Business Environment, Ethics & Strategy BUSI 601 Assignment 2 Macro Analysis - Innovation Fuel Podcast Case Study About the Assignment As per the assignment guidelines, the resources available for conducting the analysis and providing advice to the Chair of the Organization are limited to the provided info sheet, slide show, textbooks, and class notes. Therefore, it is feasible to utilize these resources to answer BEC's macro analysis by advising the Chair to perform a PESTEL analysis. Assignment Guideline Instructions for this weeks assignment and points to be considered: The primary objective of the guest speech is to provide students with an opportunity to explore the Canadian entrepreneurial landscape and gain insights into local businesses. Students will understand how business entities (Profit/Non-Profit) maintain their agility and foster innovation. In this assignment, you are expected to analyze and elaborate on the environmental forces that have influenced the business under discussion. It is important to note that the episode itself will not explicitly disclose these environmental forces, and it is your responsibility to identify and analyze the relevant forces independently. You will then submit your analysis in a short report covering: 1) who the guest leader is; 2) what is their success story and how it has evolved; 3) what environmental forces were in effect; and 4) your own reflections and key takeaways from the podcast. Assignment Structure - Your assignment report should include: An introduction, with a concise description of your case, your methodology (how you will present your review), and summary of any recommendations/conclusions. - The length of the assignment is about 500 words/2-4 pages (Microsoft Word, 12 pt. font, 1.5 line spacing) - This is an independent assignment. Cases of plagiarism, including collusion, will be taken seriously and all UCW procedures will be followed. Due Date: Due on Saturday, June 24, 2023 - 12 Midday (Pacific Time) Grade: The assignment rubric follows and will be uploaded on the LMS. The assignment has a value of 10% of Final Grade. THE BIOSPHERE ECO-CITY APPROACH A Biosphere Eco-City (BEC) is an urban-centred region where people and organizations cooperate to build a culture of sustainability. The BEC approach grows a culture of sustainability through engagement. And it strengthens urban-rural balance. Engagement is achieved within the framework of 10 Themes of Sustainability. And it is promoted through 5 Tools of Engagement. BEC Themes and Tools have been tested since 2009 in Ottawa, Canada, and have been found to be effective. CULTURE OF SUSTAINABILITY Cultures strongly affect how we think and act. They are built on our human experiences, sometimes over thousands of years (e.g., Agri-culture). But with todays pace of change, cultures can develop quickly. When peoples habits change, so will their culture (e.g., Cell Phone culture). The Biosphere Eco-City is an intentional approach that engages people in sustainable activities to create a culture of sustainability. This will in turn influence thoughts and actions. HUMAN CAPITAL A MAJOR RESOURCE BEC is for any city and uses human capital its people The Biosphere Eco-City (BEC) model was developed for use in any city using human capital the energy and ideas of people. It addresses human activities that impact both people and the environment. ZONES OF A BIOSPHERE ECO-CITY A Biosphere Eco-City has an urban core and a rural area A Biosphere Eco-City (BEC) has an urban core, where human processes dominate, and a rural zone, where ecological processes are stronger. THEMES OF A BIOSPHERE ECO-CITY Themes include all areas of direct action for sustainability BEC Themes, include all areas of direct action for sustainability. They are easy to understand and provide a framework for discussion. These Themes are: Transportation, Energy, Design, Habitat, Food, Natural Capital, Waste, Health, Recreation and Sense of Place. The framework of BEC Themes ensures all issues are discussed and that people can connect on areas of common interest, such as: transportation, habitat, sustainable food etc. TOOLS OF A BIOSPHERE ECO-CITY Tools engage people in sustainability Tools of BEC engage people in sustainability. They are a Database of Sustainability Projects, Sustainability Plans, Demonstration Projects, a Sustainability Stakeholders Council, and Theme-based Workshops. BEC Tools make it easy for people to engage in sustainability. They help people learn, do projects, innovate, and share ideas. Tools such as the Stakeholder Council or Sustainability Plans are communitybased. PROCESSES OF A BIOSPHERE ECO-CITY Processes make projects more successful BEC Processes use the human methods of Science, Education, Communication and Culture to make projects more successful. HOW TO START A BIOSPHERE ECO-CITY INITIATIVE Implementation of BEC can happen in any of a number of ways in a city. Through a pre-existing, new, or municipal organization; under a council of stakeholders; or in whatever way works best locally. Organizations in any city are free to apply all or part of the BEC model. They may seek advice or request free handbooks (as listed under About) through this website (https://bec-evb.ca). BEC AND CLIMATE ACTION BEC can help people decide where to put their efforts, adapt to new conditions, and create action agendas. The need for climate action is urgent! Yet the other sustainability issues cannot be ignored especially the biodiversity crisis, and unrelenting pressure on natural resources on land and in water. The natural world is holistic, and all these issues are related to climate in some way. Heres how BEC can help with climate action: BEC Can Help People Choose Where to Put their Efforts The number and urgency of climate issues can overwhelm people. BEC focuses people on an area of interest, where they can best contribute. All BEC Themes can relate to climate action. For example: Waste Reuse and recycling help reduce mining and manufacturing, and this mitigates climate change. Food - Organic farming or gardening reduces artificial fertilizer production, which is a contributor to greenhouse gasses. BEC is Agile Permitting Quick Changes in Focus as Conditions Change Stakeholder involvement and public engagement permit BEC to respond quickly to new issues and opportunities. BEC Tools help too: A Database of Sustainability Projects can show examples of climate actions under any Theme, providing ideas. A Sustainability Stakeholders Council can develop climate projects to address new opportunities in the community. Demonstration Projects show methods to address climate issues. Public Theme workshops can focus on climate aspects of a Theme. Sustainability Plans can propose climate actions (see next). BECs Sustainability Planning Tool Can Create Climate Action Sustainability plans in Ottawa schools and communities have proposed many climate actions. This tool could be used just to focus on climate as well. Below is a sampling of individual and school/community action items proposed in nine Sustainability Plans. THEME PERSONAL ACTION SCHOOL/COMMUNITY ACTION Transportation Bus to work and store, Use car share and carpool, Live near work, Limit air travel. Affordable housing near transit, fundraise for kids bike safety equipment, create more pathways. Energy Power down electronics after use, have a home energy assessment, hang clothes to dry, Insulate Join a Community Energy Network, Organize access to libraries and public buildings during heat waves. Design Use passive solar design, Green the roof, Incorporate student rental into house, Plant shade trees. Attend conversations on planning, Xeriscape a public park, Form a development discussion group. Habitat Conservation easement on your land, Plant a nature garden. Create a forest management plan. Plant trees in urban areas, Support programs to connect children to nature, Restore urban greenspace. Food Eat local food, Donate fruit and nuts, Farm or garden organically, cook from scratch, Teach cooking. Start a community garden or school garden, Buy local food for cafeterias. Develop a farmers market. Natural Capital Plant trees. Think life cycle when purchasing, collect rainwater, Drink tap water, Use low flush toilets. Create rain gardens. Join a streamwatch program. Maintain natural watersheds, Conserve forests. Waste Loan and recycle items, buy items with recycled materials, Repair furniture, Dispose of hazardous waste. Restore old bicycles, organize school and community give-away days, Organize used book sales. Health Do forest wellness walks, dont use pesticides or herbicides or spray cans, use natural house cleaners. Increase access to natural spaces, start school walking clubs, use green walls to filter air in buildings. Recreation Practice non-motorized recreation, join hiking tours, paddle, or sail local lakes & rivers, Take kids to parks. Develop walking trails, make school & community hiking tours, Organize farm tours, green sports events. Sense of Place Take friends to your favourite natural area, take co-workers on noon-hour walks, Attend local fairs. Create a community gathering spot, put benches on residential streets to encourage walking and meeting