Reference no: EM132358211

Integrate Sustainability in ICT Planning and Design Projects Assignment -

Outcomes Assessed - Performance Criteria: Addresses some elements of performance evidence and knowledge evidence as shown in the Assessment Matrix

Assessment Task 1: Case Study: Genesis Energy: Hello Tomorrow - Formulating a Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy

Description: Genesis Energy, a State-Owned Enterprise (SOE), is New Zealand's largest energy retailer and third largest electricity generator. It has more than 700,000 electricity and gas customer accounts, predominantly in the North Island and is also active in natural gas exploration and production.

Genesis Energy has a range of business objectives. It aims to achieve sustainable business growth that is consistent with its vision of making a difference to New Zealand. Genesis Energy wants to be profitable and a good employer. It also wishes to exhibit a strong sense of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Genesis Energy recognised that climate change is a major strategic challenge for their business. Management accepts that as New Zealand's largest thermal generator of electricity it has a big role to play in climate change. They must address the impact their daily operations have on the environment in which it operates.

Part A: Analyse the given case study in your own words and answers the given questions;

• Describe four benefits a company could expect from integrating CSR programs in its business strategy.
• Why did Genesis see it as being necessary to formalise their CSR strategy?
• Identify and describe four key performance indicators that could be used to evaluate whether a company is a good corporate citizen.
• Explain some of the ways in which Genesis is giving back to the community through CSR programs.

Concepts used in this case study closely link with theoretical concepts covered in concurrent sessions. Ensure that you attend all the sessions and develop your knowledge and skills required for summative tasks.

You may also visit company's website and gather more information on its culture, values and processes to support your answers. Answers should be concise and within the scope of the case situation; contained within 3-4 paragraphs each.

Part B: In addition, undertake the following practical activity in the class room;

Based on your understanding of CSR developed in the case study, script a role-play for a board meeting of a company that currently spends very little on CSR programs. The board members are evaluating the proposal to spend significant amounts of money on new CSR initiatives. The classroom audience will play the role of the board.

Your script should argue a case for this proposition. Once the role play has been written, rehearse and then perform it to the class (approx. 5 minutes) as per the schedule organised by your trainer/assessor.

Assessment Criteria - The following assessment criteria will be used for marking this assessment task. Ensure that you have addressed all of the criteria in your work.

• Responses to the case study shows case comprehension and an understanding of the concept the basic principle of sustainability
• Answers are within the context of the given case and drawn from the given case contents and the organisation (e.g. website)
• Identified the strategy platform of the company to integrate the CSR programs in its operations
• Outlined the rationale for integrating CSR programs with likely benefits for the company
• Identified and described CSR solutions that the company devised for its business
• Discussed the rationale behind company decision to integrate CSR into its corporate strategy
• Identified company's key performance indicators (KPI) that could be used to evaluate its CSR performance
• KPIs are realistic and provide qualitative or qualitative measures to evaluate performance
• Described company's community commitment and explained how its CSR programs will benefit the community
• Developed an appropriate script for role-play
• The script is based on CSR elements drawn from the cast study or any other similar CSR program
• Establish a conceptual ground for CSR proposition to the company
• Supported the proposition with an effective rationale and justifications
• Demonstrate an effective presentation style that engaged the audience
• The case analysis is structured and integrates a number of external sources and analyses with the case study
• Cited external sources using an appropriate referencing system

Assessment Task 2: Conduct an Energy Audit

Description: An energy audit is an inspection, survey and analysis of energy flows for energy conservation in a building, process or system to reduce the amount of energy input into the system without negatively affecting the output(s) (Wikipedia).

In this assessment task, you will conduct a simple energy audit of college computer labs and/or server room based on the following criteria;

1. Estimated CO2 emissions.

2. ICT power consumption calculations.

Apart from computer equipment, you may also take into consideration other impacts such as air conditioner, data projector, and audio-visual equipment.

You need to use TWO key criteria in determining power consumption;

Pi: (Instantaneous Power): Energy used at a point in time, measured in Watts (W).

Pt: Power used over a period of time, measured in Watt-hours (Wh) or Kilowatt-hours (kWh).

Most appliances have markings on them to indicate peak power consumption. There are sways this figure can be marked.

• Watts (W) or kilowatts (kW)
• Amps (A) or milliamps (mA): Measure of the current used. Common label on appliances operated on DC (batteries), but also sometimes on AC appliances. To work out the Wattage (W), multiply the Amperage (A) by the Voltage (240 for mains appliances). If the appliance is operated on both AC & DC (portable radios etc.), the figure is normally given for DC. In this case multiply this figure by the DC voltage of the appliance.
• Volt-Amps (VA): For our purposes, this figure is approximately equal to Watts.
• Horsepower (HP): One HP is approximately 750 Watts. Larger appliances such as air-conditioners are sometimes labelled this way.

Use Option 1 to calculate on kW amounts calculated above.

If you do not find exact markings/labelling on equipment, research similar products and use a comparative data for calculation.

Once completed,

• Compile the audit results in a table and also represent the data in a graph (appropriate type of graph that best display the results). Provide a detailed explanation of audit findings, and highlight any major/adverse impact.
• Provide some preliminary recommendations on how the Green House Gas emission can be reduced.

Assessment Criteria - The following assessment criteria will be used for marking this assessment task. Ensure that you have addressed all of the criteria in your work.

• Planned and undertook the audit in an organised manner
• Prepared and used appropriate audit tools (e.g. data collection sheet, calculation sheet etc.)
• Included maximum number and types of equipment available/present within the audit area
• Checked and recorded markings/labelling for power consumption data on equipment
• Converted and used all data in a single measure (e.g. W or kW)
• Determined instantaneous (Pi) and continuous power (Pt) consumptions for the relevant types of equipment
• Recorded all the calculation within the audit tool
• Used CO2 emission calculator to calculate relevant Greenhouse Gas Equivalence for each equipment
• Complied and presented the data in an appropriate format (e.g. Excel sheet)
• Data is accurately labelled and categorised based on equipment/consumption type
• Provided a graphical comparison of energy and emission using an appropriate graph type
• Audit data and tools are appropriately organised and presented as cohesive reference documents
• Recommendations are made on reducing Green House Gas emissions

Assessment Task 3: Develop a Sustainable Management Policy

Description: This assessment task builds on previous assessment tasks completed in this unit. Based on your energy audit conducted in Assessment Task2, develop a policy document for the college that incorporates;

• Purpose
• Scope
• Policy
• Benchmarks
• Responsibilities

Essentially, you will be assuming the role of a CSR Manager within the college and formulating the policy with a view to reduce the Green House Gas emission within the college. For simulation purpose, your trainer/assessor will play the role of your supervisor.

This task also requires some research into carbon emission benchmarks such as;

• AccountAbility AA1000 Assurance Standard (2008)
• BSI BenchMark
• Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP)
• Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI)
• Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G3 guidelines (telecommunications sector supplement).

Research and gather basic information on ONE OF THE ABOVE benchmarks and use it in justifying your policy initiatives. In other words, your policy statements should meet the requirements/criteria set out in the benchmark.

Policy should be compact, concise and follow the structure given above. You may use a sample policy as a guide for format and contents. However, straight copy-paste will not be acceptable. All external sources must be cited using the Harvard Referencing system (ask your trainer/assessor for reference links if you have not used it before).

Title/Name the policy as appropriate.

Assessment Criteria - The following assessment criteria will be used for marking this assessment task. Ensure that you have addressed all of the criteria in your work.

• Formulated a CSR management policy with a focus on reducing Green House Gas emission from ICT equipment
• Policy provides a platform for implementation of effective solutions for achieving reduction of power consumption and the carbon footprint
• Policy document follows a cohesive structure and covers aspects of policy as defined
• Policy is written in a formal style with a consistent flow of contents
• Appropriate benchmark is researched and used to provide a contextual rationale to policy statements
• Policy contents and benchmarks are focussed on ICT and related equipment within the given environment
• Policy reflects sustainable management principles that help improve the energy efficiency of ICT network equipment
• Cited external sources using an appropriate referencing system

Assessment Task 4: Project: Develop and Present Sustainable Management Strategy

Description: This is a scenario based task in which you will assume the role of a CSR Manger working within an organisation. In line with recent policy development, the organisation has decided to formulate a Sustainable Management Strategy that integrates sustainability principles and initiatives within its business operations.

You may use the organisational context used in previous assessment tasks. However, the following extended scenario is provided to help with this task.

Scenario: The college has recently signed a licensing agreement with a leading Australian university to deliver a range of higher education degree courses at its campus. As a result, the college has decided to upgrade its facilities and develop a "Student Hub" that incorporates a small café, audio-visual lounge, internet corner, and a play area. The hub will use extensive resources including a range of energy-intensive equipment, furniture and heating and cooling mechanism.

Note: Alternative scenarios can also be conceived. Students may use an example/context from their previous or current work place (especially within ICT sector).

Task: The college management has given you the responsibility to develop a Sustainable Management Strategy that will help the college meet its policy objectives and international/national benchmarks.

You will need to use an appropriate format; ideally in a proposal style; to organise and present your contents.

Include in your proposal;

• Technical solutions involving integration of sustainability
• Relevant environmental or sustainability legislation, regulations and codes of practice
• Relevant sustainability benchmarks
• Innovative planning and design concepts that foster sustainability and environmental best practice
• Estimate potential energy savings and payback peri
• Equity and diversity principles and OHS safety
• Estimated CO2 emissions (based on data collected in Assessment Task1)
• Principles, practices and available tools and techniques of sustainability management
• Energy audit requirements and guidelines include quality principles
• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to evaluate sustainability performance
• Reference documents (with technical specifications where possible)

There is no word limit for this task. However, it is perceived that you will need on average a page for each of the above area; approximately 10 A4 pages. Ensure that you cite all the external sources using the Harvard Referencing System.

Once completed, present the project to the classroom audience. The classroom audience will play the role of senior management group or the board. Feedback on the proposal should be sought and incorporated in the final submission.

Specific project requirements should be referred to in the following assessment criteria.

Assessment Criteria - The following assessment criteria will be used for marking this assessment task. Ensure that you have addressed all of the criteria in your work.

• Used an appropriate organisational context and prepared a rationale for the project
• Appropriate headings and sub-headings are used to structure the contents
• The content flow covers all the required elements of the plan and contains a logical sequence of the topics
• The proposal is summarised in an executive summary that provides an overview of key aspects of strategy
• Included approximate number and types of equipment to be used within the planned area
• Used estimated energy consumption and CO2 emission data to evaluate the impact of Green House Gases
• Researched and articulated best practice principles in design of the hub including (but not limited to) use of sustainable resources and technical solutions
• Identified and described environmental or sustainability legislation, regulations and codes of practice applicable to the project.
• Researched and used appropriate international or national benchmarks that support the strategic initiatives
• Benchmarks are discussed within the context of estimated CO2 emissions and other environmental impacts
• Appropriate KPIs are developed to evaluate sustainability performance
• KPIs include kg CO2 emission measures
• KPIs include percentage of sustainable resources to be used in the project
• Audit requirements and tools are suggested as quality initiatives to provide an evaluation framework
• Strategies provide an opportunity for estimate potential energy savings and payback periods for recommended actions
• Developed strategies aimed at conserving resources and reducing the impact of Green House Gas emission
• Strategies are realistic and relevant to the project specifications
• Presented the proposal to designated audience
• Presentation was concise, structured and covered key aspects of the proposal
• Engaged the audience and maintained an effective eye contact
• Allowed for questions and queries and asked for/collected audience feedback
• Incorporated feedback in the final proposal
• Provided reference documents with technical specifications where possible
• Cited all the external sources using an appropriate referencing system.

Attachment:- ICT Planning and Design Projects Assignment File.rar