5.1 Course Notes

course notes2

5.1 Leadership and commitment

Relevant Definitions:

Top Management: person or group of people who directs and controls an organization at the highest level
  Note 1 to entry: Top management has the power to delegate authority and provide resources within the organization.Note 2 to entry: If the scope of the management system covers only part of an organization then top management refers to those who direct and control that part of the organization.

By committing to sustainability top management is showing leadership. Top management should ensure processes and programs are in place to engage everyone that has a role in sustainability performance to become involved and to ‘buy into’ successfully reaching objectives.
You are looking for things such as the directive coming from the top to ‘go green’, challenges or requests being given by top management to the team to improve sustainability performance, training provided, management review undertaken, staff empowered and competent to embrace sustainability and make decisions.
Examples of demonstrating commitment could be:

  • having staff undertake sustainable event training
  • engaging XYZ [staff or consultant] to support the sustainability vision of XYZ Organisation.
  • role of Sustainability Manager being created
  • the formation of a greening team
  • Policies and objectives included in the Sustainability Policy.
  • The event sustainability management system being integrated into the organization’s business processes through ensuring sustainability is placed on an equal level with creative and financial decisions. This is documented in the Sustainability Policy document and is ensured through establishment of the Greening Committee.
  • Resources provided through time and knowledge, to ensure that sustainability is addressed.
  • Sustainability impacts included in all major operational and procurement decisions as a matter of policy and staff are trained to understand the issues.
  • The importance of including sustainability considerations in decision and the implementation of the management system is communicated to all relevant internal and external parties.
  • The [Executive Director], [Production Manager] direct staff to address sustainability issues and adhere to the Sustainability Policy for the organization.
  • The idea of continual improvement promoted by the [Executive Director], [Production Manager] and [Sustainability Manager] through establishing incremental goals and improvements each year. This is included in the department action plans for sustainability and assessed through the Sustainability Report with new goals set for the following [year].
  • All relevant departments are required to address sustainability and are empowered to do so.
  • A management review is undertaken.

 

Requirements of this Clause:

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  • This clause requires that top management take an active role. There must be evidence that  top management are active and interested, rather than passive, dismissive or not involved.
  • Evidence that  top management are involved in or support the implementation of a management system. Using the SEMS Tool or other formalised system is evidence.
  • Evidence that management are involved in ensuring sustainability is addressed in a systematic way
  • Evidence that teams are provided the support for competency to be developed and and resources needed to succeed
  • Evidence that top management request performance results and undertake feedback, review and future goal setting

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