BSS053-6 Sustainable Business Management Assignment Sample
Module code and Title: BSS053-6 Sustainable Business Management Assignment Sample
Introduction
In the age of globalization, sustainability management becomes a crucial part and it impacts the business rapidly and forces companies to take competitive advantages in the green economy. In recent times climate emergencies pose a real threat to business and for this reason, businesses have to take effective measures to combat the challenges as well as to maintain sustainability.
In this report, the overview of the sustainability management of Bedfordshire University and issues, threats, and opportunities related to sustainability measures will be discussed in a detailed manner to understand the topic effectively along with some recommendations.
Overview and Sustainability management at Bedfordshire University
Bedfordshire University is one of the most recognised universities in the world and the university is based in the UK as well as dominated the education sector for more than 100 years. The university has an international and vibrant student population which comprises approximately 20,000 students from over 100 countries (Beds.ac.uk. 2022). Along with that, the mission of the university is to maximise educational opportunities and for this reason, the company provides opportunities to students who have no history of participation in higher education.
According to the report of the university, Bedfordshire university scored 75.2% overall and the university is managing constant upward performance related to sustainability. The university has maintained its performance related to sustainability through some the ways such as rainwater harvesting to flush toilets, implementation of solar panels, adoption of cross-campus electric vans and so on. In recent times, to address the issues of the environment several universities have taken conspicuous initiatives and Bedfordshire University offers courses related to suitability and provides great insights which make the university distinct from other institutions (Pritchard et al., 2018).
The university has effectively implemented a solar panel which helps to produce157 kilowatt capacity of renewable energy as well as it has generated more than, 765,000-kilowatt hours of energy since 2010. Furthermore, Bedfordshire university has taken several carbon management initiatives which effectively help to maintain sustainability by effectively minimising carbon emissions. The university has collaborated with all of the stakeholders of the university such as students, employees, trade unions, and investors to keep pace with the progress related to sustainability.
Considering research of Bedfordshire University, it is quite clear that sustainable tourism becomes crucial in the mainstream tourism industry similar to other business sectors and the tourism industry also needs to implement digital technologies to boost performance (Brauer and Dymitrow, 2020).
Issues, threats and opportunities for sustainability at the Bedfordshire University
Issues
It may be duly noted that Bedfordshire University has been active in dealing with the management of waste products and the recycling of all the waste, of which the issues identified have been described here. Mostly, the issues that the University as the global context may face for not recycling waste is having a high fuelling garbage composition and a lot of waste being piled up, creating unhealthy landfill problems.
Moreover, not recycling waste may adversely impact the climate and as a result, the supply chain of different companies may get seriously affected. Different research articles have taken into due consideration the reasons that may relate to the supply chain and thus waste management is given high importance in terms of recycling (Sazvar et al., 2018).
Figure 1: Waste management system in supply chain (Source: Sazvar et al., 2018)
The essential issue of conservation of natural resources has been a serious problem over years, and Bedfordshire University has taken the recycling of waste as the project topic to accurately highlight this point. The multiplier effect may be understood in terms of the high risk of changes in the environment, as in the case of the Pakistan Floods that occurred due to improper climate mitigation.
Briefly, the point of making the issue of recycling wastage a serious one to attend to and thus understand, the recycling gap may lead to a great lack of fossil fuel existence. Moreover, this multiplier effect has been studied by various research articles that connect the rate of progression of national income and thus are important here to discuss (Qureshi and Najjar, 2017).
Again, the issue of solar panels has been a topic of division to attend, because solar panels directly provide the essential sunlight without being dependent on the natural gas or carbonised components of earth. Journal articles that have explained the clear definition of the way the solar panels may be used have the benefit of looking into the process of solar panels operating, which have been widely used in agricultural processes (Aroca et al., 2018).
Some advantages usually exist if the use of solar panels is taken extensively, such as the benefit of having the generation of energy that is vastly renewable, as the future forecasting of solar panels is taken, it is understood better by cost optimisation of solar panel systems (Liu, 2018).
Again, the issue of people not using stairs and instead becoming too much dependent on the lift has been duly characterised by the course module of Bedfordshire University. The motivation of the staff lies in an active workout and the way the staff have been looking after discreet health maintenance, where the global economy has been impacted much due to the excessive use of the lift.
Threats
The threats of each of the issues that have been identified above have been examined and understood concerning the first issue of not recycling the waste. The Stockholm Resilience Centre has made a further assessment of the issues that lie in the environmental disruption if the recycling of the wastes has not been taken care of. It may be thus that the term “tipping point” here needs any elaboration, where “tipping point” refers to the excessive amount of consequence that may occur with a little minor event, and the recycling if not done properly, may lead to tipping point thus.
The use of the scarce resource of the earth poses a great threat, and thus Bedfordshire University has made the project on the solar panel used by a wide extent, having covered most parts of the roof to generate a decarbonised source of energy. If solar energy is not utilised, there may occur the case of a resource-limited economy in future, and the innovation with the management of the different stakeholders has been discussed.
This is in a way the architectural facility that is gained by the process of biomimicry, as research studies emphasise biomimicry to be one of the most trending ways which include the use of bacteria, creating innovation in constructions and more (Ahamed et al., 2022).
Opportunities
The opportunities that have been gained in the process of recycling the waste as have been exercised by Bedfordshire University is to let first the waste disposal process be easier, having two kinds of wastage be separated. Most of the population around 75% is right-handed, and this is directly advantageous because the proportion may have the benefit of disposing of the mixed waste on the right side being on move.
Bedfordshire University has emphasised the process more in the way the waste disposal is related to the simple understanding of human psychology, as having the general waste disposal on the left and mixed waste disposal on right may attract the University students and people to dispose of easily.
Students are treated as having the better roles of behaving as the team manages as well as the customers, thus referring to the development of knowledge in the young minds (Kretser and Chandler, 2020). Thus, the behaviour of the students as leaders to address the process of waste recycling has been given active importance by Bedfordshire University.
The opportunity for the students of Bedfordshire University has been to explore the process of solar panels, where the University generates the amount of 157 kilowatts of electrical energy, and that too without the problem of excessive carbonisation. The “Socolow and Pacala Stabilisation” system has been explored because of the immense benefits that lie with the decarbonisation system, and the carbon decrease in the environment is done better by the advantageous use of solar panels.
The postgraduate buildings of the University have taken the exploration of the solar panel operation in a consolidated way, as there have been several 180 solar panels installed all around the building by a higher margin. This initiative of Bedfordshire University has been to explore the system of better health in dealing with the adult health problems that come from not using stairs, has been explored. The opportunity of taking the stairs instead of exploring the lifts is a wise strategy that Bedfordshire University has taken, and this lift campaign is to let people understand the importance of using stairs for better health metabolism.
Research development for addressing the issues and the problems of sustainability
| Assessment of Issues | Effective measurement to address the issues | Changes required or not required |
| Issues related to waste | The university has collaborated with Cawleys, which is based in Luton and the company has operated with waste management as well as recycling. According to the report of the company, every year, the UK produces about 200 million tonnes of waste which fuels environmental issues (Beds.ac.uk. 2022). Along with that, the waste of the UK consists of machinery, equipment and unused computers, laptops, and mobile enhances the amount of the waste. | Changes are required and therefore, the university has taken initiatives in waste management and implements recycling as it helps to manage the waste in a proper manner |
| Dependency on fuels | Bedfordshire university has taken initiatives to avoid fossil fuels as the young students of the university have identified the adverse effect of using fossil fuels on the environment. The university has signed a fossil fuel declaration as utilisation of fossil fuels becomes the reason behind 1.5 and 2 degrees of global warming | Changes are required and for this reason, the university has taken effective measures to address the issues and implemented solar panels |
| Reducing carbon emissions as well as unhealthy lifestyles | The academics of Bedfordshire assess carbon emission through the latest campaign of the university which is Climate Action with the help of mapping climate risk. Apart from that, according to the report of the UK Government in 2020, the measurement of carbon emission is 5.40 metric tons and this also helps the university to assess the contemporary condition (Assets.publishing.service.gov.uk. 2022). | Changes are required and therefore, Bedfordshire University has adopted lift campaigning to practice a healthy lifestyle as well as to reduce the level of carbon emission |
Table 1: Assessing the issues and measurement method (Source: Self-created)
Bedfordshire University has assessed several issues through effective measurement methods which helps the university to implement effective strategies to overcome those challenges related to sustainability. One of the issues is carbon emission and the Schwartz Circumplex Model helps the university measure the issues and implants required through several steps such as self-enhancement, openness to change, self-transcendence and conservation.
The university has also followed guidelines such as ISO 14001:2015 standard and it also helps the university to maintain suitability in its operation. The university has also followed the UK’s report regarding the increasing waste in the country and therefore the university has considered the recycling approach to mitigate the issues. According to research, 90 million tonnes of manure, as well as sully related to waste in the nation, have to be processed with the help of biogas harvesting whereas it has the potential to produce 1.615TWh of electricity (Foster et al., 2021).
Figure 2: Estimation of waste in the UK (Source: Foster et al., 2021)
Conclusion
From the above discussion, it has been concluded that Bedfordshire University is a popular university which adopts several sustainability-related initiatives to overcome the challenges related to it. The university has taken several initiatives such as the implementation of solar panels, rain harvesting projects, utilisation of renewable energies, usage of electric vehicles within the university and many more. In this report, the issues are addressed in a proper manner and the way the initiatives of the university provide support to minimise those issues constructively. There are some recommendations which may help to deliver better performance related to sustainability in the future.
Recommendations
- Sustainability management of the employees
The sustainability management of the organisation engaging in employee management should be good and the university has arranged recycling management by providing two separate bins for the students to throw waste and it helps the university to manage the waste and recycle accordingly. The university in the case of solar panel installation has been able to manage sustainability and through the help of long-term and short-term management in the case of wealth and competition should help the university to manage sustainable development.
Moreover, the university through the lift campaign has prompted the students, staff and other employees to use the stairs that help in less crowding in front of the lift which should help in changing the attitude of people in the university towards better health care. The sustainability management of the organisation has to be managed well which provides the organisation with better management through the help of value development of the organisation and put the organisation into a better position and manages the strategy of the organisation in an effective manner (Kiesnere and Baumgartner, 2019).
- Collaboration with the stakeholders
The stakeholders’ management of the organisation has to be good in managing the recycling, solar panels and even the lift campaign within the Bedfordshire University and the way the university may manage the problem faced during any kind of conflict with the stakeholders effectively. The University has to engage every staff of the organisation through the help of effective behavioral management it helps in managing the values and beliefs of the organisation it helps in managing the threats posed by the organisation and even helps in managing the opportunities of the organisation effectively.
Moreover, the organisation has to manage the human capital and it helps the organisation to manage the environmental management and helps in managing the roles of the employees regarding better sustainable management (Khristiningrum et al., 2021). Thus, the organisation has to manage the effective challenges through the help of resource management and in making collaborative business management effectively and by making effective partnership management the University.
- Motivation of the employees in managing the sustainability
The motivation of the employees becomes possible with the help of effective campaigning and management by arranging technological innovation for the university to understand the behaviour of the employees well. Furthermore, the technological innovation of the university provides the university to gain feedback from the employees and other stakeholders which helps the university to grow well and even manages the university to understand the process of recycling, lift campaign and solar panels management well.
Corporate strategy management helps in better business innovation and it helps in motivating the employees to better business management and allows the employees to manage occupational management (Lorincová et al., 2018). Therefore, in managing and motivating the employees and even the students of the University, the authorities are supposed to gather data regarding the management and look after the needs and demands of the stakeholders of the university and allow the university to understand well the working of the organisation effectively.
- Sustainability management with effective leadership
The leadership management of the university has to be good and well fitted for motivating the employees well in the global market and providing effective strategy and disciplinary measures for the healthy development of the organisation in a much more effective manner. Moreover, the leadership should be managed well so that it helps in maintaining the authenticity of the leaders well that helps in managing the organisational behaviour highly well and provides the leaders to manage the values and ethical understanding quite well.
The performance management of the organisation helps in relationship management that helps in providing opportunities in managing sustainable performance development that provides better opportunities for the organisation in a much better way (Burawat, 2019). Thus, in managing the recycling and incorporation of lift campaigns and solar panel usage effective leadership is highly required by the University, especially in making a carbon-free environment.
- Strategic management of sustainability
The university has to manage the threats and opportunities in managing the organisational structure well and it helps the organisation to effectively manage the long-term goals which help in managing sustainability management. Moreover, the university has to manage authentic sustainability management through the help of effective tools and techniques the organisation and it helps the organisation to evolve well in the competitive market (Mahsud et al., 2018).
The management of the university has to incorporate certain measures such as PESTLE and SWOT to analyse the situation in the university and the way the university implements an effective strategy for better management of recycling, solar panel management and lift campaigning.
- Climate change management through sustainability
The implementation of sustainable management is not possible to manage with implementing better measures for recycling, lift campaigning and solar panel installations although by understanding the global carbon cycle, global warming management and effective carbon dioxide management in the environment.
The organisation has to manage digital sustainability through innovation and management and it helps in putting potential impact on the positive management of the organisation effectively (George et al., 2021). The change management of the organisation provides the organisation with better management and helps the organisation to understand the climatic change by implementing the Schwartz value system for better management.
Figure 3: Climate management at University (Source: George et al., 2021)
- Management and responsibility through sustainability
The management and responsibility for managing the university for managing sustainable development by implementing certain kinds of theories such as institutional theory, legitimacy theory and resource dependency theory that allow the organisation to progress well. Additionally, the organisation has to implement Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for better economic growth and with the help of Sustainable Development Goals, the organisation manage its activities well and provides the organisation with a better understanding (Sánchez et al., 2021).
The university also has to manage the ethical issues and it provides the university with better management and helps the university to establish itself well and helps in making a carbon-free environment and manages the waste processing of the university quite well.
References
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Aroca-Delgado, R., Pérez-Alonso, J., Callejón-Ferre, Á.J. and Velázquez-Martí, B., 2018. Compatibility between crops and solar panels: An overview from shading systems. Sustainability, 10(3), p.743.
Assets.publishing.service.gov.uk. 2022. [online] Available at: <https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1051408/2020-final-greenhouse-gas-emissions-statistical-release.pdf> [Accessed 15 July 2022]
Beds.ac.uk. 2022. Sustainable Management | University of Bedfordshire. [online] Available at: <https://www.beds.ac.uk/howtoapply/courses/postgraduate/next-year/sustainable-management/> [Accessed 15 July 2022].
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