce 2011. However, the net income grew 4.7% last year, due to organization change and restructuring. The rate of growth in restructuring charges has nearly doubled from $440 million to $803 million since the first year of Ginni Rometty. IBM declared cutting resources mainly resources were not qualified in particular to IBM new products and services offerings, such as storage, mobile computing, cyber security, and cloud computing (Cohen, 2013).
IBM value chain illustrates that Human Resource (HR) organization and operation is their weakest link, due to lack of differentiation between the same pool of competitor and consultants. However, IBM SWOT analysis illustrates an opportunity for IBM. As operations emerge the markets, it focuses heavily with the expansion of its presence in emerging markets, and this added significantly to its expansion and growth.
One of the company initiatives is improving the human resources process through more innovation. The time is crucial and costly, due to the risk and affect to business. Hiring skilled and qualified resources requires a standard and expedited hiring process, and as well as internal resources performance. IBM diverse workforces’ effort to implement a change initiative (Pelletier & Bligh, 2008) is vital. The company modified their hiring process, they are hiring key and qualified resources, providing resources tools to advance knowledge, promote innovation thinking to achieve shaping and driving common set of values and behaviors.
IBM business offerings are applications, data storage advancement, infrastructure management, networking enhancement, technical support, and consulting services. The consulting and services offerings are business process and IT infrastructure services, systems integration, and resources services. As these offering expand and technology advances, IBM other initiative is revisiting their current process and strategy confirming they are aligned and consistent with their customer-driven approach and objective (IBM, 2013). Trust in a continuously transformational management plan and initiative comes from expert leadership collaboration, guidance, communication and approval (Newman, 2012).
IBM strategic success is managing with proficiency in products and services. As they continue to adapt advance technologies, market and consumer needs, and maintains and continues to utilize acquisitions to expand product and services offering. As the demands produce growth in revenues, the organization exercised effective guidelines in order to sustain the industry’s performance. The guidelines are:
• The guideline is to rebuild the brand name. IBM clients and the consumers demand a product with great brand and quality, with this IBM brand name has exemplified. IBM is one of the major companies that invested to build and maintain their brand value with the help of talented leadership (Hind, Wilson, & Lenssen, 2009). Their leadership features are an advantage, but very fragile (Vassilikopoulou et al., 2009).
• The guideline is to determine and define factors to advance security management. For instance, IBM labels official website stability and opportunities for language. A change comes from the bottom, the above is not required to successfully embraced change initiatives, for framework as an opportunity to change is likely to be embrace and a framework as a threat is likely to prevent or oppose (Chreim, 2006). This guideline will assist analyzing its finding, validate compliance, and risk analysis to view the affect such as potential financial loss (Chen, Ganesan, & Liu, 2009).
• The guideline is to be more innovative and competitive. For example, IBM launched the smarter planet program; this is to provide the overall process, with the company’s co-brands services (DeSimone & Popoff, 2000). IBM’s plan is to identify and define problems in an automated process, real-time results, with this will be a great asset improving any organization infrastructure, and as well, as reduce energy, lower maintenance costs and improve data and workplace environment (Gungor & Gupta, 1999).
Stacey (2011) stated that industry model recommended taking risks and continuing to be sustainable. One of the risks is the company action of creating relationship and partnership with rival companies and another key company. IBM and Apple partnership objective is to provide broader product lines, as they restructure the company’s reputation, and explores new opportunities (IBM.com, 2013).
Extended Conversation
In regards to IBM and Apple partnership, the questions come to mind. Is it a negative or positive decision? What is the positive and negative effect to the internal resources? What will the profit show? In addition, in regards to the guidelines above, any suggestion for IBM?
References
Chen, Y., Ganesan, S., & Liu, Y. (2009). Does a firm’s product-recall strategy affect its financial value? An examination of
strategic alternatives during product-harmcrises. Journal of Marketing, 73(6), 214-226. doi:10.1509/jmkg.73.6.214.
Cohen, P. (2013). As it shrinks in a growing market, does IBM have a strategy? Forbes.com Retrieved from
Pelletier, K. L. & Bligh, M.C. (2008). The aftermath of organizational corruption: Employee attributions and emotional reactions. Journal of Business Ethics, 80(4), 823-844. doi:10.1007/s10551-007-9471-8.
Stacey, R., (2011). Strategic management and organisational dynamics: The challenge of complexity. (6th ed.) Harlow, England: Pearson Education Limited.
Vassilikopoulou, A., Lepetsos, A., Siomkos, G., & Chatzipanagiotou, K. (2009). The importance of factors influencing product-harm crisis management across different crisis extent levels: A conjoint analysis. Journal of Targeting,
Measurement and Analysis for Marketing, 17(1), 65-74. doi:10.1057/jt.2008.30.
Please take note; please respond to each colleague individually with two references each !!! Once again each colleague individually.
SAMPLE ANSWER
Order Instructions:
Sustainability
Corporate sustainability is an issue that continues to garner increased attention and importance for shareholders, consumers, and companies alike. Since 2004, Corporate Knights, a Canadian media firm, has published a list of the top 100 sustainable companies in the world. The efforts and profits among those highest on the list demonstrate that companies are increasingly able to adopt strategies that are socially and environmentally responsible and financially lucrative. Consider Umicore, the top company on Corporate Knight’s 2013 Global 100 list.
Umicore is a Belgian-based materials technology firm recognized for its treatment of their employees, the products it produces, its profitability, and its efficiency. According to Doug Marrow, Corporate Knight’s vice president of research, “Relative to its global peers in the materials industry group, the company squeezes more revenue out of each resource input (including energy and water), while generating less externalities (greenhouse gas emissions and waste)” (Smith, 2011). However, Umicore’s efforts extend beyond its own sustainability strategies. According to Morrow, “They generate over half of their revenue by selling products that help other firms improve their sustainability performance, such as energy efficiency” (Smith, 2011). The company has, in effect, created a comprehensive business model based on sustainability.
To prepare, consider the implications of expanding the definition of sustainability to include economic and social elements. Think about how implementing a strategy for improving sustainability can benefit the organization you chose for your SSP.
Instruction
By Day 5 of Week 6, read all of your colleagues’ posts and respond to two colleague in one of the following ways:
•Offer insight into an additional systemic benefit of one of the actions proposed by your colleagues.
•Provide insight on any potential obstacles to implementing actions proposed by your colleagues.
•Provide an alternative action that your colleagues’ chosen organizations can take to implement a strategy for achieving sustainability.
•Refute or support the relationships among sustainability and other organizational goals identified by your colleagues.
•Answer one of the questions posed by your colleagues in their posts.
Colleague #1 (Lachaundra)
P&G Sustainability Goals
In 2010, Procter & Gamble (P&G), the largest consumer goods company in the world, publicized its sustainability goals with 2020 targeted as the completion year: (1) 100% renewable energy used to power plants, (2) 100% renewable or recycled materials for products and packages, (3) zero consumer and manufacturing waste related to products going into landfills, and (4) design and sell products that delight consumers while maximizing the conservation of resources (Procter & Gamble Sustainability Report, 2010).
P&G Sustainability Goals Benefits
• 100% renewable energy used to power plants
o For P&G the plan is that by 2020 all energy powering its manufacturing plants will be obtained from renewable sources or power from a grid that is generated by renewable sources (Procter & Gamble Sustainability Report, 2010).. Facilities that run on renewable energy usually require less maintenance than traditional facilities because their fuel is being derived from natural resources thereby reducing the costs of operation (Procter & Gamble Sustainability Report, 2010).. Additionally, renewable energy does not produce carbon dioxide or other chemical pollutants, so the impact to the environment is minimal (Procter & Gamble Sustainability Report, 2010).
• 100% renewable or recycled materials for products and packages
o By 2020, P&G aims to use renewable materials in the construction of their products and product packaging (Procter & Gamble Sustainability Report, 2010). The plan is to utilize materials from traditional sources like biomass and from biological processes like fermentation (Procter & Gamble Sustainability Report, 2010). Using renewable materials means that production will contribute to the destruction of critical ecosystems, loss of habitat for endangered species, or other detrimental impacts on the environment or human communities (Procter & Gamble Sustainability Report, 2010).
• Zero consumer and manufacturing waste going into landfills
o P&G plans to have all waste end up in a valued waste stream like recycling, composting, and waste-to-energy without toxic emissions (Procter & Gamble Sustainability Report, 2010). Currently waste is disposed of by recycling, composting, converting waste-to-energy, and landfills (Procter & Gamble Sustainability Report, 2010). The first three give value to the waste; however, waste in landfills have no value (Procter & Gamble Sustainability Report, 2010).
• Designing and selling products that delight consumers and conserve resources
o No later than 2020, P&G plans to help consumers reduce their individual environmental footprint by designing products that conserve resources (Procter & Gamble Sustainability Report, 2010). In those instances where consumer habit changes are required to deliver the environmental benefit, P&G intends to provide consumer education as part of the sustainability solution (Procter & Gamble Sustainability Report, 2010).
The power of P&G is not only in its large size, it is also in the company’s ability to influence the companies that supply the company’s goods, services, and raw materials (Environmental Responsibility, n.d.). Along with the sustainability goals P&G has set for 2020, it also developed a supplier sustainability assessment to help them look at the way in which their suppliers’ environmental performance is measured and evaluated (Environmental Responsibility, n.d.). Called the “Scorecard” the assessment tool also serves as a communication portal through which P&G can convey what is important to them and by extension should also be too important to their suppliers as well as gather feedback and ideas from the suppliers about P&G processes (Environmental Responsibility, n.d.).
Benefits of P&G Sustainability & Organizational Goal Connections
As a large company P&G has the technical expertise and other resources that their smaller suppliers don’t. P&G’s ability and willingness to share this expertise with their suppliers can aid in the suppliers’ performance and ultimately improve their own. While sharing expertise often requires additional investment upfront, it also leads to efficiencies that reduce costs in the long term. P&G through its Scorecard sets energy efficient targets that it expects its suppliers to meet and then offers research and consulting services to help the suppliers meet them.
P&G Sustainability Plan Ethical Implications
Though P&G enjoys considerable financial gains from their sustainability efforts and for the communities in which they operate, social equity has the clearest ethical connection to P&G, that of socio-economic fairness (Social Responsibility, n.d.). Wealthy countries have the ability to provide choices for sustainable living, while the poor countries do not. Recognizing this P&G’s sustainability plan is built upon the idea of solidarity with the poor and fostering economic development for them that will enhance sustainability (Social Responsibility, n.d.). P&G’s Pur aims to purify 2 billion liters of water in Africa and save 10,000 lives (Social Responsibility, n.d.). Its Beautiful Lengths program, under its Pantene brand, solicits locks of hair to be woven into wigs for women receiving cancer treatments (Social Responsibility, n.d.).
Extended Conversation
How much of an impact do mitigating factors like pricing impact the ability of a company to successfully implement a sustainability program? What could you contribute to the transition to more sustainable living? What ethical argument could persuade society to assume an obligation to preservation of the world for future generations?
International Business Machines (IBM) Global is an IT consulting and manufacturing company, and about 431,212 employees globally including all industrialized countries. IBM focuses the great demands, competition, and technology advancement. Company strategies are business goals, customer-oriented portfolio strategy and human resource transformation (IBM.com, 2013). Their products and services serve the banking and financial institutes, public and governments, manufacturing, distribution, general industry, and other industries.
IBM revenue drop 2.3%, cut resources about 8,000 resources globally, and estimated 1.8% of the total workforce 2011. However, the net income grew 4.7% last year, due to organization change and restructuring. The rate of growth in restructuring charges has nearly doubled from $440 million to $803 million since the first year of Ginni Rometty. IBM declared cutting resources mainly resources were not qualified in particular to IBM new products and services offerings, such as storage, mobile computing, cyber security, and cloud computing (Cohen, 2013).
IBM value chain illustrates that Human Resource (HR) organization and operation is their weakest link, due to lack of differentiation between the same pool of competitor and consultants. However, IBM SWOT analysis illustrates an opportunity for IBM. As operations emerge the markets, it focuses heavily with the expansion of its presence in emerging markets, and this added significantly to its expansion and growth.
One of the company initiatives is improving the human resources process through more innovation. The time is crucial and costly, due to the risk and affect to business. Hiring skilled and qualified resources requires a standard and expedited hiring process, and as well as internal resources performance. IBM diverse workforces’ effort to implement a change initiative (Pelletier & Bligh, 2008) is vital. The company modified their hiring process, they are hiring key and qualified resources, providing resources tools to advance knowledge, promote innovation thinking to achieve shaping and driving common set of values and behaviors.
IBM business offerings are applications, data storage advancement, infrastructure management, networking enhancement, technical support, and consulting services. The consulting and services offerings are business process and IT infrastructure services, systems integration, and resources services. As these offering expand and technology advances, IBM other initiative is revisiting their current process and strategy confirming they are aligned and consistent with their customer-driven approach and objective (IBM, 2013). Trust in a continuously transformational management plan and initiative comes from expert leadership collaboration, guidance, communication and approval (Newman, 2012).
IBM strategic success is managing with proficiency in products and services. As they continue to adapt advance technologies, market and consumer needs, and maintains and continues to utilize acquisitions to expand product and services offering. As the demands produce growth in revenues, the organization exercised effective guidelines in order to sustain the industry’s performance. The guidelines are:
• The guideline is to rebuild the brand name. IBM clients and the consumers demand a product with great brand and quality, with this IBM brand name has exemplified. IBM is one of the major companies that invested to build and maintain their brand value with the help of talented leadership (Hind, Wilson, & Lenssen, 2009). Their leadership features are an advantage, but very fragile (Vassilikopoulou et al., 2009).
• The guideline is to determine and define factors to advance security management. For instance, IBM labels official website stability and opportunities for language. A change comes from the bottom, the above is not required to successfully embraced change initiatives, for framework as an opportunity to change is likely to be embrace and a framework as a threat is likely to prevent or oppose (Chreim, 2006). This guideline will assist analyzing its finding, validate compliance, and risk analysis to view the affect such as potential financial loss (Chen, Ganesan, & Liu, 2009).
• The guideline is to be more innovative and competitive. For example, IBM launched the smarter planet program; this is to provide the overall process, with the company’s co-brands services (DeSimone & Popoff, 2000). IBM’s plan is to identify and define problems in an automated process, real-time results, with this will be a great asset improving any organization infrastructure, and as well, as reduce energy, lower maintenance costs and improve data and workplace environment (Gungor & Gupta, 1999).
Stacey (2011) stated that industry model recommended taking risks and continuing to be sustainable. One of the risks is the company action of creating relationship and partnership with rival companies and another key company. IBM and Apple partnership objective is to provide broader product lines, as they restructure the company’s reputation, and explores new opportunities (IBM.com, 2013).
Extended Conversation
In regards to IBM and Apple partnership, the questions come to mind. Is it a negative or positive decision? What is the positive and negative effect to the internal resources? What will the profit show? In addition, in regards to the guidelines above, any suggestion for IBM?
References
Chen, Y., Ganesan, S., & Liu, Y. (2009). Does a firm’s product-recall strategy affect its financial value? An examination of
strategic alternatives during product-harmcrises. Journal of Marketing, 73(6), 214-226. doi:10.1509/jmkg.73.6.214.
Cohen, P. (2013). As it shrinks in a growing market, does IBM have a strategy? Forbes.com Retrieved from
Pelletier, K. L. & Bligh, M.C. (2008). The aftermath of organizational corruption: Employee attributions and emotional reactions. Journal of Business Ethics, 80(4), 823-844. doi:10.1007/s10551-007-9471-8.
Stacey, R., (2011). Strategic management and organisational dynamics: The challenge of complexity. (6th ed.) Harlow, England: Pearson Education Limited.
Vassilikopoulou, A., Lepetsos, A., Siomkos, G., & Chatzipanagiotou, K. (2009). The importance of factors influencing product-harm crisis management across different crisis extent levels: A conjoint analysis. Journal of Targeting, Measurement and Analysis for Marketing, 17(1), 65-74. doi:10.1057/jt.2008.30.
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Private Sector Partnerships: Natural/Man-Made Disasters
Locate the proper Response Partner Guide and the Emergency Support Function Annexes from the NRF Resource Center for this SLP. Also, refer to previous readings and required websites. For our focus in the Module 4 SLP, examples of private sector partners of an emergency response plan for a town or city include:
There are other partners within this category; familiarize yourself with them.
Scenario: For this scenario, we are assuming that you have included the above private sector partners in your Emergency Response Plan. A number of railroad tank cars overturned releasing a toxic gas into the air. Gas clouds are traveling in the vicinity of a large residential area and an elementary school. You are the Incident Commander and tasked with coordinating an effective response. You have already alerted law enforcement and HAZMAT first responders.
Using the six private sector partners above in your response, what other step would you need to take to ensure the safety of the town’s citizens? Be specific and cite your sources.
SAMPLE ANSWER
Responding Effectively to Toxic Gas Emission
Toxic gas emissions into the air in a large residential area, and even worse where an elementary school is located, are a very dangerous disaster. As the incident commander, there is still more to be done even after alerting law enforcement and HAZMAT first responders. The next step to be taken is to contact the transportation partners. Since it will be more harmful to sit and wait for help to come, it is important to start transporting people from the area as soon as possible (Bennett, 2011). In this situation, trains will be used to move the children from the elementary school as fast as possible. This is an important step as it removes individuals from the site which may pose a danger to their lives. This partnership with transportation will also come in handy when transportation vehicles which are headed toward this direction are diverted. It is important to make this area a no go zone to reduce the rates of people who may get affected as a result of the toxic gas. Controlling traffic that is headed towards this direction can be complicated, especially because there are many routines. However, when the transportation partners step in, it will be easier to manage as they will offer their employees as well.
Next, the telecommunication systems partners will be contacted. This step will be effective in warning individuals of the dangers associated with coming to this region. At times, when the public is not notified, it will be impossible for people to stop driving to the area. This is because it takes time for the emergency transportation partners to be in place and start functioning. Fortunately, with the availability of telecommunications partners, a wider range of individuals may be notified through the media (Wasileski, 2014). The availability of these partners will also mean that individuals can communicate with the people who are in the affected area and still awaiting their evacuation. This is important as it promotes calm in the population. The people who are away from the area can relax and not come to the affected area when they know that their loved ones are safe. These communication systems will also be effective when the members of the rescue team need to communicate to others about the materials needed or similar things. When the communication lines are not interrupted at times of emergency, the process becomes swift and hence information can be passed and acted upon on time.
After that, the next step will be to contact the utilities partners. In such a situation, utilities are usually needed to support both the rescue team as well as the individuals who are still present in the affected site. For instance, water may be needed to help alleviate symptoms of poisoning from the gas. It may also be required when there is a case of an injury. Therefore, these partners will be contacted to ensure that all the required utilities are available in good number. This is also taken as a precautionary action since the individuals present may not necessarily need them (Harris, 2013). However, it is always better to be safe than to start transporting these items when need arises.
Banking partners will be contacted to offer financial assistance, which is mostly required in such situations. Financing is important when the team will need to purchase first aid kits and other medical equipment. Not all these are available through donations and nonprofit organizations. Some are usually rather expensive and they may need to be purchased from other institutions. They also offer financing for fuels of vehicles being used for this transportation of people and for the provision of first aid supplies to the region. This form of financing is required since there is no partner from such an institution whereby the group can be able to obtain free fueling of vehicles and trucks.
Hospitals who are also partners of this group will be contacted to inform them of the current situation. Since they are partners, they may have to send off aid and medical personnel, as well as be ready for any individuals who may be brought with an urgent need for medical attention (Karagiannis, Piatyszek & Flaus, 2013). When qualified medical personnel are present, the rates of possible deaths as a result of intoxication will be reduced. This is because all individuals who are present at the area will be checked for any signs or symptoms that may insinuate negative effects of the gas. When a person is identified as being affected, first aid will be quickly administered before taking them to the hospital. Their admission will not take time, and the patients will start being attended to immediately because the hospital will have been informed earlier, hence they will have had ample time to prepare and stock up on the required medication.
The last step will be to inform the retail partners. This may be helpful since the group may be given some of the necessary utilities on loan, which may be later catered for by the banking institutions.
References
Bennett, B. (2011). Effective Emergency Management A Closer Look at theIncident Command System. Professional Safety, 56(11), 28-37.
Harris, A. (2013). Never Stop. Engineering & Technology (17509637), 8(7), 48-51.
Karagiannis, G., Piatyszek, E., & Flaus, J. (2013). Model-Driven and Risk-Based Performance Analysis of Industrial Emergency Plans. Journal Of Contingencies & Crisis Management, 21(2), 96-114. https://www.doi:10.1111/1468-5973.12007
Wasileski, R. (2014). Retired & Dangerous. Professional Safety, 59(7), 33-40.
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Assessment Task – Scenario –The Energy Awareness Company
You work as a Consultant for a hypothetical organisation named The Energy Awareness Company which specializes in providing presentations to increase awareness in relation to the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of products that are used in today’s society. There is a forthcoming energy event in which The Energy Awareness Company will be required to participate. You have first been requested to write a report which both shows an analysis of the impact of LCA on the environment and also provides strongly justified recommendations of how oil organisations (involved in upstream, mid-stream, and downstream activity) can use their understanding of LCA to lessen their impacts and also possibly encourage their consumers to also lessen their impacts. This report will be submitted to the organizers of the event. You will be required to do the following in your report:
Provide a critical analysis of the measures which an oil organisation involved in upstream, mid-stream, and downstream activity can put in place to show concern of environmental management and sustainability issues in relation to Life Cycle Assessment;
Assignment outline
Your work must be presented in a report format (2,000 words). It is important that your report is properly structured. Remember that this assignment account for 50% of your module assessment. Hence, poor performance will have a big impact on your overall module grade. An executive summary is not necessary in a report of this size.
Your report should include references to the appropriate environmental management for sustainability and development literature (textbooks, journals and websites) as well as appropriate sources related to the oil industry. Care should be taken when consulting websites, they are not all equally authoritative (for example Wikipedia is not peer-reviewed; therefore is not considered an academic reference website). A minimum of 5 different academic references must be cited, but a well-researched report is likely to cite many more.
You are advised to keep a back-up copy of the report until you receive your grade and regularly back-up your work on a computer storage (Dropbox and GoogleDrive are good examples). A disk crash is not an acceptable reason for late submission.
It is recommended that you review the requirements of the assignment before submitting your work.
Sections like the ones shown below should be included in your report. This is only a guideline so you may diverge as you see fit.
Title Page
A relevant specific title that reflects the main points of the report
Table of Contents
Introduction and Background
The case context and the company
What is the problem or the opportunity?
What is the purpose of the proposal?
What are your sources of information?
The Business Case – a critical analysis of the impacts of Life Cycle Assessment measures which oil companies have put in place to show concern of environmental management and sustainability issues relating to their business operation.
Recommendations
Bibliography
Appendices
Reflective Log – this should be 500 words in length and must address your reflection of your learning on the Environmental Management for Sustainable Development module. You should consider how your studies on this module has helped you with your academic progression (using the examples of skills which you have developed upon is suggested; please ensure that you use appropriate examples and reflect upon them). Your Reflective Log must be submitted separately from your assignment.
Instructions for the Reflective Log
When writing your reflection you must consider what you have experienced (for example, an academic skill), think about what happened (be clear about how this happened during the module), then detail what you have learned from the experience and how this improved skill will help with your continued studies.
Showing that you understand that of your self-improvement is very important for your reflective writing (self-improvement: learning from experiences and wanting to improve some area of your life).
Marking Scheme
Indicative Grade
UK% marks
Characteristics.
Distinction
70%+
Very high standard of critical analysis using appropriate conceptual frameworks.
Excellent understanding and exposition of relevant issues.
Clearly structured and logically developed arguments.
Good awareness of nuances and complexities.
Substantial evidence of well-executed independent research.
Excellent evaluation and synthesis of source material.
Relevant data and examples, all properly referenced.
Merit
69-60%
High standard of critical analysis using appropriate conceptual frameworks.
Clear awareness and exposition of relevant issues.
Clearly structured and logically developed argument.
Awareness of nuances and complexities.
Evidence of independent research.
Good evaluation and synthesis of source material.
Relevant data and examples, all properly referenced.
Pass
59-50%
Uses appropriate conceptual frameworks.
Attempts analysis but includes some errors and /or omissions.
Shows awareness of issues but no more than to be expected room attendance at classes.
Arguments reasonably clear but underdeveloped.
Insufficient evidence of independent research.
Insufficient evaluation of source material.
Some good use of relevant data and examples but incompletely referenced.
Pass
49-40%
Adequate understanding of appropriate conceptual frameworks.
Answer too descriptive and or any attempt at analysis is superficial containing errors and omission.
Shows limited awareness of issues but also some confusion.
Arguments not particularly clear.
Limited evidence of independent research and reliance on a superficial repeat of class notes.
Relatively superficial use of relevant data sources and examples and poorly referenced.
PASS MARK=40%
E
39-30%
Weak understanding of appropriate conceptual frameworks. Weak analysis and several errors and omissions.
Establishes a few relevant points but superficial and confused exposition of issues.
No evidence of independent research and poor understanding of class notes or no use of relevant data, sources and examples and no references.
Guidance on using TURNITIN Text matching software
Introduction
The purpose of this guide is to provide a brief explanation for students on how to use Turnitin. Students are required to include a Turnitin report with all their coursework assignments before they are submitted for marking by their tutors. In order to produce a Turnitin report, students are required to understand and to utilise the Turnitin facility in the Student Portal.
Accessing Turnitin
To access Turnitin, students must have a unique user profile in the Student Portal. The user profile comprises a username and a password both generated by GSoM. To request your username and password, please just email portal@greenwich-college.ac.uk
Select MY STUDIES, TURNITIN – and choose the submission area for the subject/ module, assignment and lecturer
Click on the SUBMISSION AREA button and follow the instructions on screen
If you are in any doubt, contact the Portal Services team who will be only too happy to help you.
We also run seminars most Monday evenings during each semester to demonstrate how to use the Portal and TurnItIn.
A text match (Originality Report) will usually be produced within 24 hours.
Accessing the Originality Report
Login to the Student Portal as before
Click on MY STUDIES, TURNITIN
Again choose the submission area for the subject/ module, assignment and lecturer
Click on SUBMISSION HISTORY
Click on REPORT link against the top entry in the list. This is your latest TurnItIn report.
Now you have generated the originality report your submitted work should be showing on the left hand side with the matching websites on the right hand side.
Scroll through the work and review the highlighted areas.
The originality index will give you a percentage indication of the proportion of your work that matches others sources. If TURNITIN indicates a high percentage score overall, (for example 15% or higher) then you should consult your module leader or dissertation supervisor as appropriate. As a guide, matches against individual sources should not normally show more than 1%, unless, there are very good reasons for this practice, such as the need to keep the contents of the originating sources in their exact formats to meet the requirements of the assessment tasks.
If your text match is higher please see your respective module leader for precise guidance in preparing assignments.
The Energy Awareness Company Business Report Particularly of an Oil and Gas
Organisation and Their Impact on LCA (Life Cycle Assessment)
Introduction and Background
Awareness of the significance of environmental concerns has become a key consideration to the operations of the oil industry and regulations in the last decades. There is a greater realization that sustainable exploitations can only be realized through environmental protection; as an integral part (Vallero, 2014, n.p). Gas companies should rely more on guidelines on environmental management across the field of oil exploration and production. The continued adoption of the best practices as well as the implementation of comprehensive and eco-friendly technologies and systems by oil companies and contractors is essential.
Purpose of the Report
The aim of the EcoFriedly Consultancy Company is working closely with other likeminded organizations like The Energy Awareness Company in addressing the issue of environment protection through identifying potential risks and remedies, developing appropriate mechanisms for improvements, and raising awareness on the same.
Importance of the Report
In recent times, the ecological side effects of oil exploration activities has been an area of concern attracting attention across the different stakeholders in the industry. In this regard, the Energy Awareness Company has been actively engaged in addressing the environment protection challenge through creation of awareness. The company recognizes the major issues faced by the oil companies as marine and freshwater discharges, oil spills, habitant protection and biodiversity, and soil and groundwater contamination.
The report used reports from the UNEP as a basis for integrating protection and regulation of environment issues that control the exploration of oil (Geraldes Castanheira et al., 2014, p.681). Deriving from the rich experience of UNEP in environmental issues concerning the oil industry, the information gained will be a good starting point in the improvement of programmes, policies, and regulations in minimizing the environmental impact of these activities (Carvalho et al., 2014, p. 37).
Scope of the Report
The purpose of this LCA impact analysis presentation is to evaluate the environmental impact of the entire production chain of oil and gas production. Firstly, the analysis presents the environment impact of the LCA and recommendations on how oil organisations can implement their understanding of LCA to minimize their impacts on the environment. The principal aim of the presentation is to raise awareness on the potential impacts of oil and gas companies on the environment as a foundation for informed decision making.
The Business Case
The LCA Assessment
Through the use of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) oil and gas companies would be better equipped in making more informed and sustainable decisions by better understanding of the environmental effects of exploitation processes and activities. LCA is an effective technique for assessing the environmental aspects and potential implications associated with the process, product, or service. Such an outcome is achievable through establishing an inventory of relevant material and energy inputs in relation to their environmental releases (Führ et al., 2010, n.p). It also investigates the likely environmental implications associated with identified releases and inputs. In addition, it interprets the outcomes to assist companies in making more informed decisions. As such LCA is undertaken through a four-stage process involving goal and scope definition, inventory evaluation, impact assessment, and the interpretation. Companies stand to benefit greatly by incorporating environmental performance based on the LCA concept into their decision making process.
LCA analysis framework
(Adopted from Carvalho et al., 2014, p. 38).
LCA tools are wired to assess the ecological implications associated with certain processes and products. With development of technology and science, there are new demands from the society concerning company’s responsibilities with their activities (Ismail et al., 2013, p. 3401). As such, the algorithms used in every category must be verified for accuracy and data input improved. Assumptions, input data, and algorithms must be accountable enough to allow third-party user reviews. The proper role of LCA in the process of decision making ought to be out rightly defined and presented in a manner that is appropriate in environmental preservation. As such, the LCA technique is designed such that it adds crucial information on environmental impact in the oil industry. LCA comprehensively offers a system’s potential environmental impacts which include all inputs and outputs (Carvalho et al., 2014, p. 38).
Conventional liquid fuels exploitation technologies have previously been developed using the simple pathway averages in full-fuel-cycle models like the GHGenius and GREET models (Menten et al., 2013, p. 111). However, these models are seen as too coarse for the modern LCA applications. The unconventional fuels sources such as oil shale deposits in Utah and Colorado and the shale oil and gas resources of North America are important given the depleting trend of these resources.
The big question for the employees on the basis of the LCA tool is how to do operations and projects can be done sustainably. This is a key starting point for embedding sustainability in the company. Sustainability alternatives should be through investigations using life-time cost benefits to identify the most sustainable approaches that are also cost effective for the organization. It is important that companies adopt sophisticated information systems that deliver timely and accurate data such that they are capable of sharing information on accidents and incidents even globally. For companies in the oil industry to achieve social licenses to operate in ecologically sensitive areas then they must exhibit superb record of environment responsibility (Geraldes Castanheira et al., 2014, p.684).
LCA analysis has also identified that many oil projects get delayed as a result of adverse reaction from the local community. A ‘tick box’ approach to consultations with the community is a dangerous starting point for any company. The LCA recommends that early professional and well directed consultations with the community to achieve long-term positive outcome for the company (Menten et al., 2013, p. 112). The likelihood of hydrocarbons presence under the seabed is investigated using high-intensity sound.
Oil Exploitation LCA Assessment
During the drilling process, mud is normally circulated between the platform and the well through a riser pipe. Mud is also helpful in maintain well pressure and the stability of the wall, to lubricate and cool the drill, as well as to carry the chips generated during the drilling process. Through this drilling, two types of mud are produced; the water based muds and the oil based muds. Discharging the water based muds to the sea bed with their residual oily mud contamination has been found to cause changes to the seabed through a combination of smothering, toxic and organic enrichment effects and are not allowed.
The drilling process also generates large amounts of water recovered with the hydrocarbons (Carvalho et al., 2014, p. 38). Through stringent standards of cleaning, some of the water is re-injected to maintain reservoir pressure. However, the bulk of it is often discharged to sea. Notably, in the recent past has been characterized by maximum recovery of oil in the UK North Sea fields. With the low levels of oil produced water the overall amount of oil discharged with the water within UK will continue to rise in the next coming years despite the improvements in technology (Kelly et al., 2014, p. 190). In this context, there is an increased attention in terms of regulation in production water discharge. Attention in monitoring in the oil and gas industry is currently focused on detecting more subtle changes in contamination trends.
In risk management and safety for every project it is crucial that risk is identified, assessed, and managed from the very onset since this will direct the success of the same. LCA analysis has also identified that strong safety culture delivers greater efficiency and productivity. Besides, when standards are ignored, and less attention is paid to working safety, it is very likely that incidents and accidents start to be experienced. Maintaining high standards of safety requires discipline and reinforcement from all angles and at all times.
Natural Gas Exploitation LCA Assessment
LCA major environmental sustainability analysis findings in natural gas exploitation include air emissions, water missions, solid waste, energy requirements, and resource consumption. The basis for analysis chosen was the functional unit. In terms of air emissions, the gas emitted in greatest quantities is CO2 which accounts for 99wt% of the overall air emissions (Menten et al., 2013, p. 114). The overall level of greenhouse gases produced should be quantified to establish the global warming potential (GWP) of the exploitation processes. The GWP of the process is a combination of CO2, N2O, and CH4 emissions. CO2 remains the major contributor to GWP accounting for about 89.3% (Laurent et al., 2014, p. 580). In regard to resource consumption, fossil fuels, minerals, and metal are used in the exploitation process. Oil and natural gas are the main consumption requirements followed by iron, and limestone. LCA analysis places water emissions as small compared to other emissions. Water pollutants are primarily from the material manufacturing used for plant and pipeline construction. The solid waste from the system LCAs has been found to be the miscellaneous non-hazardous waste with total solid waste standing at 201.6lt/Kg gas (Al-Sarkal and Arafat, 2013, p. 56).
Recommendations
It is recommended that companies consider a process-based LCA method in assessing the environmental burdens of their life cycle assessment. In this approach, the company itemizes the inputs in terms of the materials and energy resources as well as the outputs in terms of the wastes and emissions to the environment. The main issue with the process-based LCA is in defining components of the analysis and that which will be excluded. Oil and gas companies should be proactive in evaluating and producing new engineering and operational techniques focused on pollution prevention (Menten et al., 2013, p. 124). Improved management and operational techniques well implemented would assist in preventing and reducing pollution.
References
Al-Sarkal, T, & Arafat, H 2013, ‘Ultrafiltration versus sedimentation-based pretreatment in Fujairah-1 RO plant: Environmental impact study’, Desalination, 317, pp. 55-66
Carvalho, A, Mimoso, A, Mendes, A, & Matos, H 2014, ‘Review: From a literature review to a framework for environmental process impact assessment index’, Journal Of Cleaner Production, 64, pp. 36-62
Führ, M., Lechner, S., & Kilian, B. (2010). The European Impact Assessment and the Environment. Heidelberg: Springer.
Geraldes Castanheira, É, Grisoli, R, Freire, F, Pecora, V, & Coelho, S 2014, ‘Environmental sustainability of biodiesel in Brazil’,Energy Policy, 65, pp. 680-691
Ismail, Z, Tai, J, Kong, K, Law, K, Shirazi, S, & Karim, R 2013, ‘Using data envelopment analysis in comparing the environmental performance and technical efficiency of selected companies in their global petroleum operations’, Measurement, 46, pp. 3401-3413
Kelly, K, Wilkey, J, Spinti, J, Ring, T, & Pershing, D 2014, ‘Oxyfiring with CO2 capture to meet low-carbon fuel standards for unconventional fuels from Utah’, International Journal Of Greenhouse Gas Control, 22, pp. 189-199
Laurent, A, Bakas, I, Clavreul, J, Bernstad, A, Niero, M, Gentil, E, Hauschild, M, & Christensen, T 2014, ‘Review: Review of LCA studies of solid waste management systems – Part I: Lessons learned and perspectives’, Waste Management, 34, pp. 573-588
‘Life Cycle Analysis Perspective on Greenhouse Gas Savings’ 2012, Credo Reference Collections
Menten, F, Chèze, B, Patouillard, L, & Bouvart, F 2013, ‘A review of LCA greenhouse gas emissions results for advanced biofuels: The use of meta-regression analysis’, Renewable And Sustainable Energy Reviews, 26, pp. 108-134
Vallero, D 2014, Environmental Impacts Of Energy Production, Distribution And Transport, n.p.
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Choose 2 of the 4 scenario/task combinations to answer
Answer with 1500 words for each (3000 in total)
Each or your two chosen scenario/task combinations are worth 50% of the total mark
Key word – Evaluate: This is designed to test your reasoning of cause and effect. You need to offer structured and coherent explanations
Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:
Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.
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In this, the final of your research assignments, you will be creating a report that addresses issues of environment, crime and disease. Their interface is
tremendously important to consider in the context of increasing globalization of the world. An example would be the resource of water which some are calling the “next oil.” In this assignment you will write a report to an individual/agency within your assigned country who may be able to address some of the problems you have identified. Your research in your first paper regarding the structure of government may be of help here. In this report, you will begin with an overview section. The second section should be a development/details of the issue(s) you feel are most important for your assigned country to address. The final section should be a conclusion in which you make your recommendation on how the issue(s) should be addressed.
Using the following resources, and at least two of your own from your research give an overview of environment, crime, and disease in your assigned country.
Water of Life in Peril
Population and Sustainability
Global Warming and Climate Change Video National
Geographic
The World Bank
LexisNexis Academic is one of the academic databases available through the Franklin University Nationwide Library.
BBC Global Crime Report
World Health Organization
Human Trafficking
Cyber crime
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Division for Sustainable Development.
Now, select one or two of the issues you have read about and the impact they have had or are having on the economy and development of your assigned country.
Address these issues in a report to an individual/agency within your assigned country who may be able to address some of the problems you have identified.
Finally, write a conclusion for this report for the agency or individual to consider regarding implications for continued globalization.
This should be a 4- to 5- page report as outlined in the overview, using APA format.
Include a reference page and relevant internal citations to support your paper. This should include all of the works that you cited using APA citation
guidelines.
Submit your assignment to Turnitin.com at least 48 hours before the due date, and revise your paper according to the feedback you receive from this system.
Purpose of the paper:
Examine the effects of globalization on issues of the environment, crime and disease
Investigate issues of environment, crime, and disease of a given country
Synthesize the environmental, crime, and disease issues of a given country
Critique how the environmental, crime, and disease issues have affected the development and economy of the country
Analyze the issue of overpopulation
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