Assessment Type

Reflective Practice Assignment

Task Description

The key aspect of reflection is a critical evaluation of the self. Students will undertake a number of in-class cases between weeks 2-5 and must use two (2) of the nominated cases as the basis for their self-analysis completed in class.

The unit coordinator and/or facilitator nominates which ones will be used as part of the assessment and will release the nominated cases in week 2. Students are not permitted to self-select cases. Students will also complete at least two (2) ethical diagnostic tools in class and must attach the results sheet as an appendix. Please note that general tools such as the Johari Window or communication tools are not acceptable. The tools must be identifiable as ethical or moral diagnostics. The task is to analyse the decision you made at the time for the two cases nominated by the Unit Coordinator or Facilitator. Students are expected to look at the decision they made and use ethical theory to classify the approach they took or the justifications used. Students are to reflect on their decisions by examining their assumptions about ethics, business purpose, etc. Students must specifically refer to the results from a minimum of two diagnostic tools to gain further insight into their own ethical behaviours and preferences. Students must contrast these results against the decisions made in the cases and their assumptions and values. Students are to provide a conclusion that considers whether or not they would change their decision based on the ethical and moral theories discussed in class.

Students are not to re-analyse the cases and come up with new decisions.

A detailed rubric and audio file are available on the Moodle site, providing further details for this assessment task.

Examine the decisions made from the two cases nominated by the unit coordinator or class facilitator, completed in class (online)

• Utilise and reflect on the results of a minimum of 2 diagnostic tools (results page must be attached as appendices)
• Discuss and analyse the decisions, referring to the diagnostic results, ethical theories, and concepts.
• Utilise key ethical and moral theories and concepts of moral personhood to describe and analyse their own positions or beliefs.
• Provide a reflection on why they made the original decision and whether they would adopt a different approach given the concepts studied in class.
• The use of between 12-16 quality references, including key readings and recommended texts Ferrell et al., (2018); McDonald (2015) and Carrol and Buchholz (2018), using APA referencing and including a reference list.

These are the minimum requirements. Students should note that satisfactorily meeting the minimum requirements will typically result in the minimum pass grade being awarded.

Assessment Type

Presentation and Written Assessment

Task Description

All students will be allocated to a group by the facilitator or unit coordinator in week 6 of the term. These groups will be non-negotiable. Students will undertake an analysis of an organisation examining its external engagement through its corporate social responsibility and/or its sustainability strategy and processes. Each group will present as a team of consultants, such as KPMG, Ernst and Young, etc. and assume that the organisation has hired them to conduct the analysis and present it to the CEO and/or Board of Directors. Students must not present a case study of the organisation. This assignment requires an analysis of the organisation's implementation of these policies and procedures against the models and concepts examined in the unit. This requires students to present an analysis of the organisation's approach to CSR and/or sustainability using a number of CSR/Sustainability models as an analytical framework, including the CSR models of Prakash Sethi, Carroll and Ho. Similarly, students who elect to undertake a Sustainability Analysis are to use the United Nation's 17 SDGs along with models outlined by McDonald, Carrol and Buchholz etc. Organisations are to be benchmarked against similar organisations. Then, gaps between the "best practice" models and the approach of the organisation are to be identified, and, where appropriate, make a series of supported recommendations. Students must not simply conduct a SWOT analysis.

Each group will be afforded 10-15 minutes to present and must submit an Executive Report of approximately 1000 words with a detailed reference list. A copy of the presentation must be uploaded to Moodle submission folder prior to the presentation. Each student must be in a group and present as part of that group. This is the minimum standard expected for this assignment. Students who only meet the minimum should expect to receive the minimum pass grade.

As Masters students, you are required to engage in research as per the Australia Quality Framework (AQF) guidelines. Two specific requirements need to be considered.

1. students need to demonstrate "a body of knowledge that includes the understanding of recent developments in the discipline and/or area of professional practice, and;

2. demonstrate "knowledge of research principles and methods applicable to a field of work and/or learning.

Each topic in your course has a number of required weekly readings in terms of academic texts, journals and business publications that represent the appropriate body of knowledge and recent developments referred to by the AQF. In order to demonstrate the ability to engage in appropriate research, students should read and utilise these texts and journals and publications, and as Masters students, indicate a willingness to research beyond this minimum standard through additional texts, journals and studies that demonstrate an ability to engage in independent research. Please note that students MUST include citations of the recommended texts of Ferrell, Fraedrich and Ferrell (2018), McDonald (2015) and Carroll, Brown and Buchholz (2018).

A detailed rubric and audio file are available in the Assessment folder on the Moodle site that provides further information regarding this assessment.

Please note that Presentations are normally undertaken in class and will receive immediate feedback. Students are to submit via the assessment folder in Moodle by the due date. The continuing COVID pandemic may adversely affect the ability of students to present in class. In such cases, a prerecorded presentation may be available.

Please note a late penalty of 5% per day applies for each day or part-day (including weekends) for assignments submitted after the due date.

Students are to demonstrate knowledge of the subject matter and effective presentation skills by:

• Providing a concise and structured presentation with an introduction, main presentation and conclusion.
• Effectively using audiovisuals and verbal communication delivered within the time allocation (15 mins per group)
• Use key CSR and/or sustainability models, concepts and theories as an analytical framework.
• Identifying company strengths and weaknesses against the CSR/Sustainability analytical framework.
• Providing a clear set of recommendations supported by literature (if and when appropriate)
• Demonstrating a commitment to professional business presentation standards, paralleling those of professional consulting firms.
• Ensuring all group members make a balanced contribution to the presentation.
• A copy of the presentation (PowerPoint) MUST be provided to the unit facilitator prior to the presentation.

Students are to demonstrate knowledge of the subject matter and effective written skills by:

• Providing a concise overview of the content of the presentation of approximately 1000 words.
• Using key CSR and/or sustainability models, concepts and theories as an analytical framework.
• Identifying the organisation's strengths and weaknesses against the CSR/Sustainability analytical framework.
• Providing a clear set of recommendations supported by literature (if and when appropriate).
• Using a minimum of 12-16 quality references made up of recommended texts and academic journal articles so as to demonstrate breadth and quality of research, including citation of the recommended texts
• The use of the APA in-text referencing system to correctly cite academic sources.
• Ensuring a list of references used in the presentation is attached to the executive report.

Assessment Type

Take-Home Exam

Task Description

Students will be provided with a case study in Week 10 or 11, which will be the basis of an analysis to be completed in Week 13 under a time restriction of 2 hours. The case will contain a description of decisions, contexts and perspectives that raise ethical issues and challenges from personal, organisational, national and international levels. A series of questions will be provided 10 minutes before the opening of submissions that will require the application of ethical theories and concepts to reach justifiable and ethical solutions.

This is an open book-style take-home case. Accurate definitions and theories are therefore expected as a minimum. Whilst brief definitions and outlines of theories are expected, students will primarily be awarded marks for the accuracy and quality of their responses to ethical dilemmas. Incorrect definitions or theories descriptions will be penalised.

The key assessment criteria include:

• The correct use of key ethical concepts and theories as an analytical frame to identify ethical or moral issues in the case.
• The use of ethical theories to provide options in decision-making.
• The correct use of key CSR and/or sustainability models, concepts and theories as an analytical framework.
• Correct use or reference to national and international legislation.
• Students must note that advocating unethical or illegal practices as solutions or recommendations to case dilemmas is not acceptable and will attract no grades.

Referencing Style

American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)