Units
Business and Corporations Law
Unit code: AYN456
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
This unit will introduce students to the Australian legal environment and develop students' knowledge and understanding of the basic principles of business law and the Australian corporations legislation. Students will be encouraged to develop their research and analytical skills relevant to contemporary business and corporate practice.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 Semester 1 | Yes |
| 2013 Semester 2 | Yes |
Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
As many business decisions involve a consideration of business and corporate law, postgraduates with an accountancy degree should possess a basic understanding of the Australian legal system, as well as knowledge of business and company law as this will equip them with skills required for professional practice. The rationale for this unit is to introduce students to the Australian legal environment and to develop students' knowledge and understanding of the basic principles of business law and company law. Students will be encouraged to develop their research and analytical skills relevant to contemporary business and corporate practice.
Aims
The aim of this unit is to develop students' knowledge and understanding of the basic principles of business law and company law. Upon successful completion of this unit, students should have sufficient understanding of Australian business and company law as well as have developed legal and analytical skills that will assist them in contemporary business practice. .
Objectives
Course Learning Goals (Postgraduate)
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:
Have knowledge and skills pertinent to a particular discipline (KS)
1.1 Well-researched knowledge and critical understanding applied to issues at the forefront of a specialised discipline area
1.2 Ability to select and use effectively a range of tools and technologies to locate and/or generate information appropriate to the disciplinary context
Be critical thinkers and effective problem solvers (CTA)
2.1 Apply logical, critical and creative thinking and judgement to generate appropriate solutions to problems in the disciplinary context
Be professional communicators in an intercultural context (PC)
3.1 Ability to create and present professional documents and/or reports using high levels of analysis/synthesis/evaluation for a range of contexts and audiences
3.2 Ability to orally communicate and justify ideas and information, at a professional level, for a variety of contexts and audiences, including peers and discipline specialists
Be able to work effectively in a Team Environment (TW)
4.1 Operate effectively and with flexibility to achieve common goals in collaborative settings, using a range of skills, including leadership, negotiation, reflection, proactivity and support for team members
Have a Social and Ethical Understanding (SEU)
5.1 Apply knowledge of the ethical, social and cultural dimensions relevant to business situations, including appropriate standards or codes of practice, to provide courses of action
Unit Objectives
On completion of this unit, you should be able to:
1. demonstrate a coherent, extensive, current theoretical and practical content knowledge of Australian business and corporate law, including the ability to describe the relevant sections, cases and principles of Australian business and corporations law;
2. employ conceptual frameworks within which to analyse, discuss and resolve problems and issues relating to Australian business and corporations law;
3. demonstrate an understanding of the dynamic nature of corporate laws which impacts on the legal rights and obligations of all key stakeholders in the company;
4. apply your knowledge of Australian business and corporate law to real situations;
The specific course learning goals and unit objectives that apply to this unit are shown in the assessment section of this unit outline.
Content
In this unit you will be introduced to:
· Australia's legal system
· Negligence
· Contract formation, contents and remedies
· Statutory consumer law
· Structure and classification of companies; corporate personality
· Promoters and pre-registration contracts, incorporation and constitution of companies; company's dealing with outsiders
· Corporate governance, directors and the management of companies; directors' duties
· Members' rights
· Winding up of the company - voluntary administration and liquidation
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
The unit is designed to promote and assess your understanding of the concepts covered and not just your ability to rote learn and recite them. The delivery of this unit is based on 13 lecture/workshops each three hours in duration. Throughout the lectures, a number of problems will be presented and students will be required to workshop through these problems.
This unit is also supported by the QUT AYN456 Blackboard site that provides access to information such as the unit outline, workshop material, assessment information and staff contact details: http://blackboard.qut.edu.au
Assessment
Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester which may include:
Assessment name:
Problem Solving Question
Description:
Individual written assessment
Length/Duration: 1000 words
Formative or Summative: Formative and Summative
Relates to objectives:
Unit objectives: 1, 3, 4 and AOL goals: KS (1.1) CTA (2.1) PC (3.1)
Weight:
20%
Internal or external:
Both
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Week 8
Assessment name:
Mid-Sem Progressive Assessment
Description:
1 x 20 multi-choice exam questions
Length/Duration: 30 mins
Formative or Summative: Formative and Summative
Relates to objectives:
Unit objectives: 1, 2 and AOL goals: KS (1.1) CTA (2.1) PC (3.1)
Weight:
20%
Internal or external:
Both
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Week 6
Assessment name:
Final Examination
Description:
This exam will comprise problem-based questions requiring written answers. Full details will be provided later in the semester.
Length/Duration: 2 hours
Formative or Summative: Summative
Relates to objectives:
Unit objectives: 1, 2 and AOL goals: KS (1.1) CTA (2.1) PC (3.1)
Weight:
60%
Internal or external:
Both
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Central Exam Period
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
Prescribed Text
Sweeny, Law in Commerce, Lexis Nexis
Harris, Corporations Law 2nd Edition Study Guide
Recommended Readings
Australian Corporations and Securities Legislation CCH or Butterworths (Volume 1)
Gibson, A. & Fraser, D. Business Law (4th ed.). Pearson Education Australia.
Lipton , P. & Herzberg, A., Understanding Company Law. LBC Information Services.
Pentony, B., Graw, S., Lennard, J. & Parker, D. Understanding Business Law (4th edn.), LexisNexis Butterworths
Additional references can also be found at the unit's Blackboard site: http://blackboard.qut.edu.au
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: 11-Feb-2013
