10102172Green Operations and Purchasing
Course Information
Description
Learn how operations and purchasing can be integrated with sustainability principles in this careful look at key topics such as: energy management, water conservation, waste management, green computing, transportation, recycling and greening the supply chain. In addition, students will become familiar with new standards in green labeling and learn techniques to avoid greenwashing.
Total Credits
3
Course Competencies
  1. Analyze key sustainability principles
    Assessment Strategies
    by getting a C or better on exams and quizzes
    by making online journal and/or blog entries
    by participating in online discussions
    by preparing short written papers
    Criteria
    you compare and contrast various sustainability frameworks (e.g. LEED)
    you explain key sustainability -related terms
    you identify the energy sources that our building and transportation systems use, nationally and locally
    you describe what is meant by Systems Thinking
    you prepare your ecological footprint
    you present an analysis of a chosen sustainability term
    you describe some of the challenges of sustainability in relationship to the earth's finite resources
    you describe some of the current global environmental challenges
    you participate in online discussions
    you follow course presentation/report guidelines
    you include and cite outside research

  2. Apply sustainability principles to business operations
    Assessment Strategies
    by getting a C or better on exams and quizzes
    by making online journal and/or blog entries
    by participating in online discussions
    by preparing short written papers
    Criteria
    you describe standard sustainable business operations
    you identify "best Practices" for sustainable business operations
    you describe basic water efficiency measures
    you describe basic energy efficiency measures
    you describe basic waste management measures
    you describe basic green computing measures
    you describe strategies to support green transportation choices
    you identify criteria for a sustainable purchasing policy
    you identify corporate and company leaders in sustainability
    you describe the change agent process
    you identify and articulate challenges/promises of moving toward more sustainable business systems
    you identify standard resources that facilitate sustainable business practices
    you evaluate resources that facilitate sustainable business practices
    you identify established and credible sources of sustainable business information
    you participate in online discussions
    you follow course presentation/report guidelines
    you include and cite outside research

  3. Develop a plan to implement or improve one area in gree operations -- energy, water, waste, transportation, purchasing
    Assessment Strategies
    by getting a C or better on exams and quizzes
    by making online journal and/or blog entries
    by participating in online discussions
    by researching the topic using credible sources
    by analyzing the practices of an identified sustainable business through interviews and/or field investigation and writing up results in a business case format
    OR by analyzing the practices of a fictional business (provided by instructor) and writing up results in a business case format
    Criteria
    you define best sustainable practices for your target area
    you recommend best practice implementation plan for your subsystem including: (a.)well-defined benefits, (b.) reasonable, prioritized and measurable short and long-term goals, (c.) reasonable, prioritized, measurable and budgeted resultant tasks, (d.) identification of responsible parties, (e.) realistic timelines, (f.) guidelines for transparency (reporting) stakeholder involvement
    you identify local resources that support your target objective
    you participate in online discussion
    you follow course presentation/report guidelines
    you include and cite outside research