Assessment 1: Contemporary Business Issues Report
As consumers become increasingly aware of sustainable practices, as many as 70% of companies worldwide are starting to integrate formal sustainability policies into their business practices (McKinsey & Company, 2017). These policies generally focus on the company’s effect on the environment and society (Spiliakos, 2018).
TASK: Choose an Engineering company or business (real or fictional) in a particular country.
Discuss the importance of sustainability and other significant contemporary business issues for corporate leaders and managers, and analyse how these issues may impact organisational strategies, structures, and processes in the chosen company or business in the coming years.
This is an individual assessment, comprising of an individual written report of approximately 2000 words.
The title of your report should be: Contemporary Business Issues for [Company/Business] in [Country].
Your report should include:
• Title page
• Executive Summary
• Table of Contents
• Introduction
• Sections (and sub-sections) with numbered headings
• Conclusion
• References
Report Formatting:
• Type your work on A4 paper
• 1.5 line spacing, 2.5cm margin at top and bottom of page, and on right-hand and left-hand sides.
• Times New Roman, 11 point font for text (12 point font for headings, if you like).
Don’t forget that there are some great resources available to help you with your report writing. You can find them under the Communication Skills for Assessments link.
References
McKinsey & Company. (2017, December 11). Sustainability’s deepening imprint. https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/sustainability/our-insights/sustainabilitysdeepeningimprint
Spiliakos, A. (2018, October 10). What does “sustainability” mean in business? Harvard Business School
Online. https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/what-is-sustainability-in-business
CRITERIA High Distinction (80-100) Distinction (70-79) Credit (60-69) Pass (50-59) Fail (0-49)
Understanding:
30%
of contemporary business
issues, including sustainability Demonstrates sophisticated understanding, with
identification, explanation, and discussion of issues in appropriate detail, including significance to engineering and chosen country. Demonstrates thorough understanding, with identification, explanation, and discussion of issues, including significance to engineering and chosen country.
Demonstrates competent understanding, with identification and explanation of issues, and some discussion, including relevance to engineering and chosen country.
Demonstrates satisfactory understanding, with identification of issues and limited discussion and relevance to engineering and chosen country. Demonstrates unsatisfactory understanding, with limited identification of issues, and little to no discussion or relevance to engineering and chosen country.
Analysis: 30%
of impact of issues on organisational strategies, structures, and processes in chosen company or business Insightful interpretation and analysis of business impacts, including significance to engineering and chosen country.
Makes substantial links between research and organisation. Clear and effective analysis of business impacts. Includes analysis specific to engineering and chosen country.
Makes links between research and theory which improve arguments. Relevant analysis of business impacts. Some discussion of relevance to engineering and chosen country.
Makes some links between research and theory. Identifies some impacts on business. Little discussion of relevance to engineering and chosen country. Limited links between research and theory.
Limited or no understanding of the impact of issues. No connections between analysis and engineering and chosen country.
No attempt to link research and theory.
Written Skills:
20%
Language, style, layout and logical flow Uses a wide-range of highly appropriate vocabulary and discipline-specific terms.
Precise and fluent expression which flows easily.
Sophisticated and complex style and structure as detailed. Error-free spelling, punctuation and grammar. Uses a range of appropriate and accurate discipline-specific vocabulary.
Clear, concise and cohesive expressions with logical flow. Style and structure are appropriate.
Occasional errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar. Uses vocabulary and disciplinespecific terms accurately. Reasonably well expressed and clearly flows. Style and structure are mostly appropriate.
Infrequent errors in spelling and punctuation which do not impede understanding. Uses mostly appropriate vocabulary and key disciplinespecific terms.
Logical flow, not expressed as well as could be.
Basic organisation and style. Errors in spelling, punctuation and/ or grammar occasionally impede understanding. Uses limited vocabulary or inappropriate word choices; discipline-specific terms are misused or missing. Lacks flow and may be difficult to follow. Style and /or structure is inappropriate.
Errors in grammar, spelling and/ or punctuation interfere with understanding.
Use of evidence: 5%: Use of quality sources which are extensive and wide-ranging to support discussion and analysis. Use of quality sources to support the discussion and analysis. Appropriate use of sources to support the discussion and analysis. Use of sources to support the discussion and analysis is limited. Limited or no use of sources to support the discussion and analysis.
Demonstrated competencies 5%: Provides comprehensive details of the Stage 1 Competency Standard for professional Engineers demonstrated. Provides clear details of the Stage 1 Competency Standard for professional Engineers demonstrated. Provides clear details of some of the Stage 1 Competency Standard for professional Engineers demonstrated. Mentions some Stage 1 Competency Standard for professional Engineers competencies demonstrated. Mentions limited or no Stage 1 Competency Standard for professional Engineers competencies demonstrated.
Referencing: 10% Citing and referencing in APA style is accurate throughout. Citing and referencing is generally appropriate and accurate. Some errors in citing and referencing may persist. Citing and referencing is attempted, but with errors. Referencing is consistently inaccurate or not attempted.
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Contemporary Business Issues for ACME Engineering in Australia
Executive Summary
This report analyses the importance of sustainability and other significant contemporary business issues for corporate leaders and managers. It discusses how these issues may impact organizational strategies, structures, and processes at ACME Engineering, a fictional engineering company located in Australia, in the coming years. Sustainability priorities like reducing emissions and waste are increasingly core to business planning and operations. Addressing such issues proactively allows companies to manage risks, attract investment and talent, and capture emerging opportunities through innovation.
Table of Contents
Introduction………………………………………………………………………………2
Contemporary Business Issues for Engineering Companies……………………………3
Sustainability as a Strategic Priority……………………………………………………4
Impacts on Organizational Strategies……………………………………………………5
Impacts on Organizational Structures……………………………………………………7
Impacts on Organizational Processes……………………………………………………8
Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………9
References……………………………………………………………………………….10
Introduction
Engineering companies face growing pressures to consider their environmental and social impacts. As stakeholders demand more responsible and sustainable practices, issues like sustainability and stakeholder relations are significantly shaping business strategies and operations (McKinsey & Company, 2017). This report analyzes these contemporary issues for ACME Engineering, a fictional engineering firm based in Australia.
Contemporary Business Issues for Engineering Companies
Engineering companies worldwide now recognize issues like sustainability, stakeholder expectations, innovation, and workforce development as high priorities (World Economic Forum, 2020). These issues intersect and require holistic consideration across business functions. For ACME Engineering, sustainability stands out as particularly important given the nature of engineering projects…
Conclusion
In summary, contemporary issues are profoundly impacting how engineering companies operate and compete. Leaders who proactively address sustainability, stakeholder relations, innovation and talent strategies will be best positioned to thrive amid rising pressures. ACME Engineering should focus on integrating sustainability systematically across its strategies, structures and processes to manage risks, attract investment and talent, and capture emerging opportunities.
References:
McKinsey & Company. (2017). Sustainability’s deepening imprint. https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/sustainability/our-insights/sustainabilitysdeepeningimprint
Spiliakos, A. (2018). What does “sustainability” mean in business? Harvard Business School Online. https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/what-is-sustainability-in-business
World Economic Forum. (2020). The future of jobs report 2020. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Future_of_Jobs_2020.pdf
