A Systems Approach to Sustainable Practice
Introduction
Course Purpose
- To understand what sustainable practice is and why it is important.
- To introduce systems thinking and strategic process to achieving sustainable practice.
Course Delivery
- Information will be presented through a range of technology and mediums:
- Slide presentations with pre-recorded voiceovers
- Videos from the Internet
- Interactive games and activities
- Readings
- Quizzes and an assignment that can be submitted online
Course Outline
- Module 1: Course Outline and Core Concepts
- Module 2: Two Converging Issues
- Module 3: Ecological Footprinting and Personal Reflection
- Module 4: What is Sustainable Practice
- Module 5: The Business Case
- Module 6: Seeing Systems
- Module 7: Nature's Design
- Module 8: Sub-systems
- Module 9: Greenwash
- Module 10: Final Assignment
To pass the course
You need to complete
- Learning journal (50%)
- Final Assignment (50%)
Important Documents
- How to use this course
- Assignments
- Course Workbooks
- Introduction to tutors
- Glossary
- News Items
- Participant Forum
Module 1
Introduction to the course and the key concepts
- Course purpose
- Course overview
- Module content
- Final assignment
Module 2
Two Converging Issues
- Our Global Reality
- The Funnel Metaphor
- Pressure created through two converging trends
- Increased resource use
- Declining health of natural systems
- What does this mean for New Zealand?
Module 3
Ecological Footprinting and Personal Refection
- Ecological Footprint
- Ecological Overshoot
- Handprint
- Personal Reflection
- Ecological Footprint Quiz 1
Module 4
What is Sustainable Practice?
- Weak vs. strong sustainability
- A framework
- Sorting the confusion
- A new way of thinking
Module 5
The Business Case
- Risk
- Kiwi are shifting
- The secret benefits
- Case studies
- What can I do?
Module 6
Seeing Systems
- System thinking is essential to understand complex systems—such as
- the human body
- the national economy
- the earth's climate or
- An organisation
Module 7
Rules of Nature & the System Conditions
- Ecosystem services and natural capital
- Know the rules
- System conditions
- Principles for sustainability
Module 8
Sub-systems
- The Big Picture focuses on three important areas that need greater understanding if we are going to identify a common language on which to discuss the core challenges of sustainable practice.
- Social
- Economic
- Governance
Module 9
Greenwashing
- What is greenwashing?
- Six Sins of Greenwashing
- Three Steps to Avoid Greenwashing
Module 10: Final Assignment
The purpose of the final assignment is to test your ability to apply your understanding from the course concepts and tools.
- Choose an organisation that you work with
- Use the following 4 mechanisms to critically evaluate your chosen organisation.
- The Funnel, Principles for sustainable practice, Backcasting, systems approaches.
Otago Polytechnic
