Overview
This unit is designed to introduce you to the world of business by focusing on the nature, structure and workings of contemporary business organisations. You will learn the terms, concepts and values of business and management. The unit will cover topics related to the major functional areas of business including accounting, finance, management, marketing and information technology as well as other important topics such as ethics and social responsibility, forms of business ownership, entrepreneurship, and international business. Emphasis is placed on appreciating the dynamic role of business in everyday life.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
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 1 - 2018
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).
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
Assessment Overview
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.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
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 Email, Moodle, Survey, phone communication with students in Term One 2017.
A review of Assessment Two to ensure students achieve success in the Unit with a reduction in stress.
More direction given in guide documents for each individual assessment which includes a marking key and a more detailed rubric detailing level of attainment for all assessment criteria.
Feedback from Student survey
Ensure that teaching team assembled are experienced teachers and that content and assessment requirements are addressed clearly without confusion for students.
Increase teaching staff meetings to four per term from two per term.
- Describe the fundamental roles of each functional area of business within an organisation
- Examine the different forms of business ownership
- Critically assess the factors that influence business environment
- Evaluate the complex role of globalisation
- Analyse the roles of ethics and social responsibility in the business environment.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 20% | |||||
2 - Written Assessment - 40% | |||||
3 - Reflective Practice Assignment - 40% |
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
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 - Online Quiz(zes) - 20% | ||||||||||
2 - Written Assessment - 40% | ||||||||||
3 - Reflective Practice Assignment - 40% |
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Laptop / Tablet Computer
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 6th Edition (APA 6th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
t.whan@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Introduction to business - What is a business manager?
Chapter
No prescribed textbook for this Unit, readings are available on the Unit website.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
What are the different forms of business ownership?
Chapter
No prescribed textbook for this Unit, readings are available on the Unit website.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Quiz One is due 5pm Thursday, 15th March 2018.
Module/Topic
What are the fundamental roles of each functional area of a modern Australian business?
Chapter
No prescribed textbook for this Unit, readings are available on the Unit website.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Quiz Two is due 5pm Thursday, 22nd March 2018.
Module/Topic
What is the local and global business environment?
Chapter
No prescribed textbook for this Unit, readings are available on the Unit website.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Quiz Three is due 5pm Thursday, 29th March 2018.
Module/Topic
Using social media in a business context.
Chapter
No prescribed textbook for this Unit, readings are available on the Unit website.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Quiz Four is due 5pm Thursday, 5th April 2018.
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Critical thinking and globalisation.
Chapter
No prescribed textbook for this Unit, readings are available on the Unit website.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Social responsibility in the business environment and the role of ethics.
Chapter
No prescribed textbook for this Unit, readings are available on the Unit website.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Evaluation of globalisation and its complexity (part one).
Chapter
No prescribed textbook for this Unit, readings are available on the Unit website.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Evaluation of globalisation and its complexity (part two).
Chapter
No prescribed textbook for this Unit, readings are available on the Unit website.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Organisational Design.
Chapter
No prescribed textbook for this Unit, readings are available on the Unit website.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Managing a globalised manufacturing operation: Bundaberg Brewed Drinks.
Chapter
No prescribed textbook for this Unit, readings are available on the Unit website.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Leading ethically.
Chapter
No prescribed textbook for this Unit, readings are available on the Unit website.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Online Quiz(zes)
This assessment comprises four online tests or quizzes. From Week Two to Week Five (inclusive), students will be required to complete one online quiz each week. The quizzes will comprise ten questions for each quiz. Each quiz is marked out of ten. The maximum each quiz can contribute to the final result in the Unit is 5%. There will be 10 questions and students will have 20 minutes to complete each quiz. Each Quiz will be open to students for 10 days. The quiz questions will test a student's understanding of the readings, lecture content and tutorial activities covering (but not limited to) management theories presented (e.g. Mintzberg’s Management Roles), the macro and micro business environment, business developments such as sustainability, technology and innovation. The quizzes will also cover the different forms of business ownership, such as, Sole Proprietorships, Partnerships, Corporations, Not-for-Profit and Cooperatives. In summary, the primary purpose of this assessment is to examine a students’ ability to review what has been learned, develop a student's confidence and to encourage students to engage early with the Unit and its learning materials. The quiz(zes) can be accessed from the 'Assessment block' in moodle.
Quizzes will be available for completion by students at the following times. Once a quiz closes it cannot be reopened for any reason.
Quiz | Content Covered | Quiz Opening | Quiz Closure |
One | Week One | 5 March at 9am AEST | 15 March at 5pm AEST |
Two | Week Two | 12 March at 9am AEST | 22 March at 5pm AEST |
Three | Week Three | 19 March at 9am AEST | 29 March at 5pm AEST |
Four | Week Four | 26 March at 9am AEST | 5 April at 5pm AEST |
-- | -- | -- | -- |
4
Other
See details in the above table for quiz closure times.
Score for the quiz is shown when the quiz closes.
Each quiz has 10 questions and each correct answer earns 0.5 marks. Consequently, the mark received by the student for each quiz is out of 5. This corresponds to the weighting for each quiz as 5% of the overall weighting for the Unit. The maximum mark that can be received for completing all four quizzes correctly is 20. The weighting for Assessment One (the Online Quizzes), in relation to the final result for the entire Unit, is 20%.
Please allow 20 minutes to attempt the quiz(zes). Students must access the quiz(zes) at least 20 minutes before the closing time of each weekly quiz.
- Describe the fundamental roles of each functional area of business within an organisation
- Examine the different forms of business ownership
- Critically assess the factors that influence business environment
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
2 Written Assessment
The purpose of this assessment item is to assess the student's ability to formulate an essay that demonstrates the student’s critical thinking and communication skills. Students are required to read the following peer reviewed journal article.
Students are then asked to write a 1500 word Academic Essay answering the following topic question –
“Critically evaluate the business case for the use of ethics and social responsibility to guide business decisions by outlining recent peer reviewed scholarly literature such as Ameer & Othman (2012). Does the scholarly literature support the use of ethics and social responsibility in the current global business environment."
Students are expected to demonstrate the critical thinking skills they have developed in tutorial (Zoom sessions for Distance students) to assess evidence and put forward an argument regarding the use of ethics and social responsibility in the global and local business environment. This assessment will develop the use of critical thinking by the student.
Students will further demonstrate critical thinking and information literacy skills by including 8 peer reviewed scholarly journals to support their argument to pass this criteria in their 'Reference List'. The rubric (found in Moodle) identifies the quality use of scolarly sources to achieve other grade levels. Please fully review this rubric before starting on your Assessment.
Week 8 Friday (4 May 2018) 5:00 pm AEST
This due date and time has been chosen to closely align with business expectations in the modern Australian workplace. Most business tasks are required on a Friday at 5pm rather than on a Monday at 9am.
Week 10 Friday (18 May 2018)
Students marks and comments will be returned within two weeks from the date of submission of the assessment.
CONTENT: Does your submission demonstrate:
1. Evidence of student critical thinking applied to the global and local business environment. 10 marks
2. Evidence of student critical thinking in arguing an ethical position and provision of an analysis backing up this ethical position concerning the social responsibility of modern business managers. 10 marks
3. Relevant and accurate use of scholarly sources with 8 scholarly peer reviewed journal references required to pass. 5 marks
PRESENTATION: Does your presentation demonstrate:
4. Use of written communication skills including choices made regarding appropriate structure to essay (introduction, body, conclusion), length, word choice, expression, grammar, punctuation and correct spelling using Australian English. 10 marks
5. Strict conformity to the exact requirements of the CQU APA Referencing Guide (in-text References are to be used throughout, as appropriate, and a reference list must be provided). 5 marks
Total marks 40
- Critically assess the factors that influence business environment
- Evaluate the complex role of globalisation
- Analyse the roles of ethics and social responsibility in the business environment.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
3 Reflective Practice Assignment
The purpose of this assessment item is to assess students’ ability to provide a;
1. Powerpoint presentation; and a
2. reflective essay that requires analysis and evaluation, which will involve drawing on scholarly sources and referencing those sources.
Your Powerpoint presentation will focus on the family company, Bundaberg Brewed Drinks, which is an existing real world successful private Australian company with an export focus. The company grew rapidly since its formation in the 1960s. During this growth stage, the company has expanded its operations in the global market. Bundaberg Brewed Drinks senior managers have provided the questions for Part A of your assessment. The Senior management team at Bundaberg Brewed Drinks would like to review the five highest marked student assessments (Assessment 3 only) for this Unit so that they continue the conversation with these students about business in Australia. Part A of the assessment should be written in the third person passive style. The Bundaberg Brewed Drinks managers would like the following addressed in your Powerpoint presentation.
• A slide introducing yourself to Bundaberg Brewed Drinks (one slide only);
• A summarised history of Bundaberg Brewed Drinks (one slide only);
• Global challenges currently facing the company while operating from regional Australia;
• A summary of recent developments in global markets for Bundaberg Brewed Drinks particularly the social responsibility of sugar levels included in carbonated beverages; and
• Critically evaluate the social responsibility of Bundaberg Brewed Drinks in relation to the sugar content of its carbonated non-alcoholic beverages?
Your reflective essay asks you to reflect on your own experience when writing and completing the PowerPoint presentation from Part A of this assessment. Reflection is all about deepening your learning. By reflecting, you are able to make connections between your own experience and what you are learning. It also allows you to learn from your mistakes and thus become a better business practitioner.
Your own thoughts, feelings, experiences and ideas are central to reflective writing. Therefore, Part B of the assessment should be written in the first person style. Your submission should contain a clear structure with an introduction, body and conclusion, it should use formal language and omit colloquial language, contain correct grammar and spelling and it should draw on scholarly references. Your Reflective Essay needs to be at least 1000 words and be referenced using the CQU APA (abridged guide updated Term 2 2016) Referencing Style Guide. You need to provide at least eight scholarly references to pass with a minimum of three peer reviewed academic journals appearing on your reference list.
Your reflective essay should answer the following questions;
• Describe the experience of writing the Powerpoint presentation by outlining how you put the presentation together
• Analyse the experience. What was it about the experience that made you think? How did it make you feel?
• Was there something about it that challenged your ideas about what you’ve learned? Or did it reinforce those ideas? How did your experience fit with the literature you’ve been reading, or with the course materials?
• Evaluate the experience. Was it overall a positive or a negative experience for you? What will you draw from it?
Week 12 Friday (1 June 2018) 5:00 pm AEST
This due date and time has been chosen to closely allign with business expectations in the modern Australian workplace. Most business tasks are required on a Friday at 5pm rather than on a Monday at 9am.
Assessments will be returned and marks released after grade certification.
PART A – Powerpoint presentation - Marking Criteria for Part A Powerpoint Presentation (15%)
Your submission will be assessed on the extent to which it meets each of the following criteria:
CONTENT: Does your submission demonstrate:
1. Evidence of student critical thinking regarding slide content and ensuring an evaluation of the complex role of globalisation for a company based in a regional area. 2.5 marks
2. Evidence of student critical thinking in adopting an ethical position and provision of an intermediate analysis backing up this ethical position concerning the social responsibility of Bundaberg Brewed Drinks. 2.5 marks
3. Relevant and accurate use of (scholarly and non-scholarly) sources with 8 scholarly references required to pass where at least three of these scholarly references must be peer reviewed academic journals. 2.5 marks
PRESENTATION: Does your presentation demonstrate:
4. Professionalism of the PowerPoint presentation to an intermediate skill level including choice of background to slide, graphics, font and general style, overall design, structure, length, including grammar, punctuation and correct spelling using Australian English and presentation skills including appropriateness of speaking style to suit an audience of Senior Managers, clarity of vocal expression, voice projection, voice clarity in recording, emphasis, engagement and speaker transitions. 5 marks
5. Strict conformity to the exact requirements of the CQU APA Referencing Guide (in-text References are to be used throughout the PowerPoint slides as appropriate and a dedicated final slide provides the reference list). 2.5 marks
Total marks 15
PART B – Reflective Essay - Marking Criteria for Part B Reflective Essay (25%)
Your submission will be assessed on the extent to which it meets each of the following criteria:
CONTENT: Does your submission demonstrate:
1. Evidence of intermediate level critical thinking when reflecting on self and evaluating your (student’s) own experience. 10 marks
2. Relevant and accurate use of (scholarly and non-scholarly) sources with 8 scholarly references required to pass where at least three of these scholarly references must be peer reviewed academic journals. 5 marks
PRESENTATION: Does your presentation demonstrate:
3.Use of written communication skills including choices made regarding appropriate structure to essay (introduction, body, conclusion), length, word choice, expression, grammar, punctuation and correct spelling using Australian English 5 marks
4. Strict conformity to the exact requirements of the CQU APA Referencing Guide for in-text referencing and Reference List. 5 marks
Total marks 25
- Evaluate the complex role of globalisation
- Analyse the roles of ethics and social responsibility in the business environment.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
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.