Question

Course Learning Outcomes-Covered   

• Employ the skills for managing peoples and other complex issues in technology based organizations. (Lo 2.5)

Assignment - Critical Thinking                                                Marks 10                                                        

Question 1 - From the below listed companies, select any two and on the basis of your research, elucidate what new standards, measures and policies adopted by the company (minimum 2 each) played a major role in helping it to reach high environmental quality.                                                                                     (5 Marks)                                                               

COMPANIES- 1) Ikea 2) Nike 3) Seventh Generation 4) Panasonic 5) IBM                                                     6) Unilever 7) Allergan 8) Patagonia 9) Adobe

Question 2 - Develop a hypothetical technological company of your own choice in any field which follows the concept of ‘Sustainable Development’. Draw an outline of your company’s basic fields of operation and explain how it makes use of various sustainable techniques for its development. (Minimum 3 elements of Sustainable Development should be present in your company’s techniques.)                                                (5 Marks)

NOTE:

• It is mandatory for the students to mention their references and sources.
• Students may refer their theoretical course content for the elements of Sustainable Development.
• Word Limit – Minimum 350 words for each question.

Answer 1

Answer 1-

Nike:

As the company has long manufacturing process, so it was important for them to take best measures to ensure environment friendly process. The Company aimed at making each level of manufacturing process efficient. To make this possible company has adapted two policies which was: a) Reducing waste and, b) using sustainable materials. As the company use lot of different type of material in manufacturing, so the company has started the efficiency process from the vendors. Company aimed to buy material from those vendors who adapt environment friendly approach and provides sustainable materials. The Company also follows practices of measuring Footwear Sustainability Index and Apparel Sustainability Index which helps to know the impact on the environment which there products are leaving. Alternatively, it helps to them to improve their designing and ability to sustain in the environment along with the life cycle of the product and how and when it can be recycled. From almost years, the Company is following such practices in the field of sustainability.

Panasonic:

Panasonic, since from its incorporation has been dedicated towards the Environment. In late 90’s only the Company has put forward its Environment Policy which aimed producing environment friendly products and minimizing the loss to the society as well as environment. The Company has also aimed the Global Warming prevention. Company slogan and tag line also promotes environment protection initiatives. Company has under its action for ensuring sustainable development took measure to reduce emission of Carbon dioxide and impact of chemical substance on the environment. Also, Company aims to protect the biodiversity and water resources.   Not only within themselves, but the Company has practiced their action with their partner as well as group companies. The Company also aims at its recycling process. For reducing the impact of Global warming the Company has also separately introduced its policy in 2018 under which the company has ensured to produce energy saving products. Company has also stated its results carried out from these practices on its official website. Therefore, Company’s policy towards sustainable development by way of, a) reducing carbon dioxide emission and b) producing energy saving products seems a good step.

Answer 2:

The hypothetical company is the company in the field of motors. Being the motor company, the Company’s responsibility is not only to produce the product with sustainability but to manufacture in such a way that it will not cause any damage to the environment during its lifetime because it is a product which works for long term. While manufacturing the Company should focus on its suppliers first. Company should pay attention to the suppliers that whether they are following the environment friendly practices while producing such products and whether these products while in use will stay environment friendly. After vendors, the Company should focus on its manufacturing process. The process should be such which will cost minimum to the environment. The Company should focus on the following for ensuring sustainable development:

a) Energy Management and Utilization: Company should take care that which source of energy is getting used while producing product whether it is renewable or non-renewable.

b) Product Quality: Quality not only in the sense of end use for customer but for the environment also. Recycling of such product should be kept in mind.

c) Be a good Producer: As you want an environment friendly for yourself, you also need to be environment friendly producer and supplier at the second level.

d) Safety: Safety is the first measure which should be kept in mind. While preventing environment on long term basis, you should not forget that accidents can occur at the factories while producing these products and it will not only harm to the people present there but also to the environment. For example: fire at workplace can cause air damage.

Company must make sure, that it must along with the environmental measures comply with the sustainable development goals as specified which will help the Company to put good foot on the global level to achieve the environmental goals. Along with ensuring quality for life of people, company should also focus on life of environment because environment is the one which is providing resource to you and if we won’t take care of the environment, we may not able to sustain in the market because of scarcity of the natural resources.