CQUniversity Unit Profile
AINV11002 Socio-technical Systems
Socio-technical Systems
All details in this unit profile for AINV11002 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

This unit will assist you to recognise and optimise the elements that influence the interaction of humans with other elements of a socio-technical system. You will be presented with learning opportunities to understand how systems, work and people interact successfully and in failure mode. You will be introduced to the notion of systems failure and its prevention, for example, design redundancy and resilience, and the concept of the system life cycle.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 1
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Pre-requisite: AINV11001 Real World Investigation

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 2 - 2021

Online

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Group Discussion
Weighting: 20%
2. Written Assessment
Weighting: 20%
3. Written Assessment
Weighting: 30%
4. Written Assessment
Weighting: 30%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Have your say

Feedback

"Possibly more reading material"

Recommendation

Considerable resources will be supplied, including an extensive reading list.

Feedback from Have your say

Feedback

Students commented on the chance to delve deeply into a case study.

Recommendation

Continue the use of case studies.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Identify the relationships between people, machines and systems in society.
  2. Define the nature of organisations and work.
  3. Recognise systems failure, and failure prevention measures.
  4. Examine the nature of systems failure and prevention.
  5. Illustrate the system life cycle and explain its effect on failure.
  6. Employ effective communication strategies appropriate to sociotechnical systems.
  7. Demonstrate reflective skills appropriate to the development of the beginning practitioner.
Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 - Group Discussion - 20%
2 - Written Assessment - 20%
3 - Written Assessment - 30%
4 - Written Assessment - 30%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 - Communication
2 - Problem Solving
3 - Critical Thinking
4 - Information Literacy
5 - Team Work
6 - Information Technology Competence
7 - Cross Cultural Competence
8 - Ethical practice
9 - Social Innovation
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes

Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 - Group Discussion - 20%
2 - Written Assessment - 20%
3 - Written Assessment - 30%
4 - Written Assessment - 30%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

There are no required textbooks.

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Sarah Munn Unit Coordinator
s.munn@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 12 Jul 2021

Module/Topic

Lecture: Introduction to the unit

Chapter

Check the Moodle page regularly for deposited readings

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 19 Jul 2021

Module/Topic

Lecture: People, machines and systems

Chapter

Check the Moodle page regularly for deposited readings

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment 1 Zoom: TBA

Week 3 Begin Date: 26 Jul 2021

Module/Topic

Lecture: People, machines and systems

Chapter

Check the Moodle page regularly for deposited readings

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 02 Aug 2021

Module/Topic

Lecture: People, machines and systems

Chapter

Check the Moodle page regularly for deposited readings

Events and Submissions/Topic

Group Discussion Due: Week 4 Friday (6 Aug 2021) 5:00 pm AEST
Week 5 Begin Date: 09 Aug 2021

Module/Topic

Lecture:System life cycle and failure

Chapter

Check the Moodle page regularly for deposited readings

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment 2 Zoom: TBA

Vacation Week Begin Date: 16 Aug 2021

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 23 Aug 2021

Module/Topic

Lecture: System failure and prevention

Chapter

Check the Moodle page regularly for deposited readings

Events and Submissions/Topic

Annotated Bibliography Due: Week 6 Friday (27 Aug 2021) 5:00 pm AEST
Week 7 Begin Date: 30 Aug 2021

Module/Topic

Lecture: System failure and prevention

Chapter

Check the Moodle page regularly for deposited readings

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment 3 Zoom: TBA

Week 8 Begin Date: 06 Sep 2021

Module/Topic

Lecture: System failure and prevention

Chapter

Check the Moodle page regularly for deposited readings

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 9 Begin Date: 13 Sep 2021

Module/Topic

Lecture: System failure and prevention

Chapter

Check the Moodle page regularly for deposited readings

Events and Submissions/Topic

Annotated mind map and tripod analysis Due: Week 9 Friday (17 Sept 2021) 5:00 pm AEST
Week 10 Begin Date: 20 Sep 2021

Module/Topic

Lecture: Complexity and systems thinking

Chapter

Check the Moodle page regularly for deposited readings

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment 4 Zoom: TBA

Week 11 Begin Date: 27 Sep 2021

Module/Topic

Lecture: Complexity and systems thinking

Chapter

Check the Moodle page regularly for deposited readings

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 04 Oct 2021

Module/Topic

Independent Study

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 11 Oct 2021

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Formal Report Due: Review/Exam Week Monday (11 Oct 2021) 5:00 pm AEST
Exam Week Begin Date: 18 Oct 2021

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Group Discussion

Assessment Title
Group Discussion

Task Description

This assessment item has been designed to start you thinking about what systems are, and in particular the system life cycle.
You will prepare two mindmaps from the topics below.

1. System map
2. System life cycle


You will find detailed instructions for each mindmap in the assessment submission area on Moodle.


Assessment Due Date

Week 4 Friday (6 Aug 2021) 5:00 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Within two weeks of submission


Weighting
20%

Assessment Criteria

Each mindmap will be worth 10%
Detailed assessment criteria will be provided with the assessment instructions in Moodle and will include consideration of the quality of your response to the activity, as well as organisation of your submission and accuracy of grammar and spelling.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Recognise systems failure, and failure prevention measures.
  • Examine the nature of systems failure and prevention.
  • Employ effective communication strategies appropriate to sociotechnical systems.
  • Demonstrate reflective skills appropriate to the development of the beginning practitioner.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Information Technology Competence
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Ethical practice

2 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Annotated Bibliography

Task Description

This assessment item has been designed to help you prepare for your annotated mind map and final report.
You will prepare an annotated bibliography from one of the two topics listed below. An annotated bibliography is an organized list of sources, each of which is followed by a brief note or "annotation."

The topics you can choose from are:

  1. Define human-machine relationships
  2. Failures related to the design process


For your chosen topic you are required to complete:

  1. A review of five peer reviewed journal articles, books, book chapters or conference papers that further understanding of the topic; AND
  2. A review of a useful, professional website that furthers understanding of the topic (NOT Wikipedia!); AND
  3. A reference list for the sources cited.


Your annotations for your chosen topic must include:

  • a description of the content and focus of the article, book, book chapter, conference paper and website
  • suggestions regarding the source's usefulness to your research
  • an evaluation of its method, conclusions, and reliabilty
  • a record of your reactions to the source
  • each annotation should be around 300 words


You may use your annotated bibliography when creating your mind map for assessment three.


Assessment Due Date

Week 6 Friday (27 Aug 2021) 5:00 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Within two weeks of submission


Weighting
20%

Minimum mark or grade
Students must achieve a minimum grade of 50%

Assessment Criteria

As a general guide, the annotated bibliographies will be assessed as shown below:

  • includes a description of the content and focus of the book,book chapter, article or website
  • suggestions regarding the source’s usefulness to your research
  • an evaluation of its method, conclusions, and reliability
  • a record of reaction to the article (connections made etc.)
  • organisation, accurate grammar & spelling and referencing


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Submissions should be in a format compatible with Microsoft Word.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Recognise systems failure, and failure prevention measures.
  • Examine the nature of systems failure and prevention.
  • Employ effective communication strategies appropriate to sociotechnical systems.
  • Demonstrate reflective skills appropriate to the development of the beginning practitioner.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Information Technology Competence
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Ethical practice

3 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Annotated mind map and tripod analysis

Task Description

This assessment item is a complex output that will draw from your learning throughout the term.
This assessment consists of two parts.


Part A (15%)
You will prepare an annotated mind map of an accident case study of your choice.
You may use your annotated bibliographies to assist you. You are encouraged to use mind mapping software e.g. ‘Coggle.it’, https://coggle.it/ but you should upload your submission as a pdf.
In order to complete the Tripod analysis for Part B of this assessment, you mind map should include consideration of the following:

  • what happened
  • why it happened
  • nature of systems and systems parts
  • design failures and system life cycle
  • issues related to people, workplaces and management and anything else you consider pertinent to your case study


Part B (15%)
Using the information contained in your mindmap, you are required to construct a Tripod to analyse the accident in your case study.
Your Tripod should include:

  • the accident analysis or causation factors
  • recommendations for improvement with respect to the active failures, preconditions and latent failures


Assessment Due Date

Week 9 Friday (17 Sept 2021) 5:00 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Within two weeks of submission


Weighting
30%

Assessment Criteria

Your mindmap and tripod analysis will be assessed based on the quality and depth of the following points:

  • communicates all salient issues related to ‘what happened’
  • identifies the relationships between people other system parts
  • applies knowledge of system life cycle and explains its effect on failure
  • recognises systems failure, and investigates the reported failures
  • examines the nature of systems failure and demonstrates ability to appropriately categorise to people, workplaces and management issues
  • organisation, spelling and grammar
  • selects appropriate bibliographic entries and references them correctly


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Submissions shall be in MSWord and / or pdf format

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Identify the relationships between people, machines and systems in society.
  • Define the nature of organisations and work.
  • Illustrate the system life cycle and explain its effect on failure.
  • Employ effective communication strategies appropriate to sociotechnical systems.
  • Demonstrate reflective skills appropriate to the development of the beginning practitioner.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Information Literacy
  • Information Technology Competence
  • Cross Cultural Competence

4 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Formal Report

Task Description

This assessment builds on the work carried out by you in assessment one, two and three.
You will choose a complex socio-technical systems failure from a list provided in Moodle. This list will be provided at the beginning of week four. You will not be allowed to use the case study you chose for assessment three.
Your report will include:

  • title page
  • contents page
  • what happened - description of circumstances
  • why it happened (discussion of findings) - causation factors and sequences with an emphasis on the socio-technical failures
  • conclusions regarding major learnings from the accident
  • consideration of prevention strategies to prevent recurrence
  • formal referencing and reference list
  • appendix (as required)

Further detail will be provided in Moodle during the term.


Assessment Due Date

Review/Exam Week Monday (11 Oct 2021) 5:00 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Within two weeks of submission.


Weighting
30%

Minimum mark or grade
Students must achieve a minimim of 50%

Assessment Criteria

The report will be assessed as shown below.

  • communicates all salient issues related to ‘what happened’
  • identifies the relationships between people and other system parts
  • applies knowledge of system life cycle and explains its effect on failure
  • recognises systems failure, and investigates the reported failures
  • examines the nature of systems failure and demonstrates ability to appropriately categorise to people, workplaces and management issues
  • proposes appropriate prevention strategies based on taught principles e.g. safe design, resilience engineering & redundancy
  • demonstrates understanding of complexity and systems thinking
  • selects and applies appropriate evidence sources to support analysis
  • organisation, spelling and grammar and written expression
  • selects appropriate bibliographic entries and references them correctly


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Submissions should be in a format compatible with Microsoft Word

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Identify the relationships between people, machines and systems in society.
  • Recognise systems failure, and failure prevention measures.
  • Examine the nature of systems failure and prevention.
  • Illustrate the system life cycle and explain its effect on failure.
  • Employ effective communication strategies appropriate to sociotechnical systems.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Information Technology Competence
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Ethical practice

Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?