Units

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Sample subject outline - 5 Week Teaching Period - 6 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

IP rights are the legal framework that applies to the creation, acquisition, management and disposal of intangible property. In particular, they facilitate commercial transactions in intangible proprietary rights, and provide a basis for rewarding intellectual effort.

Developing and implementing an effective IP identification and management strategy is essential in strategic procurement projects. Senior personnel in charge of managing strategic procurement projects need to have the appropriate skills to identify IP requirements over the life of the project/requirement and to manage the IP created or acquired in order to achieve Defence's objectives over the program lifecycle.

IP rights have gained increasing significance in public sector procurement, particularly in relation to complex and strategic goods and services that are technologically advanced and require constant development or support. IP is increasingly used to maximise profits in industry and therefore is also a bargaining chip when entering into contractual relationships.

International conventions and arrangements also have a profound impact on the rights and obligations of contracting parties, particularly in procurements involving foreign contracting parties. Accordingly, it is important to be familiar with international IP arrangements, including as administered by WIPO and the WTO.

This unit will utilise case studies to examine best practices for IP management related to strategic procurement projects.

Aims

In providing understanding and establishing strategic options to identify IP requirements and manage IP effectively throughout the program lifecycle, this unit aims to raise the standard of IP needs identification and management in strategic procurement contracts.

Objectives

Course Learning Goals (Corporate Programs)

The QUT Business School has established the Assurance of Learning (AOL) Goals to meet contemporary industry needs and standards. Achieving these learning outcomes will assist you to meet the desired graduate outcomes set at QUT - aligned with other internationally renowned business schools. Students will develop the following capabilities relevant to a contemporary global and sustainable business environment:

Program Goal 1: Understand Self and Lead Others in an International Environment (ULO)

1.1 Develop the personal attributes of action and outcome orientation, ability to influence and self-knowledge that distinguish the manager of complex projects.
1.2 Develop and demonstrate the leadership and communication skills to manage the staff involved in complex projects
1.3 Work effectively in managing people and a wide range of stakeholders through understanding of culture cognition, personality and human lifecycle.

Program Goal 2: Lead Strategic Planning, Design and Implementation (SPDI)

2.1 Understand the context of complex projects and the design and implementation of appropriate project strategy and systems to match emergent requirements
2.2 Demonstrate the capacity to design, establish and manage the organisational architecture for complex projects
2.3 Develop the understanding and skill to deliver probity and governance requirements for complex projects
2.4 Develop the capacity to design and implement innovative business planning, reporting and performance measurement systems.

Program Goal 3: Think Holistically: Innovate and Creatively Problem Solve (TH)

3.1 Develop the insights to manage people and systems subject to on-going change and constantly adapt to emergent conditions
3.2 Demonstrate the capacity to envision novel, critical and creative responses to complex and emerging problems

Program Goal 4: Develop the understanding of and skill to design, manage and lead strategic procurement practices that respond to the challenges of the complex organisational and project management environment. (SP)

4.1 Develop, plan and implement a comprehensive and effective acquisition strategy to deliver complex strategic capabilities.
4.2 Assess and implement the contractual requirements of a complex acquisition taking into account the implications of international law and conventions, intellectual property rights, and ensuring the appropriate allocation and mitigation of contractual risks.
4.3 Develop, plan and implement strategic sourcing arrangements covering the capability life-cycle.

Unit Objectives
On completion of this unit, participants should be able to:
(i) identify processes and methods for acquiring and protecting IP assets in the context of strategic public sector procurements;
(ii) determine issues and processes related to IP management best practice, including in the context of international treaties and cross border transactions;
(iii) apply knowledge and understanding of the relevant policies, concepts and objectives of IP management as part of strategic public sector procurement processes;
(iv) critically assess the implementation of IP management strategy; and
(v) conduct an ongoing IP Needs Analysis process over a program lifecycle.

Content

This unit contains the following modules:
Module 1 - Commonwealth and Defence IP Policy and Principles
Module 2 - International approaches to IP
Module 3 - IP in Strategic Procurement
Module 4 - Strategic management of IP
Module 5 - Rights, Infringements and Remedies
Module 6 - Case Study & Practicum

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

A blended learning approach is taken with this unit. Students will engage with the material through a blend of:

• Guided instruction, learning activities, readings and cases presented in a comprehensive study guide. Students are expected to engage with the readings and learning activities in the study guide prior to the face to face session


• A comprehensive set of readings, cases, workplace documents and other authentic materials that will be provided in advance with the study guide. Set texts for units will be provided in advance to students.


• Intensive face-to-face sessions for each of the modules of the unit, where students will actively engage in exploring the concepts, issues and cases provided in the study guide. A focus on facilitated group learning and collaboration is a feature of the face-to-face sessions rather than
  content input by the lecturer.


• A Blackboard learning site where additional materials and computer simulations can be shared through the life of the unit. Collaboration tools for students such as blogs, wikis, discussion forums, and group tools will be a feature of the Blackboard site.

Assessment

Extensive class interaction will provide participants with the formative feedback they need to guide and focus on their preparation for short assignment and the written report. Participants will also be given feedback on their choice of topic. Ample opportunity will be provided through group discussions and questioning to deepen participants' understanding of the key principles and to assess whether management of IP is providing the basis of capability building and achieving sustainment as a result of identifying, managing and leveraging existing and newly created intellectual assets relating to complex acquisition projects. This debate format would facilitate personal reflection and peer support to develop and strengthen skills in expression of ideas and independent and collaborative workplace skills.

Assessment name: Critical Analysis
Description: Title: Critical analysis of a strategic project in Defence acquisition to identify IP issues

Description:
Individual analysis of a strategic project for Defence acquisition to identify IP issues pertinent to that project

Purpose: This assessment task will assess student's knowledge in relation to IP and how it relates to the strategic procurement context.

Length: Short answer questions up to a total of 1000 words
Relates to objectives: Unit Objectives 1, 2 and 3
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of Module 3

Assessment name: Contract Negotiation Directive
Description: Title: IP Needs Analysis and Contract Negotiation Directive

Description:
Development of an IP Needs Analysis for a Defence strategic procurement and a 'Contract Negotiation Directive' for the Defence delegate in charge of the strategic procurement

Purpose: This assessment task provides students with an opportunity to identify issues, risks and strategies to achieve Defence IP objectives

Length: 2,500 - 3,000 words
Relates to objectives: Unit Objectives 3, 4, 5
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of Module 6

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

GSZ529 Study Guide
GSZ529 Blackboard Site
Set Text: Caenagem, W. Van (2009) Intellectual and Industrial Property in Australia, LexisNexis Butterworths.
Defence Intellectual Property Manual.

Risk assessment statement

There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with lectures or tutorials in this unit. You should, however, familiarise yourself with evacuation procedures operating in the buildings in which you attend classes and take the time to
view the Emergency video.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 26-Feb-2013