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

There is increasing recognition internationally of the need for organisations to manage strategically their relationships with various stakeholders. This is particularly true in times of crisis, as organisations face increased scrutiny at a local and global level, where such relationships are placed at risk and the survival and success of the organisation may be in question. The ability to identify issues, negotiate with stakeholders where possible and handle effectively communication during times of crisis is critical to the ongoing success of organisations. This unit provides the fundamental skills to identify potential issues and crisis areas within organisations, establish systems to manage the crisis process from issue identification through to implementing a crisis plan and debriefing, and demonstrate the importance of integrating communication and action plans in issues management and crisis communication.

Aims

The mission of the DMO executive education program is to provide world class graduate business education and a stimulating learning experience to current and future business leaders and managers. The aim of this particular unit is to help managers develop a thorough understanding of the principles of issues management, including the specialist area of crisis management.

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
At the completion of the unit, students will be able to:

1. Critically reflect on personal approaches to identifying and categorising issues
2. Identify a diversity of stakeholders and potential issue impacts in an environment of uncertainty
3. Design appropriate systems to identify and manage issues
4. Critically evaluate issues and their potential impact on projects

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

Content

• Issues management


• Managerial decision making about issues and their potential impacts on projects


• Media training


• Identification and mapping of stakeholders and issues


• Stakeholder analysis and impact


• Framing issues: The communication role in managing issues on the public agenda


• Exploring strategy and decision making in managing issues


• Managing issues

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.


• 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.

There is a commitment to critical inquiry and intellectual debate in regard to the material covered, and students are encouraged to relate the theories and research discussed to situations known to them.

Assessment

Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester which may include:

• Informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback in class, personal consultation


• Formal: in writing, such as checklists (e.g. criteria sheets), written commentary


• Direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation


• Indirect: to the whole class

Assessment name: Presentation
Description: Length: 15 minutes

In this assignment you will build on the case used in class (QANTAS) to develop a strategic stakeholder and issue analysis for that organisation delivered as a business presentation by a small advisory group to management. The readings and class discussions should inform this stakeholder analysis of the current situation and some potential future scenarios and advise how the organisation might address these issues. The following guide should be used to structure the analysis:

" Identify stakeholders
" Identify the current status of the issues and possible future status of those issues
" Identify the influence strategies up to 5 key stakeholder groups are using around those issues (Frooman)
" Categorise key stakeholders in terms of their potential influence on the organisation (Mitchell, Agle and Wood)
" Use the stakeholder mapping tool to map stakeholders (keep this to a workable number)
" Develop an organisational response to these issues by presenting 3 statements - include both internal and external initiatives and reflect on insights from media training

The presentation will provide your group's analysis on the above and report on the challenges the stakeholder management team faced in determining stakeholders, their current and potential influence on the project outcome, and in developing the appropriate response.
Relates to objectives: Links to unit objectives: 1 & 2
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: After teaching block

Assessment name: Reflective Essay
Description: Length 2,000 words

In this assessment, you will develop a reflective academic essay that will incorporate insights from your prior experiences as complex project managers, with the learnings of this unit. In preparing this essay, special emphasis should be placed on:

" Considering your role as a manager in identifying stakeholders' issues that have or may have an impact on your project
" Considering how stakeholders have elevated the issues to public status in relation to the project, and
" Reflecting on internal management style and 'culture', the needs of multiple project partners and external stakeholders (you can define the confines of 'internal' depending on your experiences).
" Identifying up to 3 techniques of how the issues manager would monitor the development of these issues


To help shape the essay, you should:
" Describe an incident in relation to the points above - what worked well, what didn't work so well
" Relate to your professional practice
" Relate to systems thinking as used in this program, readings and lectures
" Identify possibilities for approaching the incident another way or by taking a different angle
" Conclude with insights of what you have learned that would shape your role as manager of a complex project in the future.
Relates to objectives: Links to unit objectives: 2,3,4
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: After teaching block

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
Strategic Issues Management: Organizations and Public Policy Challenges 2nd edition by Robert L Heath and Michael J Palanchar by Sage

Required References
GSZ523 Study Guide and Readings

Other Resources
GSZ523 Blackboard site
Experiential exercises

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-Mar-2013