1 Social Action Plan:- BBUS1BUF Guidelines for students By this stage, all classes should have decided on a single social issue to address. Before offering the detail on the SAP outlined in the table on the next page, some more work needs to be done in terms of extrapolating the topic to include the following: • Give greater context to the issue (Geographic location, age group affected, institution/organisation affected etc) • Who are you (the students), and what is your frame of reference? (Consultants, teachers, students, medical professionals?) • Who is the audience for the report? Please see handout- Social Issues These questions are addressed in the example of the cyber-bullying topic below. The key words that answer the questions above are highlighted. Example: Address the cyber-bullying problem at a University You are a group of external consultants who have been approached by the Centre for Social Inclusion at Foundations University in Melbourne, who have raised concerns about increased levels of cyber-bullying of undergraduate students, particularly on social media platforms at the University. Develop a Social Action plan to address this. Social Action plan template Key management concepts addressed 1. Background to the Issue This includes, but is not limited to a description of the issue, why it is important, whom it affects, and the costs to society of inaction. This section should also include a description of the company/group that has been chosen to address the issue. Leadership, with an emphasis on the experience, skills and capabilities of the individuals leading the project. What are the leadership skills and experience of the individuals leading the group? Each member is to describe skills/traits and why they have been chosen to address this issue. 2. Objectives of the Action Plan In this section, groups should outline the key objectives of the action plan. In doing so, students should demonstrate awareness of the viability and practicality of the objectives involved, and the availability of resources to meet the said objectives. Organisational planning – steps in Goal setting, types of plans For example: Objective 1: To minimise bullying in secondary schools. Type of plans (is this a short term plan or long term, strategic/tactical, directional/specific etc) 3. Proposed Actions Each objective should be broken down into a set of implementable action points. Organisational planning – Steps in goal setting Decision-making – the rational decision- making process. 4. Anticipated Outcomes Each action point from Section 3 above is required to have a set of measurable anticipated outcomes associated with it. Organisational planning – Steps in goal setting 2 3 5. Timelines and resources required The anticipated completion date for each action, and the resources required to complete them are to be described in this section. Decision-making – The rational decision- making process (Implementation of alternatives) Organisational planning – Steps in goal setting 6. Key Risks In this section, groups need to demonstrate that they are aware of any potential risks and downside associated with each of the action points. Decision-making – what factors influence managerial decision-making? (risks) 7. Evaluation Method Here students are expected to describe the methods to be used to evaluate the progress of each action point against the stated objectives and anticipated outcomes (Sections 2 and 4 respectively). Groups should also include when the evaluation is going to be undertaken, assuming that the action points will have varying timelines associated with them. Organisational planning – Steps in goal setting Decision-making – The rational decision- making process (Evaluation stage) Two examples of a social action plan can be found by clicking on the link below. They are useful in understanding how to populate each of the sections above. However, it is important to note that the key difference in the examples below and our approach in BUF is that we are asking students to embed key management concepts learnt from the content in week 7 to week 10. http://theworldwewantfoundation.org/two-examples-social-action-projects 4 Example 1: Stop Bullying! This Social Action Project illustrates the four basic components of our model, and it achieved very positive results regarding a common but serious problem. A group of Middle School students in an after-school program decided that they wanted to conduct a Project to do some social good in their community. BACKGROUND TO THE PROBLEM The Team met several times to decide on a community problem that they wanted to address. They chose bullying, which affected many students in their school and others. The Team stated the problem simply, like this: There is bullying occurring in schools in our area. OBJECTIVES The Team considered several things they could probably do to address the problem, and they decided that they could raise community awareness of the problem and reduce bullying by creating and distributing a compelling anti-bullying poster. They developed this Action Plan: Goals The Team defined its major goals for their poster: Raise community awareness of the problem and suggest possible solutions. Timeline The Team listed necessary intermediate steps: (1) find someone or some way to create a poster, (2) design a poster with the proper message, (3) get copies printed, and (4) put the poster in appropriate public places. The Team decided that they must finish the poster before the end of the school year. Evaluation The Team decided to take informal surveys before and after poster distribution. Documentation The Team decided to take photos and make a video of events during the Project. The team carried out its Action Plan. The resulting poster is colourful, bright, and optimistic, asks the viewer to "Stop Bullying", and suggests new attitudes of making things different, respecting those around you, and treating everyone equally. They hung copies of the poster in their school, other schools, and many public places. They talked about bullying, their project, the problem, and the solutions at school and elsewhere. Impact The Project made all Team members think more about the issue and how they can help others and not be bullies themselves. They found that many others changed their behavior – at school, online, everywhere – because of the poster. Story (this could be the PRESENTATION) The Team shared their story by speaking at their school’s orientation for new students to let them know that it’s not okay to disrespect others or to bully. They posted their photos and video – their Story of Social Impact – on the Foundation's Showcase for the entire world to see. 5 Sourced from Latrobe University BUS1BUF