Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

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

Rationale

Risk management is an essential part of management in an organisation. It involves the skills from a number of discipline areas and requires that those involved in managing risk have a thorough knowledge of the organisational and managerial structure of an organisation and the risks to which it might be exposed.

This unit examines how a risk management program adds value to an organisation. As an integral part of the management process, risk management underpins the approaches taken in a wide variety of discipline areas whether their primary focus be health care, occupational health and safety or management generally. The principles of risk management underpin many of the concepts that you will explore as part of your course.

Aims

This unit aims to provide you with the skills necessary to establish the context within which the risk management process will be implemented and also to introduce you to the risk management process itself. This will involve you extending your knowledge of the risk management process as outlined in AS/NZS ISO 31000: 2009 and developing skills in the application of the various tools and techniques used to identify, analyse, assess and treat risks. The application of review techniques will also be addressed.

Objectives

On successful completion of this unit you will:
1. Examine the impact of risk management to the organisation and community
2. Analyse the factors which must be considered to establish the strategic and organisational context
3. Critique the tools available to the risk manager in developing a risk management program for an organisation;
Develop and justify the risk management process appropriate for a particular organisation.

Content

Material in this unit will include the history of risk management, its strategic position within the global context, the business organisation (its structure, accountability and financial structure). You will examine the risks to which the organisation may be exposed, the legal environment and system (including the legal framework of an organisation as relevant to risk management), basic economics (including production/costs, pricing, and supply/demand). The impact of the local and international political and economic environment on the organisation will be examined. The content of AS/NZS ISO 31000: 2009 will be investigated and you will be introduced to the risk management process as it would be applied to a variety of organisations of different structures, size and purpose. The unit will review the nature of risk, the need for risk assessment, the nature of exposures (including property, environmental, personnel, product, administration and financial liability), and risk communication.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

There will be formal lectures and tutorials. The tutorials will consist of interactive group discussion and a degree of formal presentation on specific scenarios. Notes for the unit will be available online and issues raised from these readings will also be discussed in the tutorial sessions and online discussion forums.

Assessment

Each assessment type in this unit will be subject to internal /external moderation, such as cross unit discussions and regular meetings of assessors, to ensure that marks awarded by different teaching staff are internally consistent and meet appropriate academic standards (MOPP C/5.2).Assessment will be spaced throughout the semester to provide the opportunity for feedback on your learning at key points. You will be provided with feedback on your essays and presentation. In addition to the feedback provided in response to each of the assessment items, further feedback will occur in the online discussion forums organised around each of the topics covered in the unit.

Assessment name: Essay
Description: You will be required to write an essay of 1500 words examining an emerging risk and the impact/s that it might have on the community/region or an industry sector.
Relates to objectives: 1-2
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 6

Assessment name: Presentation
Description: You will choose one aspect of the risk management process to present in a workplace setting.

Due date: You will be assigned presentation dates and topics throughout the semester.
Relates to objectives: 2-4
Weight: 10%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Group
Due date: Thoughout Semester

Assessment name: Report
Description: You will be required to complete a report of 2000 words which examines the key risks and evaluates a risk management program.
Relates to objectives: 1-4
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 12

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

Textbooks(s):

Frame J. D. (2003) Managing Risk in Organisations: A Guide for Managers , San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Australia/ New Zealand Standard AS/NZS ISO 31000. (2009) Risk management: Principles and guidelines, Standards Australia/Standards New Zealand. (This Standard may be viewed on the QUT Library website.)

Risk assessment statement

Assessment for this unit will involve a workplace based assignment. You should be aware of, and abide by, the health and safety requirements of the workplace and you are expected to undergo any induction or other training provided in the workplace for employees or visitors to the workplace as appropriate. In addition, substantial computer-based work will be required. You should refer to the guidelines for safe work at VDUs contained in the School of Public Health Guidelines to Students.

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: 12-Nov-2012