Key Details
Brief |
Write a 2500-word individual report critically evaluating the sustainability |
Format |
Report (Individual) |
Word Count |
2500 (maximum, not + or – 10%) |
Due date |
Hand-in date: March 16th 2025, by 11pm Submit coursework electronically in NOW by using the Dropbox facility within the module learning room. Please submit written work in PDF Format and include the NBS Academic Coursework Front Cover. |
Weighting |
90% of the total module mark |
BUSI49957 Assessment task (suggest maximum one page)
Write a 2500-word individual report critically evaluating the sustainability performance of an organisation of your choice. You may select a private or public or third sector organisation for this task.
There are four parts to this assessment. Please make sure you address every part (detailed guidance is available on the module handbook).
PART 1. Introduction
PART 2. A brief overview of the organisation and its approach to sustainability
PART 3. Critical evaluation of its sustainability initiatives (using two specific frameworks, see below)
PART 4. Conclusion and recommendation
Guidance for completing this assessment
To complete this assignment, start by selecting an organisation with publicly available Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), or Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), or sustainability reports, ideally one with a strong sustainability focus or sufficient data for analysis. The latest sustainability report published by Marks and Spencer is provided here as an example.
Begin by conducting desk research, reviewing the organisation’s latest ESG/CSR/sustainability report, their website, and any relevant academic or industry sources. These reports are usually lengthy and typically highlight environmental efforts (e.g., carbon emissions, renewable energy), social initiatives (e.g., diversity, community impact), and governance practices (e.g., transparency, anti-corruption).
Your assignment must utilise the following two frameworks discussed in class:
1.United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs)
2.Zadek, Pruzan and Evans’s (2013) eight quality principles against which one can evaluate the quality of ESG/CSR/sustainability reporting.
[Full reference: Zadek, S., Evans, R., & Pruzan, P. (2013). Building corporate accountability: Emerging practice in social and ethical accounting and auditing. London: Routledge]
- For the UN SDGs, identify which goals the organisation addresses (e.g., SDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production) and evaluate their measurable contributions and alignment with global priorities.
- For Zadek, Pruzan, and Evans’s eight quality principles, critically evaluate the organisation’s reporting quality, looking at principles such as inclusivity (engagement with
stakeholders), completeness (coverage of relevant topics), transparency (clarity of information), and external verification. You need to offer some recommendations or improvement suggestions for the organisation based on your critical evaluation of their ESG/CSR/sustainability report.
- In your evaluation, use evidence from the report to evaluate the organisation’s sustainability practices, strengths, and weaknesses while applying the two frameworks. Summarise your findings and propose improvements or recommendations for the organisation (e.g., improved stakeholder engagement, independent auditing). These suggestions should be grounded in your evaluation rather than added arbitrarily. Ensure that you include complete and correctly formatted references. This approach will enable you to deliver a comprehensive, concept- driven evaluation of the organisation’s sustainability efforts.
BUSI49957 Learning Outcomes Assessed
LO2: Critically analyse relevant theories which inform responsible and sustainable businesses, from a multidisciplinary perspective
LO3: Develop a plan that demonstrates responsible stakeholder engagement and managing diversity creatively
LO4: Through critical reflection, prioritise stakeholder interests in the context of Corporate Social Responsibility
LO5: Critically evaluate different approaches to ethical management/ leadership and decision making
LO6: Using the lens of responsible and sustainable management, critically analyse organisational value and supply chains
How does this assessment relate to future employment?
Word count
The individual report is not to exceed 2500 number words (Not +/- 10%).
The purpose of the word count is to support your writing development by encouraging a focus on clarity and conciseness, provide experience of writing to a specified word limit,
which is common practice in professional and research environments, and support equity in grading work from different individuals.
You are required to include the word count on the NBS Coursework Front Cover (available on the NOW module learning room) for all of your coursework, as an accurate statement of the words used. If you are found to have exceeded the word count in order to gain an unfair advantage, then your tutor can adjust your grade downwards depending on the amount of additional work submitted.
If the additional work is up to 500 words, the overall grade for the piece of work will be reduced by 1 grade point (e.g. UG 2.1-Mid to 2.1-Low; PG Commendation-Mid to Commendation-Low);
If the additional work exceeds 500 words, the overall grade for the piece of work will be reduced by 3 grade points (e.g. 2.1-Mid to 2.2 Mid; PG Commendation-Mid to Pass-Mid).
These penalties will be applied even if the reduced grade is below a pass grade.
You are advised to submit work that is as close to the maximum word count as is practical to enable you to demonstrate that you have met all the learning outcomes.
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Style, structure and presentation
The individual report should be formal, with four sections outlined above. You must include list of references and any appendices at the end (numbered and with a title). Please avoid making forced references and only cite the sources you have genuinely consulted, as your work will be checked for accuracy during the assessment process. Headings to be numbered throughout. Diagrams and figures can be included in the text if applicable or as appendices.
Your report should be clear, easy to understand, no typos/grammar/spelling mistakes, and, present information in the most appropriate way.
Style guidelines:
- Use 1.5 line spacing for the body of the report.
- The Reference List is single-spaced. Left aligned text is also easier to read.
- Use a business-like font like Verdana, size 12.
- Number each of your pages, and include your student number in the footer of the page.
- Use the automatic table for contents available in Word.
If English is not your first language, we strongly recommend that you spend time proofreading your work and book an appointment with the Academic English team or NTU Library. This will help to ensure that you do not lose marks through unclear or poorly expressed language, and will present a more polished, professional look to your work.
BUSI49957 Grading matrix
Your work will be graded utilising the grading matrix below. This provides a standard benchmark which all assessments are graded against. Your final grade will depend on the extent to which you have meet the grading criteria.
Copy and paste a copy of the online grading matrix below. Assessment criteria must be aligned to the University’s Grade Based Assessment descriptors (See QH Supplement 15A: The Grade Based Marking Descriptors). The descriptors represent a set of common characteristics expected of work at each of the different grade bands and should be contextualised to disciplines and tasks in accordance with NBS guidance and parameters.
NBS Feedback Form for Postgraduate Coursework |
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Module |
Responsible & Sustainable Management (BUSI49957) |
Student Number and Name |
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Assessment Element (as stated in the assessment brief) |
Element 2 |
Tutor name (s) |
Dr Md Nazmul Hasan |
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Assessment submission date |
March 16th 2025, by 11pm |
Date Feedback Uploaded |
Please refer to the Dropbox folder for the date on which your feedback was uploaded. |
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MODULE LEARNING OUTCOMES ASSESSED |
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a) Critically analyse relevant theories which inform responsible and sustainable businesses, from a multidisciplinary perspective b) Develop a plan that demonstrates responsible stakeholder engagement and managing diversity creatively c) Through critical reflection, prioritise stakeholder interests in the context of Corporate Social Responsibility |
d) Critically evaluate different approaches to ethical management/ leadership and decision making e) Using the lens of responsible and sustainable management, critically analyse organisational value and supply chains |
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Element Grade The overall grade for the work is based on a holistic assessment and is determined by how well the criteria have been met ove rall and not the sum of the individual aspects of the work. In the matrix below, grades awarded against each criterion indicate that the relevant aspect of the work can be more readily associated with that category than any other. Allocation of a grade does not indicate that work exactly matches the associated description. |
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Component, learning outcomes and weighting |
Fail |
Marginal Fail |
Pass |
Commendation |
Distinction |
1. Introduction |
Introduction is not |
Introduction is provided |
Introduction is clear but |
Introduction is well- |
Exceptionally written |
(10% mark) |
provided or inaccurate |
but very poor and does |
very basic with good, |
written as it provides a |
introduction which |
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information of the |
not adequately address |
albeit minimal |
good analysis of the |
covers the scope of the |
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organisation with no |
the requirements of the |
information about the |
company’s background |
report and clearly |
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evidence of research |
brief or does so with |
organisation’s |
and highlights the scope |
communicates the |
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significant errors and |
background. Some |
of the report. There is |
elements of the report. |
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omissions about the |
evidence of research but |
some evidence of |
Excellent discussion and |
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organisation |
minimal. |
research on the company |
analysis of the |
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using the analysed |
company’s background |
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report. |
information with |
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evidence of extensive |
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research on the |
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organisation using both |
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internal and external |
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sources of information. |
2. Overview of the |
No or very limited |
Some overview presented |
A sufficient overview of |
Provides a good overview |
Offers a detailed analysis |
organisation and its |
evidence of |
but insufficient and/or |
the type and nature of |
of the organisation, |
of the organisation, |
approach to |
understanding the scope |
marred with errors and |
the organisation. |
including its core |
linking its mission, |
sustainability |
of the organisation, |
omissions of key |
Demonstrated basic |
mission, structure, and |
structure, and operations |
(25% mark) |
showing lack of |
information. A very weak |
understanding of its |
operations. |
with sustainability goals. |
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knowledge of its |
attempt with limited |
approach to |
Demonstrates a solid |
The submission reflects |
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approach to sustainability |
information on the remit of the organisation’s operations. |
sustainability. |
understanding of the organisation’s sustainability strategy, |
a nuanced understanding of sustainability embedded across all |
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outlining specific |
organisational levels. |
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practices, policies, and |
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goals. |
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3. Critical evaluation of |
Lacks critical evaluation, |
Shows a limited attempt at |
Provides an adequate |
Demonstrates a strong, |
Offers a comprehensive, |
its sustainability |
providing little to no |
evaluation, offering a basic |
evaluation of the |
well-reasoned evaluation |
nuanced evaluation of |
initiatives |
understanding of the |
description of initiatives |
organisation’s |
of the organisation’s |
the organisation’s |
(50% mark) |
organisation’s |
with little depth or critical |
sustainability initiatives, |
sustainability initiatives, |
sustainability initiatives, |
|
sustainability initiatives. |
insight. Key points are |
showing a reasonable |
with clear critical insight |
with selected theory- |
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Analysis is missing or |
underdeveloped, lacking |
level of understanding. |
using the selected |
informed critical |
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highly superficial, with |
clarity. |
Some critical insight is |
concepts. Effectively |
analysis. Highlights both |
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minimal evidence or |
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present, though analysis |
analyses key initiatives, |
strengths and areas for |
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insight. |
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often lacks depth and nuance. |
providing depth and relevant examples from |
improvement, demonstrating solid |
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the report to support |
understanding and |
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arguments. |
insight into the |
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effectiveness and impact |
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of each initiative. |
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4. Conclusion |
Conclusion is omitted or |
Conclusion is insufficient. |
The conclusion is |
The conclusion is well |
The conclusion is very |
(15% mark) |
are at a superficial level, |
Limited conclusions |
sufficient, but although |
written – logical, clear |
clear and convincing, |
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bearing little relation to |
presented with very little |
consistent with the main |
and consistent, drawing |
meaningful and critical. |
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the main body of the |
justification, if any, or |
content they are rather |
upon the prior analysis, |
It is well-grounded in |
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text. |
show no link to the analysis within the assignment. |
weak and superficial. |
forming a highly relevant end to the work. |
prior analysis. |
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What you did well in this coursework. · |
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What you can do to improve your future coursework. · |