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 required length for this reflective essay is 1,500 to 2,000 words, excluding the title page, diagrams, tables, appendices, and reference list.

The unit coordinator nominates which ones will be used as part of the assessment and will release the nominated cases in week 2 - these cases will be the required cases for this assessment. 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 decisions you made at the time of the two cases that were discussed during workshops. Students are expected to look at each decision they made and use ethical theory to classify the approach they took or the justifications used. Students must 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 is available on the Moodle site, providing further details for this assessment task.

As a Masters-level student, you are required to engage in research as per the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) guidelines. Two specific requirements need to be considered. Students need to demonstrate “a body of knowledge that includes the understanding of recent developments in a discipline and/or area of professional practice", and demonstrate "knowledge of research principles and methods applicable to a field of work and/or learning”. Each unit in your Masters program 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 a Masters student, demonstrate an ability to research beyond this minimum standard through additional texts, journals and studies that demonstrate an ability to engage in independent research. This is an advanced level unit, and accrediting bodies are also looking for evidence of independent research, so the ability to conduct this project without continually relying on your tutors and lecturers is an important part of the learning process for this unit.

You should ensure that you understand the specific research that is required for each assessment piece and recognise that if you merely meet this minimum requirement, you will receive the minimum grade for demonstrated research. Your attention is drawn to the University’s stated position on plagiarism. THE WORK OF OTHERS, WHICH IS INCLUDED IN THE ASSIGNMENT MUST BE ATTRIBUTED TO ITS SOURCE. A full list of references must be submitted as part of the assessment. 

Students are required to:

• Examine the decisions made from the two cases nominated by the unit coordinator, completed in the workshop (signed and or verified by the lecturer)
• Utilise and reflect on the results of a minimum of 2 diagnostic tools (results page signed by the lecturer attached as appendices)
• Discuss the decisions and analyse these referring to the diagnostic results, ethical theories and concepts.
• Utilise key ethical and moral theories and concepts of moral personhood to describe and analyse your positions or beliefs.
• Provide a reflection of why you made the original decision and whether you 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

Assessment 2 requires students to work in groups of up to five (5) members to analyse an organisation, examining its external engagement through its corporate social responsibility and 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 sustainability using a number of CSR and Sustainability models as an analytical framework, including the CSR models of Carroll and Ho and other sustainability models (e.g., the United Nations's 17 SDGs, etc.). Organisations are to be benchmarked against similar organisations (another two organisations). Then, gaps between the "best practices" and approaches of the selected organisations are to be identified, and, where appropriate, a series of supported recommendations are to be made. Students must not simply conduct a SWOT analysis.

Each group will be afforded 10-15 minutes to present and submit an Executive Report of approximately 1000 words with a detailed reference list (word count excluding the title page, table of contents, diagrams, tables, appendices, and reference list). A copy of the presentation must be uploaded to the Moodle submission folder before 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 Qualifications 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 is 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 - all students are required to submit their PowerPoint Presentation in week 11 before their scheduled presentation. 

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 (10-15 minutes per group)
• Using key CSR and sustainability models, concepts and theories as an analytical framework.
• Identifying the organisation's practices against the CSR and 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 submitted before the scheduled 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 (excluding the title page, table of contents, diagrams, tables, appendices, and reference list).
• Using key CSR and sustainability models, concepts and theories as an analytical framework.
• Identifying the organisation's practices against the CSR and 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, academic journal articles and the selected companies' websites to demonstrate the 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 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 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)