This unit is designed to introduce the importance of critical thinking and the benefits of using decision-making processes to assess and solve business, managerial and organisational problems. The key aspects of critical thinking and reasoning, including knowledge, comprehension, analysis, self-reflection and application are considered. You will learn how to critically analyse data and information related to typical business decisions. You will develop significant skills in building effective arguments by constructing, analysing, and critically evaluating the views and position adopted by stakeholders in the process of effective decision-making. The aim is to develop your ability to make effective and timely decisions, to communicate complex concepts and ideas, to influence and persuade others to adopt new strategies when required, and to constructively collaborate with others in order to generate solutions to multi-faceted business problems. You will also be introduced to the decision-making techniques leaders and groups use to solve problems in real-life business situations.

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 Part-time MBA students in conversation, workshop, and emails

Relevance and positive application of content.

To continue identifying new case studies that deal with complexity in decision-making in a transformational business environment.

Feedback from Assessment tasks. Students email and anecdotal commentary.

Lack of academic skills to review articles. Many students do not know the difference between a report and an essay. They have poor referencing skills.

Arrange at least two special one-hour workshops in weeks 3 and 4 to discuss how to review articles (Assessment tasks 1 and 3) critically. One/two articles can be distributed to students for reading. The unit coordinator/lecturer will discuss and explain how to review articles in a methodical manner. One special session to discuss how to use diagnostic tools in decision-making based on a recent decision of a known large organisation (Qantas, Tesla, Apple, etc.). This will assist students in using diagnostics tools in writing their reflective essays.

Feedback from Students' feedback and unit coordinators' observation during the case study workshops.

Students are interested in learning experiences from culturally and economically different contexts.

Cases targeting international students may be selected to demonstrate how companies now operate in a changing global business environment.

Feedback from Unit coordination. Emails from group members.

Unequal participation in Group Works in Assessment 2 (Case study presentation). In this unit, group works on business cases have been incorporated to have a collaborative learning experience of the students on key concepts, theories and their practical applications.

Continued implementation of individual grades in the group assessment.