BA 302 Business Process Management - Homework Sustainability

BA 302 Business Process Management - Sustainability - Homework

Assignment:

In studying and discussing the contents of the chapter on sustainability (Metters et al., Ch. 4 Environmental Strategies), we explored a set of general concepts such as: triple bottom line, externalities, tragedy of the commons, carrying capacity, footprints, dematerialization, etc.

These concepts not only apply in business settings, they also apply in the processes that are part of our individual lives. For instance, coming to class can be seen as a 'process:' we reserve time, start traveling a certain amount of time prior to class time, use one or more means of transportation both on our way in and our way out. In class, we have the lights and the heat on; when it's too warm, we might open windows, run ceiling fans, etc. In class, we use electronics to display course materials, sometimes distribute notes on paper, printed either single or double sided, etc. Similarly, many of us have to travel to work, go grocery shopping, attend sporting events on a regular basis, etc. As part of these processes we use environmental and social(!) resources and hence, the above concepts apply.

For this assignment you must write a two-page (single-spaced) essay reflecting on how some of these concepts apply to a routine 'process' that is part of your life.

To help you get started, try answering some of the following questions:

What are some of the routine processes that 'govern' my life and that involve environmental and/or societal resources?

What are these resources and where in the process am I using them?

Are these resources commodities, commons or some hybrid?

How could I, at least in theory. compute my energy footprint of such a process?

Does the process show clear inefficiencies? What could be done to reduce the process' footprint?

Who would benefit from such a reduction? Me? The commons? Someone else? Nobody? (Explain your answer).

Writing guidelines:

Submit the homework in word-processed hardcopy (printed on paper).

Add a title page containing:

Essay title.

Your name.

Course number (BA302), course session, and name of the instructor of record.

Date.

Use good composition when writing:

Introduce and describe the process you have selected.

Analyze the process from a sustainability point of view.

Suggest footprint-reducing process changes.

Close with a (very short) conclusion.

Format requirements:

Do not use the back side of the title page; leave it free for the instructor to make notes.

Use single-line spacing, 11- or 12-point font and reasonable margins.

A little more than two pages is OK.

Separate your text in logical blocks and sections.

Number pages (Title page has no number. First page with content has page number 1).

Figures and tables do not replace text; i.e., you cannot use them to fill the two-page content requirement.

Integrate figures and tables into the text; do not add them as an appendix in the back of the essay.

If you use a figure or a table, properly number and caption it (use your textbook as a guide and your text processor's support for this -- DO NOT HAND-TYPE THE FIGURE AND TABLE NUMBERS).

Use cross-references to refer to figures and tables (again, use your textbook as an example and your text processor's support for this -- DO NOT HAND-TYPE THE FIGURE AND TABLE REFERENCES).

Spell check (both automatically and manually!).

Grammar check!!

Peer review!! Before handing in your essay, consider asking one of your colleagues to review it in exchange for you reviewing his/hers. When reviewing, carefully (!!) read what your colleague wrote. Notice ambiguities, note each and every spelling/grammar error, break up long and awkward sentences into shorter, more elegant ones, etc. In other words: show that you care.