ASSESSMENT TASK 2:
Written Report: Sustainability performance evaluation and mapping of UNSDGs
Value: 35%
Due Date: Week 8 (Sunday)
Length: 1500-2000 words
Since the introduction of the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals (UNSDGs-2015), contemporary organizations are constantly facing pressure from various stakeholders to align their business operations with expectations mentioned under each target area of 17 defined UNSDGs. Being key players in the accomplishment of UNSDGs, big businesses and reputable service organizations are expected to engage in sustainability practices ensuring that traditional business objectives don’t conflict with larger environmental, social, and governance-related goals. Responding to such contemporary expectations, many service organizations have already developed relevant frameworks, revised business models, and significantly transformed business operations. One such organization is Deloitte.
You are required to review the 2021 Global Impact Report of Deloitte and assess their sustainability performance by evaluating key achievements related to social, environmental, economic, and governance-related sustainability targets. In addition, you are required to relate the sustainability performance of Deloitte with UNSDGs and explain how and which SDGs Deloitte has been able to contribute towards and where the gaps might exist. Your report will conclude by providing some suggestions for improvement in sustainability practices and performance of Deloitte to help achieve SDGs it is currently not much focussed on. Lecture sessions 1 through to 6 provides help in identifying various conceptual/theoretical foundations related to this assessment. The 2021 Global Impact Report of Deloitte can be found in Assessment 2 folder on the learnline site.
Introduction: Provide a brief background of Deloitte, its key business and products, and key competitors in the industry (300 words)
Evaluation of Sustainability Performance: give a thorough read to the 2021 Global Impact Report of Deloitte and provide critical analysis of the following aspects:
Economic Sustainability: How has Deloitte sustained itself economically in the backdrop of COVI-19? What were the key strategies? How have internal economic sustainability strategies affected Deloitte’s contributions to achieving economic sustainability objectives mentioned in UNSDGs (Hint: first identify which of UNSDGs are related to economic sustainability and then link them with Deloitte’s initiatives) (300-350)
Environmental Sustainability: What are the key environmental sustainability-related initiatives Deloitte has deployed within the organization to reduce its operations’ negative environmental impact? How has Deloitte’s contributed to achieving environmental sustainability objectives mentioned in UNSDGs (Hint: first identify which of UNSDGs are related to environmental sustainability and then link them with Deloitte’s initiatives) (300-350)
Social Sustainability: What are the key social sustainability-related initiatives Deloitte has deployed within the organization? How has Deloitte’s contributed to achieving social sustainability objectives mentioned in UNSDGs (Hint: first identify which of UNSDGs are related to social sustainability and then link them with Deloitte’s initiatives) (300-350)
Governance-related Sustainability: What are the key governance-related initiatives Deloitte has deployed within the organization? How has Deloitte’s contributed to achieving governance-related sustainability objectives mentioned in UNSDGs (Hint: first identify which of UNSDGs are related to governance-sustainability and then link them with Deloitte’s initiatives) (300-350)
Conclusion: Conclude your report by reflecting on sustainability-related areas that might need more attention from Deloitte. Particularly, the UNSDGs where the contribution of Deloitte is minimal and more attention is required should be highlighted as possible recommendations (300 words)
References: Provide references to any secondary sources used, following APA or Harvard referencing style.
The paper should be well written, consistently following Australian English writing conventions, properly spell-checked and proofread. Formatting guidelines are:
Page size, margins, and line spacing: A4 page size and Normal margins (2.54cm each for left, right, top and bottom), 1.5 line spacing for body text, headings, and sub-sections
Title: 14pts, bold, Times New Roman or Calibri, 6pts space before and after
First Heading: 12pts, bold and underline, Times New Roman or Calibri, 6pts space before and after
Second heading or sub-section: 12pts, bold and italic, Times New Roman or Calibri, 6pts space before and after
Body text: 12pts, Times New Roman or Calibri, 6pts space before and after, 1.5 line spacing, left indentation with Special Style (FIRST LINE)
Follow strictly the report format mentioned above with exact headings (main sections) as advised. However, subsections of your choice can be added for better organization of the report.
Avoid using jargon and contractions. Acronyms should be mentioned in full for the first time.
Follow the indicated number of words for each section (a margin of 10% is permitted).
Cite tables and figures properly, if any, following APA or Harvard referencing style consistently across the report.
NOTE:
When you use any secondary resources, don’t forget to cite the resource properly if the information is not ‘common knowledge. APA or Harvard referencing styles should be used consistently across the report.
Submission of the assessment should be made according to instructions given below and in time to avoid delayed submission marks deductions
All submissions should be made using Learnline assessment 2 submission point.
Allocation of marks is as follows:
Section
Marks Allocation
Introduction
5
Evaluation of Economic sustainability performance
20
Evaluation of Environmental sustainability performance
20
Evaluation of Social sustainability performance
20
Evaluation of Governance-related sustainability performance
20
Conclusion
10
Report Structure, Presentation, secondary research – Citations and Referencing
5
Total
100
For details on the assessment marking procedure, see the assessment rubrics in the assessment area of Learnline.
