Units

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Sample subject outline - 5 Week Teaching Period - 4 2013

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

Rationale

China is an emerging economy whose economic importance is being felt on the world stage. As one of the world's fastest growing economies, China has an increasing importance to Australian business and the Australian economy by providing vast business opportunities in China for Australian businesses, but more importantly, it provides tremendous opportunities for the development of the China-Australia economic and trade relationship that will benefit the entire Australian economy.

This unit is positioned at this point in the EMBA program to complement the theoretical learning that has occurred in the GSZ445 Doing Business with China unit.

This unit is of particularly high value to EMBA students as it provides them with the opportunity to apply their learning from GSZ445 Doing Business with China in an authentic context, the opportunity to be immersed in Chinese culture and to gain many practical insights into doing business in and with China.

Aims

The mission of the MBA and associated programs is to provide world class, graduate business education and stimulating real world learning opportunities to develop current and future business leaders and managers to confidently lead in complex environments.

The aim of this unit is to provide students with first-hand exposure to Chinese culture and the business environment and to enhance students' understanding of the challenges of doing business with China.

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.

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

The specific course learning goals that apply to this unit are shown in the assessment section of this unit outline.

Unit Objectives

Upon completion of this unit, you should be able to:
1. Critically reflect upon business and social experiences in a foreign country, and analyse the challenges for Australian businesses conducting business with China. KS 1.1 (MBA 1, 8), CTA 2.1 (MBA 4), PC 3.1 (MBA 3), SEU 5.1 (MBA 2)
2. Research information about businesses in China. KS 1.1 (MBA 1), CTA 2.1 (MBA 4), PC 3.1 (MBA 3), PC 3.2 (MBA 3), TW 4.1 (MBA 6)
3. Establish contacts with local and expatriate business people in China. KS 1.1 (MBA 1, MBA 10), SEU 5.1 (MBA 2)
4. Apply culturally sensitive business protocols and Guanxi during business meetings. KS 1.1 (MBA 1, MBA 10), PC 3.2 (MBA 3), SEU 5.1 (MBA 2)

The specific course learning goals and unit objectives that apply to this unit are shown in the assessment section of this unit outline.

Content

Site visits to Western and Chinese businesses in China.
Discussion with business leaders/managers about doing business with China.
Participate and experience social/cultural activities and adventures in China.
Negotiating with Chinese.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This is a highly experiential unit that comprises of a range of Australian and Chinese business meetings, presentations and site visits and cultural/social activities designed to enhance student understanding of China and the complexities and challenges of doing business in China.

A highlight of the tour is a simulated negotiation with Chinese students at a MBA college in China.

This unit will be supported by a wealth of online resources available through Blackboard and a comprehensive tour workbook that will provide full details of the scheduled events and travel arrangements.

Students should note the following:

· The itinerary, although confirmed, may be subject to change at short notice. If changes are made you will be made aware of the changes as soon as possible.

· To maximise the learning opportunities in China, the tour has a very tight schedule for day and evening events. Your punctuality is critical to ensure the smooth operation of the tour, with the travel time between places often taking hours. Unpunctuality is a social taboo and shows a lack of consideration for fellow students and disrespect for our hosts.

This intensive study tour provides little time or energy whilst on the tour for students to attend to their normal work, family or religious duties back home. Students are responsible for ensuring that their personal activities (work-related, leisure and/or religious) do not interfere with their ability to attend and participate in all required activities.

Assessment

Students will receive a variety of formative feedback throughout this unit.
Informally, feedback will be given verbally in class and on tour through class discussions and during the debriefing of learning activities.
Direct feedback will be available to those students who request a private or group consultation session with the lecturer.
Formal feedback will be received on both formative and summative assessment tasks through a Criterion Reference Assessment sheet which will also include written feedback on the assessment task. The Criterion Reference Assessment Sheet will be available in the Blackboard site at the commencement of the unit. Students will receive feedback on their formative assessment task prior to their summative assessment task being submitted.

Assessment name: Portfolio
Description: Facilitate a business meeting in a foreign country
Students working in small groups (3 people) will be required to complete a portfolio of three tasks designed to help them to prepare for and facilitate a business meeting with a nominated organisation in a foreign country. These tasks include:

1. Information briefing to cohort about an organisation visited on tour.
2. Lead and facilitate a business meeting in a foreign country.
3. Lead a debrief session in China about the learnings from the organisation visit. (See Week One Document for the in-depth details of this task.)

Peer evaluation will be taken into consideration in this group task as required by the QUT Business School Assessment policy.
Length / Duration:5 - 8 minute information briefing session about the nominated business (15%)
1 - 2 hour business meeting (15%)
10 - 15 minute group debrief session after visit (10%)
Formative or Summative:Formative and Summative
Relates to objectives: Unit objectives: 2, 3 and 4 and AOL goals: KS 1.1, KS 1.2, CTA 2.1, PC 3.2, TW 4.1, SEU 5.1
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: During trip

Assessment name: Challenges of doing business
Description: Challenges of doing business with China.
Students are required to prepare a comprehensive written report that analyses the main challenges faced by Western businesses in doing business with China. This report should show strong linkages to research, information collected, personal observation and insights gained during the Study Tour.
Length / Duration:2500 words
Formative or Summative:Summative
Relates to objectives: Unit objectives: 1 and 2 and AOL goals: KS 1.1, CTA 2.1, PC 3.1, SEU 5.1
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: After Study Tour

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

There is no prescribed text or study guide for this unit.

Other Resources
GSZ428 Blackboard site

Risk assessment statement

Workplace Health & Safety requirements relevant to this unit relate particularly to Study Tours. A risk assessment of the tour has identified several low-impact risks associated with overseas travel. You will be provided with safety guidelines prior to each trip. You are reminded that it is your responsibility to read and adhere to these guidelines. In addition, we will provide a health and safety manual detailing health, safety and emergency procedures for you to read and put into practice. We therefore require you to understand and obey all safety guidelines. Daily reminders are given out at the beginning of each day. A diary is kept with regard to all safety reminders and issues. A qualified first aid officer accompanies each tour group in accord with University guidelines.

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: 13-Mar-2013