GSE844 Environmental Management Practice
About this Unit
Semester 1, 2008
Offered: E1 - Evening; First Half-Year
Convenor: Professor Peter Nelson
Prerequisite: Completion of 4 units of program
Credit Points: 4
The primary objective of this unit is to give students experience of working on real-life environmental issues as part of a consultancy team. The issues are chosen to represent typical situations likely to confront graduates from our programs. The final report of each group will be in the form of a consultancy report to a client.
The unit provides students the opportunity to bring together much of what they have learned in other units in their study program through working in small teams to undertake environmental consultancy projects for real clients. You will learn to define and scope a project, prepare a project proposal for a client, work with colleagues to complete the project, prepare a written report for the client, and present the group's findings in person to the client.
What you will do in the unit
In GSE 844 Environmental Management Practice students will work in 'consultancy groups' of three or four members to complete an environmental consultancy and report for a real client, either a private corporation or a government organisation, on an environmental matter of significance for their operation.
Who is interested in 'environmental management practice'?
In any environmental assessment, management or reporting situation there are four stakeholder groups with an interest in the outcomes:
- The organisations, private or public, which carry out activities that impact on the environment.
- The teams of consultants that carry out the work and prepare the reports.
- The relevant consent and environmental regulation authorities that oversee the activities.
- Community groups affected by, or concerned by, the activities.
The vast majority of environmental practitioners operate within one of the first three groups and many are called upon by the fourth for advice, often pro bono.
Consultants and clients
A significant proportion of environmental work particularly environmental reporting is carried out by teams of consultants. Commonly in Australia and NSW such consultants work within the private sector either as employees of large consulting firms or as small independent companies. Sometimes teams within a public sector organisation, such as a Local Government Council or a State Government Department, act as 'internal consultants' on particular projects.
If there is inadequate understanding by the client or the consultant of the other party's needs and constraints, the outcome may be a compromise of environmental values and poor environmental outcomes.
The purpose of the unit
To pursue excellence in environmental management and avoid poor environmental outcomes at least two things are necessary in relation to 'clients' and 'consultants':
- Consultants must properly follow the client's brief for the work, and
- Clients must prepare clear briefs that take full account of the professional constraints of environmental consulting.
The purpose of the unit is to ensure that students in the Masters courses in Environmental Management and Environmental Planning have the opportunity to grapple with the practicalities of both preparing and responding to a brief for the preparation of a specific environmental report.
The emphasis is on the practical application of knowledge and skills gained in other units to the definition and preparation of a substantial environmental report for a real client on an issue of real importance to their operations.
The assignments, and in particular the major report for each student group's client organisation are to be of the highest professional standard and grounded in recognised best practice in Australia and internationally.
Teaching Staff
Convenor: Professor Peter Nelson
Assisting Staff: Richard Horsfield
Classes
The schedule of classes is listed below.
PLEASE NOTE: that attendance at all class meetings is compulsory.
Unit web page
There is no web page for this unit.
Learning Outcomes
The following learning outcomes essentially describe the capabilities that students will learn or improve through completing the unit. It is usually the case that a number of students already have some experience in consultancy work and/or project management – for these in particular there is the opportunity to extend their environmental knowledge into unfamiliar areas while contributing their experience to the group. For example a student with a background and work experience in contaminated land remediation projects may choose a project in the area of coastal management to take the opportunity of applying their skills in a new context.
Group Learning Outcomes
- Respond effectively to a client's project brief with a clearly defined and manageable project proposal.
- Organise an environmental reporting project through:
- Allocating tasks to team members
- Setting an appropriate work program to meet deadlines
- Identifying the resources necessary for completion
- Preparing a notional project business plan / budget
- Identify the important elements for inclusion in a presentation to an executive client, convincing the client of the value of the environmental work done in the project.
- Prepare a professional-quality written environmental report.
- Prepare an executive summary that identifies the essence of the project outcomes.
- Prepare and present a professional-quality oral and visual presentation to the client and respond effectively to their questions.
Individual Learning Outcomes
- Identify and describe the issues that an environmental report in a specific project should address.
- Understand the issues involved in an environmental reporting project from the perspective of a client and from the perspective of a consultant.
- Carry out allocated components of an environmental reporting project in a professional manner so that they can be integrated into a full project report and presentation for the client.
- Understand and implement appropriate time, money and resource management for the successful completion of an environmental reporting project for a client, particularly the tracking of "chargeable time" through the maintenance of a log book.
Teaching and Learning Strategy
Guidelines for Student Groups' Relations with Clients
Each student group will be doing an environmental project for a real client inside or outside the University. The clients range through large private corporations, State Government departments and Local Government councils.
The projects prepared by each client are real ones that they want done to advance their environmental practice in one way or another. This means that each student group must act like a real consultant in all of their relations with the client and in all activities undertaken on their behalf.
Some guidelines are set out below to help student groups in their relations with, and activities for their client organisation:
Relations with the client
- Whenever the group as a whole meets with the client each member should be appropriately dressed (coats and ties for the fellows, smart casual for the girls) as becomes professional consultants; the client management team who meet with you will be similarly attired.
- In order to manage the client-consultant relation there should be at least four formal contacts between the group and the client representative or representatives. These should be planned and agreed upon with the client at the first meeting.
- An initial meeting in the first week of semester to define and scope the project. The GSE staff will have already met with all clients to do preliminary work towards this and will accompany each group at the first meeting to give advice as necessary.
- A progress meeting (or report without meeting) in about the sixth week of semester. At this point the group should indicate clearly to the client whether all planned outputs will be achieved and any necessary modifications to the contract put forward for agreement by both parties.
- A draft final report to the client representative two weeks before the end of semester and the formal presentation by the group to the client.
- A final meeting in the last week of semester, or the following week, for the group to present their final report to the client.
- Some clients will only be prepared to commit to these four meetings, but others will welcome additional contact
- One of the first tasks for each group after the first meeting with the client will be to determine exactly what information they, as the consultants, will require from the client. A consolidated list should be prepared and communicated to the client representative by the group leader no later than week 3 of semester. This sort of contact with the client should be limited to the group leader whose responsibility it is to keep the rest of the group informed.
- The group should not treat the client organisation, or their representative(s), like another tutor or member of the GSE staff. This simply means that contact with the client contact person must be of an extent that they have indicated - the client has 'contracted' the group to do the work and research necessary to complete the project.
- In between the agreed formal meetings the group leader should provide a monthly e-mail update on progress - this too should be agreed at the first meeting.
- In the course of their work the group may be made privy to commercially, or otherwise sensitive material, and there may be a requirement to sign a confidentiality clause. In any case all members of every group are to respect the confidentiality of information or knowledge they acquire from the client in the course of completing their contract with them.
- SOME PROJECTS MAY REQUIRE ETHICS APPROVAL FROM THE UNIVERSITY ETHICS COMMITTEE. IF YOU THINK THAT THIS MAY BE THE CASE, THE GROUP MUST INITATE APPLICATION FOR THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER THE INITIAL CLIENT MEETING.
Activities on behalf of the client
Group members must remember that when doing anything on behalf of the client, the reputation of the client will be affected by their behaviour and actions.
Schedule of Lectures
| Date | Activities | Mitestone |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday 28 February 6:30pm to 9:30pm |
Introduction to unit, and expectations of students. |
Compulsory class meeting |
| Week beginning 3 March |
Group meetings scheduled with clients to scope and define the consultancy projects
(PN, RH /other GSE staff to accompany) |
Group meetings with clients by appointment |
| Thursday 13 March 6:30pm to 9:30pm (or another time to be agreed with unit convenor) |
Group to arrange meeting time with unit convenor to discuss project | Compulsory meeting |
| Thursday 20 March 6:30 to 9:30pm |
Presentations by student groups of the Project Proposals to the class and unit staff
15 minutes + 5 minutes for questions |
Assignment 1 Project Proposal submitted to the unit convenor and to the client by Thursday 27 March |
| Thursday 3 April 6:30 to 9:30pm |
Presentation by student groups of the Review of the Context of the Project to the class and unit staff
15 minutes + 5 minutes for questions Submission of 'Context Report' |
Assignment 2 Context Report submitted to the unit convenor
Individual and group Logbooks submitted to the unit convenor |
| Thursday 22 May 6:30 to 9:30pm |
Scheduled individual group meetings with unit convenor and GSE staff to discuss progress on the final report. | |
| Thursday 5 June 6:30 to 9:30pm |
Practice presentation by student groups of the final report to the class and GSE staff
15 minutes + 5 minutes for questions |
Draft of the Final Report submitted to client for review before finalisation Individual and group Logbooks submitted to the unit convenor |
| Week beginning Monday 9 June (Monday is Queen's birthday holiday) |
Presentation by student groups of Final Report to clients to present findings from the consultancy project (PN and/or RH to accompany)
NOTE: It is the group's responsibility to arrange a time for this presentation with the client and unit convenors |
Final Report and Presentation to client by appointment Assignments 3 & 4 (Final Report) submitted to the unit convenor |
| Thursday 19 June 6:30 to 9:30pm |
Feedback on Final Reports and presentations to clients Review and evaluation of unit |
Compulsory class meeting |
Required and Recommended Texts/Materials
N/A
Relationship between Assessment and Learning Outcomes
There will be four marked assessment tasks to be completed by each consultancy group of students. They are summarised with the due dates and weighting in the table below.
| Assessment Task | Due date | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Project proposal (2,000 words/5pages) | Thursday 27 March | 10% |
| Review of the context of the group's project (3,000 words) | Thursday 3 April | 15% |
| Final written Report to the client (including an Executive Summary worth 5% of the 60%) | Final Report to the client and unit convenor at the presentation in the week beginning Monday June 9 | 60% |
| Group presentation to the client (15 to 20 pages) | Week beginning Monday June 9 | 15% |
Assignment Submission
All assignments must be submitted to the appropriate assignment box for your unit. Assignment boxes are located in the reception area of the ELS Centre (Room 101), which is on the ground floor at the western end of building E7A.
The Centre opens from 8.30am to 5.30pm on Monday to Friday. There is also an after-hours assignment submission box at the door of E7A which opens to the central university walkway. You can access a campus map to assist in locating the building.
All assignments are to be submitted by 9.00am on the date specified and must include a completed and signed coversheet stapled to the front cover. You can download an Assignment Cover Sheet from the ELS website.
THE 2nd AND 3rd ASSIGNMENTS WILL ALSO BE SUBMITTED THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY'S ANTI-PLAGIARISM DETECTION SOFTWARE, TURNITIN. FURTHER DETAILS WILL BE GIVEN IN WEEK 1, BUT IN BRIEF:
Your assessment task will be automatically compared to work of your classmates, previous students from Macquarie and other universities, with material available on the Internet, both freely available and subscription-based electronic journals.
The results of the analysis will be sent only to your lecturer, who will analyse the results in reference to the University's standard Policy on Plagiarism
Allocation of time
The weights in the above table should be taken as an approximate guide to the amount of time the group should allocate to each assessable task. There are of course many sub-tasks that need to be completed within each and a number of other activities through the semester to assist groups and their members to achieve the learning outcomes for the unit.
The GSE's expectation is that each student doing a 4-credit point unit will undertake at least 160 hours of work for the unit. This usually consists of about 40 hours of class time and 120 hours out-of-class work. In this unit the distribution will be a little different:
| Class time | 25 hours |
| Scheduled meetings with Clients | 5 hours |
| Out of class activities | 130 hours |
For three students in each consultancy group there is thus about 400 hours for completion of the assigned tasks. This represents an amount of time that would be worth approximately $30,000 to $35,000 at the (modest) consultancy rate of $80 per hour.
This time and amount of money are indicative of the quality of excellence you should be pursuing in all aspects of the unit and in particular in the final written report and presentation to the client for whom your group is doing the project.
Logbook
A single folded A3 logbook sheet will be provided for each member of the class in the first session. Each student in each group is required to maintain this as a diary of work carried out and record of the "chargeable" time (excluding travelling time) for each task. The logbook approach allows a fuller simulation of the work of a consultancy team that really has to track the chargeable time for each task to enable accurate invoicing and personnel payments.
The introduction of the logbook system arose out of some discontent in the past among students who found themselves working in a group where there was unbalanced group participation. The logbooks give students the opportunity to ensure all group members are contributing as planned. To be meaningful, therefore, the logbooks will need to be submitted on at least three occasions during the semester.
The dates for submission of the logbook sheet are:
Thursday 10 April On completion of the first two assignments.
Thursday 5 June At the time of the final report presentation to the class and GSE Staff.
The important issues with regard to the logbook are whether or not the other members of the group agree or disagree with the times recorded and are satisfied that the effort from each member is fair. Unsatisfactory work contributions can occur in a real-life consulting practice and the issues can only be resolved by decisive action on the part of those adversely affected.
Where members of a group are not satisfied with the effort of another group member, they must act immediately. There is no point in waiting until the end of the semester ? nothing can be done at such a late stage. The logbook should be noted accordingly.
Alternatively, if there is a desire to avoid immediate confrontation within the group, the matter can be brought to the attention of the unit convenor by the group leader. In regard to the latter course of action, however, it needs to be appreciated that no meaningful action can be effected if the group member in question is not faced with the issue.
Assignment 1 - Project Proposal
The first class session on Thursday 28 February will cover some of the principles of preparing and responding to a client's project brief.
The meetings with the client during the week beginning Monday 3 March will enable each group to define and scope the consultancy project for the preparation of a project proposal to the client and for submission to the unit convenor.
The project proposal must have at least the following features included within the page limit:
- A clear statement of the project objectives.
- A clear statement of the way in which the group intends to carry out the project.
- A work plan showing the milestones to be achieved during the project.
- A summary of the outputs to be delivered to the client.
- A notional Business Plan and schedule of putative progress payments.
Each group will be required to give a 15-minute presentation of its Project Proposal to the class on Thursday 20 March. The purposes of this are to provide initial practice in presentation skills for the final presentations to each group's client at the end of the unit, and to receive feedback from other groups.
The marking criteria and weights for the Project proposal are set out in the table below:
| Clear statement of the project objectives | 2 |
| Clear statement of the way in which the group ntends to carry out the project | 2 |
| Work plan showing the milestones to be achieved during the project | 2 |
| Summary of the outputs to be delivered to the client | 2 |
| Notional business plan and schedule of putative progress payments | 2 |
| TOTAL | 10 |
Assignment 2 - Review of the context of the group's project
The different groups in the class will be doing different projects for different clients on different environmental issues of concern to each client. Any client organisation and the issues are in the broader contexts of local, regional, national and international practice and management where the same, or closely similar, issues face other organisations.
This assignment is really the first step in completing your group's project - its purpose is to explore and document the broader context of the issues and concerns of your client in the project the group will be doing for them. The group will need to discuss with the GSE staff the way in which this context is to be addressed.
Some examples of the form that this reveiw might take are:
- An academic literature review on best environmental management practices may be appropriate for a group whose task is to critically examine a client's environmental management policy and plan.
- The identification and definition of industry best practice in waste management may be more appropriate for a group working on a waste management protocol for a client.
- An evaluation of planning policies adopted in different Australian States in relation to de-centralisation and / or dispersal of commercial and industrial precincts for a group working on the environmental issues in a planning policy.
Each group will be required to give a 15-minute presentation of their reviews to the class on Monday 10 September. The main purposes of this are to provide further practice in presentation skills for the final presentations to each group's client at the end of the unit and to inform the class of the diversity of possible environmental projects.
The marking criteria and weights for the Context Review are set out in the table below:
| Clear and appropriate identification of the context for the project - within the client's organisation and beyond. | 3 |
| Contextual issues related to the client's business are analysed and evaluated. | 3 |
| Contextual issues related to best practice outside the client's organisation are analysed and evaluated. | 3 |
| Clear linkage from outside best practice to the needs of the client's organisation with respect to the project. | 3 |
| Quality and substance of the presentation to the class of the "Context Review Report". | 3 |
| TOTAL | 15 |
Assignment 3 - Project Report
The project report must have at least the following features included within the page limit. Additional supporting material of a technical or other nature should be attached as Appendices to the report proper and bound with it. The report should address all of the objectives determined in the project proposal, and the following format is suggested:
- A statement of the project objectives.
- A description of the way in which the group carried out the project.
- A summary of the findings in relation to the objectives.
- Quantitative data should be provided where appropriate.
- Discussion of the findings. (You may present the discussions of different aspects after the findings on each, or reserve the discussion until after all of the findings have been set out).
- Conclusions and clearly defined recommendations to the client.
Guidelines for the presentation of the bound report
- The title page must include the title of the Report, the year, the names of the group members, and any other information necessary for cataloguing the report in a library.
- The report should be of a quality suitable for presentation to the Environmental Manager (or equivalent) who may refer it to the CEO of your client: professional appearance with appropriate high-quality (colour) graphics to illustrate the key points, appropriate binding.
- The Executive Summary should not exceed one (1) page, be quantitative and informative, and include the main findings and recommendations to the client. It should be bound with the report after the title page.
A check list for the bound report
1. Appearance
- Is aesthetically attractive (far more important than many people realise!)
- Is font too small / large and therefore unattractive to read?
- Is there good use of boxes, colour and graphics throughout?
- Are graphics clear and do they show the important features?
2. Structure
- Is it well laid out, and with a clear flow of logic?
- Does the report avoid confusion between summary and conclusions?
3. Style
- Is the report written in language appropriate for CEOs, using only English (except where necessary, e.g. plant species) and avoiding technical and academic jargon?
- Spelling and grammatical errors can be both irritating and distracting.
- Are references complete in accordance with the GSE Guidelines?
- Has attention been given to the details, e.g. Spelling of plant names, technical terms?
4. Content
- Is the status of the issue clearly summarised? (Why do the project?)
- Does the report contain all the information needed for the decision-makers to proceed to the next step?
5. Discussion
- Is the argument compelling?
- Is there any poor writing that hinders comprehension?
- Is writing verbose and passive?
- Is rationale well presented?
- Is the discussion strong, looking at issues just beyond the sites?
- Is there reference to best-management practices?
- Are the arguments and comparisons all coherent?
- Does it provide a clear basis for subsequent recommendations?
6. Recommendations
- Are the recommendations precise, strong and focussed?
- Will they allow the client to move to the next step in the process without unnecessary replication of the work done?
A check list for the Executive Summary
1. Layout
- Is the layout attractive and readable?
- Is the layout imaginative to reduce words and clearly present the main messages?
- Is there good use of headings to separate background from findings and recommendations? This format means that the CEO does not have to go looking for an obscure message.
2. Findings
- Is the message clearly conveyed?
- Does it clearly state the task to be addressed, the approaches, the results and the recommendations?
- Is there any unnecessary material?
3. Recommendations
- Are the recommendations precise, strong and focussed?
- Will they allow the client to move to the next step in the process without unnecessary replication of the work done?
The marking criteria and weights for the Project Report are set out in the table below:
| Executive summary | 5 |
| Clear statement of the project objectives | 5 |
| Clear description of project context | 5 |
| Clear linkage from outside best practice to the needs of the client's organisation with respect to the project. | 5 |
| Clear presentation of the project findings | 20 |
| Conclusions based on findings | 10 |
| Useful recommendations for the client to act upon | 10 |
| TOTAL | 60 |
Assignment 4 - Project Report Presentation to Client
In the week beginning Monday 9 June each group will be required to give a presentation of their findings to the client at a time to be arranged.
The presentation will be assessed by GSE staff with input from the personnel from the group's client.
The format for the session will be a 20-minute presentation by the group followed by 10 minutes for questions and discussion with the client. Because each group will be presenting 'privately' to the client personnel, more time may be available for discussion about the findings, recommendations and their implications.
Guidelines for the oral presentation of the report
- The group should use PowerPoint slides and a data projector for the presentation.
The availability of the necessary equipment should be arranged with the client and / or the GSE office prior to the presentation.
- Remember to have an appropriate amount of information on each slide (not too much) and to choose a style and colour scheme that is easy to read on a large screen - check this!
- The content (including graphs, tables and diagrams) in the presentation slides should correspond with those in the bound report and be easily correlated with them by the audience.
- Avoid simply saying what is on the screen - certainly do not read from it! It is very effective if what is being said is a focussed commentary on what is on the screen which is in turn a sharp summary of the main points of what is being said.
- The group will have the opportunity to rehearse the presentation before that to the client when they present to the GSE staff and other groups on Monday 5 November. This is the time to ensure the timing is right and the visual aids are clear.
A check list for the presentation
- Good introduction of team and clarity of purpose?
- Presentation placed in context at outset?
- Good cover and explanation of the issue and findings?
- Case well argued with good graphics, etc?
- Alternatives/options presented and well argued?
- Recommendations carefully placed in the context of findings?
- Good cover of cost implications of recommendations?
- Integrated use of anecdotes / humour etc to maintain interest / attention?
- Good use of presentation technology?
- Effectiveness of presentation material?
- Well-balanced use of time?
The marking criteria and weights for the Final Presentation are set out in the table below:
Professionalism of team
| Project team well presented and suitably dressed | 1 |
| Project team introduced clearly and roles identified | 1 |
| Content of presentation | |
| Clear statement of the project objectives | 1 |
| Clear description of project content | 1 |
| Clear description of the methodology for the project | 1 |
| Clear presentation of the project findings | 3 |
| Conclusions based on findings | 1.5 |
| Useful recommendations for the client to act upon | 1.5 |
| Style of presentation | |
| Well paced and completed in time | 1 |
| Quality of overheads/slides | 1 |
| Easily understandable | 1 |
| Manner and vocal quality | 1 |
| TOTAL | 15 |
Plagiarism
The University defines plagiarism in its rules: "Plagiarism involves using the work of another person and presenting it as one's own." Plagiarism is a serious breach of the University's rules and carries significant penalties. You must read the University's practices and procedures on plagiarism. These can be found in the Handbook of Postgraduate Studies or on the web at: http://www.student.mq.edu.au/plagiarism/
The policies and procedures explain what plagiarism is, how to avoid it, the procedures that will be taken in cases of suspected plagiarism, and the penalties if you are found guilty. Penalties may include a deduction of marks, failure in the unit, and/or referral to the University Discipline Committee.
The GSE recommends that students familiarise themselves with the information contained on the Georgetown University Honor Council website which discusses plagiarism in an easy to understand and comprehensive manner.
University Policy on Grading
Academic Senate has a set of guidelines on the distribution of grades across the range from fail to high distinction. Your final result will include one of these grades plus a standardised numerical grade (SNG).
On occasion your raw mark for a unit (i.e., the total of your marks for each assessment item) may not be the same as the SNG which you receive. Under the Senate guidelines, results may be scaled to ensure that there is a degree of comparability across the university, so that units with the same past performances of their students should achieve similar results.
It is important that you realise that the policy does not require that a minimum number of students are to be failed in any unit. In fact it does something like the opposite, in requiring examiners to explain their actions if more than 20% of students fail in a unit.
The process of scaling does not change the order of marks among students. A student who receives a higher raw mark than another will also receive a higher final scaled mark.
For an explanation of the policy see:
http://senate.mq.edu.au/rules/Guidelines2003.doc or
http://senate.mq.edu.au/rules/detailedguidelines.doc
Student Support Services
Macquarie University provides a range of Academic Student Support Services. Details of these services can be accessed at http://www.student.mq.edu.au.
Advice for Students with Disabilities/Health Conditions
The Equity Support Unit (ESU) provides support and assistance to students with a disability/health condition in aiming to ensure that they do not experience disadvantage in reaching their academic potential. Service provision is determined on a case-by-case basis following an assessment of a student's needs and the provision of supporting documentation. Service provision is also dependent on the availability of resources.
To register with ESU, download an Advice of Disability/Health Condition form from http://www.reg.mq.edu.au/academic-index.html. This form must be completed annually, irrespective of whether a disability/health condition is temporary, long-term or permanent. Students wishing to request support services from the ESU should make an appointment to see a Disability Advisor immediately after enrolling at Macquarie University.
Phone: (02) 9850 6494/7497
Fax: (02) 9850 6063
TTY: (02) 9850 6493
Email: equity@mq.edu.au
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