APG5122 S1 2025 Assessment Instructions and Rubrics
Written: Case study

Purpose: There is increasing focus on the role of business in contributing to and addressing sustainability
issues, particularly in light of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This assignment seeks to get
you quickly engaged with the business interface of a sustainability issue that you are most familiar
and/or interested in. The intent is to encourage independent research, critical thinking and broadly
improve your contextual knowledge of the business sector.

Weighting: 30% of unit mark.
Wordcount: 1200 words +/- 10% (excluding references, tables/figures, and information required on the
first page of your submitted file)

Due date: 11.55 pm, Thursday 17 April
Instructions:
Write a case study essay about a significant sustainability issue impacting the business sector.
Step 1
Select one from the following topics: greenhouse gas emissions/global warming, water/air pollution,
water scarcity, deforestation, biodiversity loss, waste/e-waste, poverty, human rights, modern
slavery, inequality or food insecurity. At the same time, choose a few companies (i.e., 1~3; ensure
you draw on 3 companies if you aim to get HD/D – see details at the end of this file) affected in one
business sector relevant to your chosen issue (e.g., automobile manufacturing companies). Be
careful of information availability.
Step 2
Find and read through your chosen companies' sustainability report(s) and analyse their recent
responses to regulatory, technological, social and other related changes, and discuss what this
means in terms of their business model(s).
Step 3
Write your case study essay following this structure:
1. Introduction (aim of this essay and what it covers)

2. Issue description (e.g., definition, cause and effects)
Consider: outlining its evolution and highlighting key events that have defined the issue to date.
Address the physical / factual dimensions of the issue (e.g., size, scope or scale of the issue) as well
as the societal / regulatory / legal context, if appropriate, for how the issue has evolved (e.g., global
agreements, national laws/regulation). Do not focus on any particular industry in this section
APG5122 S1 2025 Assessment Instructions and Rubrics
3. Business-issue interface (i.e., interactions of business with respect to the issue)
Consider: How does your chosen business sector impact the issue? How is business being impacted
by the issue? What are the threats and opportunities? Here you need to draw on the company
examples of your choice to support your analysis and claims. Do not choose one specific
organisation but you can provide examples from several organisations in the industry you have
chosen.
4. Conclusions
Concluding remarks about the current trends and future responses to the issue and potential
implications for business.
Other reminders:
▪ Use peer-reviewed academic sources (references) >=10 references (exclusive from non-academic
ones), as well as media/industry/grey sources properly (references).
▪ Produce maps / graphs / images in your study.
▪ Make sure you provide a title for all tables/diagrams/figures, and reference them in the text, for
example “Table 1 summarises …”.
▪ On the first page of your submitted file, list your essay title, your name and student number,
wordcount, and if AI is used, your AI acknowledgement. There is no need to include any cover
page.
▪ Use page numbers in the main body of your file.
▪ Allow 24 hours to run Turnitin and generate your similarity report before the due time:
https://www.monash.edu/student-academic-success/build-digital-capabilities/master-online-
learning-systems/turnitin/how-do-i-use-turnitin
▪ List your references at the end of your file. Please use Chicago 18th (A) Notes for all referencing in
this unit. More information on this format can be found at the library link:
https://guides.lib.monash.edu/chicago-18-a-notes/getting-started
▪ AI is permitted for general background understanding and basic grammar check. Please always
disclose your AI use properly: https://www.monash.edu/student-academic-success/build-digital-
capabilities/create-online/acknowledging-the-use-of-generative-artificial-intelligence
▪ To support you in maintaining Academic Integrity throughout the assessment, please use the
Academic Integrity resources: https://www.monash.edu/student-academic-
success/learnhq/maintain-academic-integrity

APG5122 S1 2025 Assessment Instructions and Rubrics
Marking Criteria HD D C N/Pass Fail
1 - Issue
Describe the issue, analysing
the following:

- definition, cause and effects
of issue chosen
- the physical /factual
dimensions of the issue
- its evolution and key events
that have defined the issue
- societal /regulatory / legal
context
Thorough, concise and purposeful
analysis of the issue using highly
relevant information from peer-
reviewed sources.

Significant insight into the
evolution,
size/scale/scope of the issue and
the societal context.
Consistent analysis of the
aspects of the issue using
highly relevant peer-
reviewed sources.

Reasonable insight into
the evolution,
size/scale/scope of
the issue and the societal
context.
Mostly consistent
analysis of the aspects of
the issue using relevant
peer-reviewed sources.
Some evidence of the
evolution,
size/scale/scope of
the issue and the societal
content.

May be too narrowly
focused on a particular
industry or case study
examples.
The aspects of the issue are
described using limited
peer-reviewed sources, but
there is limited deeper
analysis.

And/or too narrow focus on
a particular industry or case
study examples.
Attempt to describe an issue,
but the task is misunderstood
or not all questions are
answered and does not use
relevant information from
peer-reviewed sources.
2- Interface
Evaluate the issue in the
context of business.
- How is business
contributing to the issue?
- How is business impacted
by the
issue?
- How is business
responding?
Comprehensively and clearly
evaluates the interface using
highly relevant and appropriate
information from peer-reviewed
and industry sources. Addresses
all questions.
Sophisticated insight into the
connections
between business and the
issue.
Mention three companies, with
good analysis of them as
examples.
Evaluates the aspects of the
interface using a few highly
relevant and appropriate
peer reviewed and industry
sources.

Clear connections drawn
between business and the
issue.

Mention three
companies, with some
analysis of them as
examples.
Evaluates some of the
aspects of the interface
using a few relevant and
appropriate peer-reviewed
and industry sources.

Some connections are
drawn between business
and the issue but there is
room for development.

Mention only one or two
companies; limited analysis
of them as examples.
Evaluation is limited to
description of the
aspects of the interface
using limited peer-reviewed
and industry sources.

Limited connections
drawn between business
and the issue.

Mention only one or two
companies; no analysis of
them as examples.
Does not describe the aspects of
the interface and does not use
relevant peer reviewed and
industry sources.

Minimal or no
connections drawn
between business and the issue.

No mention of company
examples; no analysis of company
examples.
3- Conclusion
Provide a commentary,
critique and conclusions
about the current trends and
future responses to the issue
and potential implications for
business.
Thoroughly, concisely and
critically reflects on current
trends, responses and
implications using highly
relevant and appropriate
information from peer reviewed
sources.
Concise and relevant
critique of current
trends, responses and
implications using
relevant and appropriate
information from peer
reviewed sources.
Lacking the more
thorough critical
reflection of the HD.
Provides commentary on
some current trends,
responses and
implications using peer
reviewed sources but
there is room for
development.
Summarises the main
arguments of the paper or
provides
recommendations on what
business should do to
address issue, without a
deeper critique of the
current trends,
responses and
implications for
business. Limited use of
peer-reviewed sources.
Does not discuss current trends,
responses and implications.
APG5122 S1 2025 Assessment Instructions and Rubrics
4- Written expression Written expression
skilfully communicates meaning to
readers with clarity and fluency.
The essay is well-linked and
balanced leading to a cohesive
piece of
writing.
Accurate citing and
referencing.
Well-chosen, relevant and up-to-
date
references.
Within the word limit.
Written expression is
well-controlled for
accuracy and concision
with only occasional
error.
Essay is well-linked but
lacks the cohesion of the
HD.
Citing and referencing is
generally accurate and
consistent.
Mostly relevant and up
to-date references
Within the word limit.
Written expression
generally, conveys
meaning to reader,
although may contain
some errors.
Linking of ideas in the
essay is generally clear
and consistent.
Some errors in citing and
referencing may persist.
Some relevant and up-to-
date references.
Within the word limit.
Written expression may be
inconsistent and
inaccurate in parts,
impeding meaning.
There is an attempt at
linking ideas in the essay but
this may be
inconsistent.
Citing and referencing is
attempted, but may be
faulty.
Few relevant and up-to-date
references.
May be within word
limit.
There are numerous
errors and inaccuracies in
written expression. Sections of
the essay are missing and/or
poorly executed and organized.
Referencing may be
uniformly poor.
Irrelevant or out-of-date
references and/or too few
references.
Essay may be
significantly under or over
prescribed word limit.


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