Reflective Log Report: Managing Sustainability, Bath Business School

This report is a reflective log created by a student, focusing on the practical aspects of managing sustainability within a business context. It delves into four key areas: energy use, water conservation, transportation methods, and waste reduction strategies. The student reflects on personal experiences and group activities within the context of a business module, detailing activities undertaken, the overall experience, issues encountered, skills learned and improved, and plans for future improvements. The log examines the importance of sustainable practices, including the use of renewable energy sources, efficient water management, the adoption of new technologies in transportation, and the implementation of waste reduction techniques like Lean methods. The student analyzes the challenges faced, such as information gathering, time management, teamwork, and the complexity of certain concepts, and reflects on how these challenges were overcome through research, communication, and critical thinking. The report concludes with an emphasis on the importance of reflective practice for continuous improvement in the field of sustainability and provides a comprehensive overview of the student's learning journey within the module.

MANAGING
SUSTAINABILITY-
INDIVIDUAL
REFLECTIVE

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
REFLECTIVE LOG........................................................................................................................1
Reflective Log 1..........................................................................................................................1
Reflective Log 2..........................................................................................................................2
Reflective Log 3..........................................................................................................................3
Reflective Log 4..........................................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Sustainability, in a business context, refers to a status of continuous existence of business
as well as human and natural resources. It is a highly necessary aspect to be included and
fostered by an individual and business organisation as part of their Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) (Knott and Scragg, 2016). Moreover, individual reflection by a person is
necessary to reflect upon the past experiences within a business setting of managing
sustainability. Hence, in this relation, the report below is based on personal reflective log upon
past group activity that has been associated with taking steps to ensure and enhance sustainability
within business. It covers several activities and experiences associated with the same effectively.
REFLECTIVE LOG
Reflective Log 1
 Activity:
The very first activity within the module that has been performed by me was to study
about Energy Use in corporate sector (Burns, Diamond-Vaught and Bauman, 2015). For this
purpose, I realised that it was necessary that appropriate information be gathered by me in
context of different forms of energies that could be used by organisation to ensure enhancement
of sustainability of environment. Hence, studying and information collection were important
tasks that were carried out by me in this activity.
 Overall Experience:
Throughout this activity, I was very much anxious in order to appropriately and
effectively learn about how best the energy could be generated, used and renewed so that the
business operates through being environmental friendly. In addition to this, my feelings for
environment got stronger when I realised that how industries waste so much energy by using
depleted sources and outdated methods to perform different activities. As for the positive side of
this activity, it was very much contributing in context of highlighting the methods that the
organisation could choose to ensure high energy saving and better productivity with techniques
such as solar energy.
 Issues:
However, the activity was very contributing, there were minor issues that were faced by
me in relation to gather information about energy use. For instance, I found it very complex to
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gather information that is authenticate, as I failed to determine effective sources of collection of
information. Hence, this issue was somewhat a setback towards appropriate information
collection. However, the issue was solved after I approached my team members related to this
issue and realised the methods through which authenticated sources of information could be
determined.
 Skills Learnt/Improved:
This activity allowed me the opportunity for gaining an appropriate insight in relation to
how best the energy could be utilised and what methods could be used to achieve the same.
Within this task, my research skills have been improvised which would be expanding the scope
of my success in future due to inclusion of relevant information within my future assignments.
 Future Improvement:
In case such situation arises in the future, I would appropriately be undertaking several
workshops that would help me in further developing my research skill for better decision
making.
Reflective Log 2
 Activity:
This activity was associated with processing of different information associated with
Water Use, which is yet another important aspect associated with enhancing sustainability within
the environment (Eaton, Hughes and MacGregor, 2016). The information processing required to
segregate important information and compile the same appropriately to ensure a sequential flow
of information that helps in understanding the issue related to over consumption of water and
probable methods which help in improvising water usage in business.
 Overall Experience:
The experience associated with this activity was highly overwhelming, considering the
fact that water is one of those resources that is becoming scarce with the highest rate. In addition
to this, the activity made me realise that it is very much necessary for individuals, communities
and organisations are required to adhere to scarcity of water within the world and must work
towards preserving the same in an effective manner. In addition to this, this activity has
positively influenced my emotions in relation to water usage as it has provided me with ample
opportunities to study the information associated on different methods and techniques for
effective usage of this resource.
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 Issues:
Segregation and processing of information proved to be effective, yet quite complex for
me to perform as there were ample of data that was presented to me in relation to determine the
most important information along with processing the same for further inclusion. One issue
which was faced by me was Time Management. The reason for this is because there was no
definite plan as to what topics are required to be covered for water usage, which took me more
time than required to perform the activity. Moreover, through effective research on time
management, I realised the importance of planning and prioritising, which was effectively helped
me in accomplishing the activity in a professional way.
 Skills Learnt/Improved:
The activity related to water use was very much effective and contributing in providing
me appropriate knowledge in relation to different sources of securely using water and reusing the
same for further operations without wasting this resource. Moreover, as for skills, I learnt
planning and organising of information, along with processing the same to satisfy the criteria of
the assignment.
 Future Improvement:
In order to appropriately improve my current competence in relation to better and more
effective data processing, I would be undertaking online training lessons, where experts from all
over the world would be guiding me towards enhancing my skills in association to the same.
Reflective Log 3
 Activity:
Transportation within businesses is very important that is associated with enhancing the
flow of goods from one place to another (Pope and et. al., 2017). However, the current
transportation methods have been very much disadvantageous in contributing towards damage to
climate, leading to its drastic change. Hence, in this context, the activity was related to studying
about new technologies and initiatives which global industries are taking in order to make
transport more environmentally economic and sustainable.
 Overall Experience:
Experience gained from this activity has been the most effective one as it helped me in
getting up more insight onto the technologies and digital methods that would help in controlling
problems like climate change. Furthermore, it positively influenced my emotions and mind sets
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towards technology and how the same could be used appropriately and effectively modify and
change the current transport methods to make it better and more apt to the current requirement of
the current world scenario. Moreover, a positive aspect that was experienced by me through this
activity was associated with my adaptability and ease of using various technologies such as
Artificial Intelligence and Automation which are prominent technologies that are associated with
enhancing the competence level of transportation within industries.
 Issues:
The activity required an appropriate contribution to each of the team member as the
technologies are required to be studied and implemented by each of the individual for its
balanced usage in the business in future. However, issue prevailing within the overall activity
was associated with ineffective Teamwork. This is because mindsets of each other did influence
the activity in a negative manner due to being contrasted. In addition to this, it also enhanced the
conflicts within the team members as to which technology is more productive in supporting the
environment. However, external help allowed resolution of the conflict, which enhanced and
scope of study and practice with technologies amongst the organisation.
 Skills Learnt/Improved:
One of the major developments in skills in relation to this activity was communication.
This is because it allowed us to actively listen and keep our viewpoints forward in relation to the
facts about various technologies that are effective in context of highlighting the scope of
improvement for transportation. Furthermore, another skill that was learnt through this activity
was digitalisation, that required to practice and study about the technologies in questions in an
effective manner.
 Future Improvement:
In case such activity is experienced by me in the future, I would be learning several
conflict resolution techniques and would apply the same to ensure that the mindsets of each
individual with in the teams are aligned together and appropriate teamwork is established in an
effective manner. Moreover, I would also be taking workshops where new and latest
technologies are studied and practised with, that would help me in contributing within the
activity more appropriately.
Reflective Log 4
 Activity:
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The activity was related to evaluation and critical assessment of several methods that
companies are required to use in order to minimise waste within their organisation (Budwig,
2015). In addition to this, this required in studying and analysing methods such as Lean, that is
appropriate and effective way of how organisations could save up additional cost and reduce
wastage of resources in their business activities on daily basis.
 Overall Experience:
The experience associated with this activity was not very positive, considering the fact
that the issues within the same were very much overwhelming in presenting several challenges
associated with the same. Moreover, the only positive experience associated with this activity
was that it contributed towards increasing my knowledge towards lean and other methods of
waste reduction, as well as, allowing me to develop an insight onto how waste is very much
ineffective in relation to damaging the overall environment in a very negative and degrading
manner.
 Issues:
There were major issues experienced within the activity, one of which was associated
with Complexity. This is because I found it very hard to understand the concept of waste
reduction and methods associated with the same. Furthermore, another issue related to this issue
was inappropriate evaluation and critical analysis of techniques of waste management that
decreased my performance within the module. However, feedbacks and help from seniors and
my team members allowed me to get an insight onto my weak aspects, which allowed me to gain
competence in them and excel my performance for further growth.
 Skills Learnt/Improved:
There are several skills which further got improved within this method. For example, one
such skill is critical analysis. This is because I realised how important it is to effectively carve
out the positive, as well as negative elements from a number of factors that allows to gain an
insight onto the method or technique which fits best with the current practices and functioning of
the organisation. Moreover, another skill that I learnt while working within this activity is
problem solving, as I faced certain challenges which were appropriately solved through adapting
new methods and ways of working.
 Future Improvement:
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It is highly likely that I would be facing such a situation in future where complex decision
making and evaluation would be required for aspects like waste management within an
organisation. However, if this becomes the case, the first activity within the same which would
be performed by me would be taking training sessions from several tutors in relation to
enhancing my critical thinking skills. I would be specifically working towards simulations as a
method which would allow me to practice effectively upon mock situations and scenarios that
would be subjected towards enhancing the scope of improvement within the same in an effective
and required manner.
CONCLUSION
Thus, it is concluded that managing sustainability in business is very important for an
organisation as well as its workforce to ensure growth and prosperity of the environment within
which a company operates. Furthermore, reflective log helps individuals in appropriately
reflecting upon the experiences of individuals towards their past activities, so that the challenges,
benefits and future action plans be crafted in an appropriate and well manner.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Budwig, N., 2015. Concepts and tools from the learning sciences for linking research, teaching
and practice around sustainability issues. Current Opinion in Environmental
Sustainability, 16, pp.99-104.
Burns, H., Diamond-Vaught, H. and Bauman, C., 2015. Leadership for sustainability:
Theoretical foundations and pedagogical practices that foster change. International
Journal of Leadership Studies.
Eaton, M., Hughes, H.J. and MacGregor, J. eds., 2016. Contemplative approaches to
sustainability in higher education: Theory and practice. Taylor & Francis.
Knott, C. and Scragg, T. eds., 2016. Reflective practice in social work. Learning Matters.
Pope, J., and et. al., 2017. Reconceptualising sustainability assessment. Environmental impact
assessment review. 62. pp.205-215.
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