Unit of competency Outline

Date retreived
22/07/2026 8:14 PM AWST

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Plan for a sustainable business

Plan for a sustainable business

Unit of competency
National Code
CPPCMN5001A
State Code
D5589
TGA Status
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Current Release Number
1.00
Current Release Date
07/04/2011
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
07/10/2014
Field of Education
080301 - Business Management
Original Release Date
07/10/2014
Nominal Hours
40
Description
This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to plan sustainable business operations.The unit covers the skills and knowledge required to develop plans and strategies to ensure a business is successful in addressing factors that lead to economic, social and environmental sustainability.Planning skills and the ability to review sustainable policies and practices are important. Understanding resourcing implications and the ability to put in place appropriate measures of sustainability outcomes are also essential for success.No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Inform the development of a plan for sustainability.
  • 1.1 Research into the aspects of sustainability is conducted and analysed.
  • 1.2 Regulations applying to the sustainable operation of the business are identified.
  • 1.3 Procedures for assessing compliance with sustainability regulations are evaluated.
  • 1.4 Concepts of triple bottom line planning, budgeting and reporting are reviewed and used to inform the planning process.
2. Review current sustainable business practices.
  • 2.1 Current business planning is reviewed to identify aspects that reflect sustainable practices.
  • 2.2 Sustainable practices and processes are reviewed and measured to assess current performance.
  • 2.3 Alternative solutions for improved and sustainable operations are evaluated.
3. Prepare a business sustainability plan.
  • 3.1 Objectives and performance measures for the business sustainability plan are identified in consultation with organisation's key staff.
  • 3.2 Market conditions and market potential are analysed to inform plan development.
  • 3.3 Research and industry intelligence are collated and analysed to build understanding of customer and community needs and preferences.
  • 3.4 Competitors' sustainable offerings and market position are identified and reviewed.
  • 3.5 Costings of proposed strategies are determined and included using standard budgetary processes.
  • 3.6 Impact of proposed strategies on the community and the reputation of the business is reviewed and considered in the planning process.
  • 3.7 Environmental impact of the proposed strategies is identified and evaluated to ensure positive outcomes for the business, community and environment.
  • 3.8 Business sustainability plan is prepared using standard organisational procedures and approved by appropriate senior staff.
4. Plan for implementation.
  • 4.1 Performance indicators relevant to the monitoring of plan performance are identified.
  • 4.2 Team members involved in implementation of plan are briefed and ongoing communication channels are established.
  • 4.3 Timelines and resources to support plan implementation are identified and sourced.
RANGE STATEMENT
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
Research data may be sourced from:
'think tanks' and research houses
industry associations
primary research, such as surveys and focus groups
publicly available data, such as Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)
regional economic development plans
secondary research, such as national and international literature searches.
Sustainability is broadly defined as having three separate but inter-related components with characteristics including:
economic sustainability, demonstrated by:
cost-effective use of resources
ensuring costs of 'green' solutions are properly accounted for and recovered
growing market share by appealing to socially aware customers
purchasing locally to reduce transport costs
seeking to participate in government schemes that reward or fund sustainable operations
social sustainability, demonstrated by:
building community involvement
communicating benefits of sustainable products and services to customers
purchasing locally and using local and community-based products and services
using 'fair trade' products
environmental sustainability, demonstrated by:
efficient use of resources
eliminating hazardous and toxic materials
identifying strategies to offset or mitigate environmental impacts, such as purchasing carbon credits
making more efficient use of energy
maximising opportunities to re-use and recycle materials
preventing and minimising risks and maximising opportunities, such as use of solar or other alternative forms of energy where appropriate
purchasing renewable energy
reducing emissions of greenhouse gases
reducing use of non-renewable resources
waste reduction.
Compliance includes:
meeting relevant federal, state or territory, and local government laws, by-laws, regulations and codes of practice
addressing voluntary industry benchmarking and certification processes.
Triple bottom line refers to:
methods of planning, monitoring and reporting business operations that measure:
financial performance
social impact and performance
ecological or environmental impact and performance.
Performance indicators may include:
benchmarks achieved against external certification process requirements
costs measured against performance targets
level of:
recycling achieved
reduction of waste
response to marketing and communication strategies
sales achieved measured against performance targets.
EVIDENCE GUIDE
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Overview of assessment
This unit of competency could be assessed by observing at least two instances of the implementation and monitoring of integrated economic, social and environmental sustainability policies and procedures in an organisation.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to provide evidence of the required skills and knowledge specified in this unit.
In particular the person should demonstrate the ability to:
research and identify opportunities for improved sustainability within the business
plan for economic, social and environmental business operations
establish and monitor performance indicators for sustainable business operations.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment of essential underpinning knowledge may be conducted in an off-site context. It is to comply with relevant regulatory or Australian standards' requirements.
Resource implications for assessment include access to:
relevant legislation, standards and guidelines
workplace documentation and personnel
reports from other parties involved in the process of identifying and implementing improvements.
Method of assessment
Assessment methods must:
satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the Property Services Training Package
include direct observation of tasks in real or simulated work conditions, with questioning to confirm the ability to consistently identify and correctly interpret the essential underpinning knowledge required for practical application
reinforce the integration of employability skills with workplace tasks and job roles
confirm that competency is verified and able to be transferred to other circumstances and environments.
This unit could be assessed on its own or in combination with other units relevant to the job function.
Guidance information for assessment
Reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities must be made to assessment processes where required. This could include access to modified equipment and other physical resources, and the provision of appropriate assessment support.
Assessment processes and techniques should as far as is practical take into account the language, literacy and numeracy capacity of the candidate in relation to the competency being assessed.
Replaced By
State Code National Code Title Type
ODZ39 CPPSCM5002 Conduct strategic planning for strata community sustainable practices and operation Unit of competency