research a current event and/or recent case study that illustrates a minimum of one category or criteria used for a sustainability assessment (i.e. newspaper article or other publication dated within the past 60 days, must be available publically online). The research selected must clearly explain the goals and impact on performance the category or criteria specifically hadon people, planet, and/or profit.  Be sure to use a credible source for this assignment (i.e. not a blog from a source you know nothing about or a company’s marketing materials, please see the Course Materials on Doing Research and Using APA). That Course Content includes links as to how to evaluate sources, do APA in-text citations and references, and conduct this kind of research (video from the librarian).  Students must include a link to the website of their research in their reference listing.

Please understand we typically learn linearly (i.e. one thing at a time, such as landscape, energy, water, etc.) to simplify complex concepts or break them down.  To quote Albert Einstein, “When the number of factors coming into play in a phenomenological complex is too large, the scientific method in most cases fails. One need only think of the weather, in which case the prediction even for a few days ahead is impossible.” As discussed last week in the Assignment Series 2 instructions, assessments help us break down a bigger system into the various factors (or categories/criteria) that influence it.  We have many alternatives today to improve sustainability and each person plays a role to achieve its goals.  As well as all students in this course are working on a management or business degree.  Please understand we often research current events and case studies to help critically think how to apply factors like this into other situations.  Organizations need managers to help identify sustainability problems and lead improvements and innovations at the enterprise level.   

Recognize in Assignment Series 2 students completed their sustainability mini-assessment initial baseline for their selected situation.  This was the initial reference point or “as-is” current state which is typically conducted by organizations before they pursue further improvements.  In this manner, organizations can benchmark improvements or measure the impact that changes have on that initial baseline.  A vital management task that students learn about in their initial College of Business classes is that managers have to set goals and objectives, organize resources for activities needed to achieve that performance, and measure their progress or control how those resources or activities are working to achieve those goals and objectives.  In Assignment Series 2 students were asked to determine specific goals for their project (i.e. reduce emissions 25%, lower water use 15%, etc.).  If students missed that criterion in the project, please understand it must be completed (review feedback) as it is needed for Assignment Series 3. 

Students should carefully review their selected current event and/or recent case study.  First to understand the baseline (initial) performance before an innovation or improvement was implemented, as well as specifically what intervention or change was implemented, and what measureable impact it had relative to sustainability goals (please pick research that fits this assignment best).  As students work on Assignment Series 3, they will need to estimate the impact their recommendations will have on their baseline assessment performance.  Understand by taking example impact from others one can begin to further judge the impact changes may have critically thinking about new situations.  Business decisions often use similar methods to gain support for strategic changes, investment needs, offsetting trade-offs, resource allocation, etc.  There are many alternatives to solve problems and business typically prioritize and select alternatives that will have the greatest impact on performance.  Sustainable enterprise planning is not just about complying to meet regulatory requirements, but engaging stakeholders to evolve strategic decisions focused on improving triple bottom line performance.