Units

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Sample subject outline - 5 Week Teaching Period - 2 2013

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

Rationale

This unit provides opportunities for improving individual and group creative problem solving skills; to minimise barriers to creativity and generate possibilities for addressing commercial or operational problems; and for designing new operational environments through the use of creative and entrepreneurial thinking. Creative and entrepreneurial thinking lay the groundwork for designing environments to identify and capture opportunities for operational performance improvement and business renewal within a complex project environment.

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 unit is to assist managers to develop knowledge and skills through investigating and experiencing problem framing and problem solving in situations of incomplete information. Exploration involves experience of the principles, processes and practices of creative problem solving and the use of entrepreneurial thinking to identify and capture opportunities for business renewal. This unit will help students to increase their understanding of the way in which insights from creativity and the field of entrepreneurship may be applied to complex project environments to generate opportunities and value.

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. Design individual, group and organisational processes to enhance creative and innovative thinking within the organisation.
2. Develop skills in effective creative problem solving techniques to enhance organisational performance.
3. Identify, foster and apply entrepreneurial thinking by individuals and teams to create and capture opportunities for organisational improvement.
4. Demonstrate understanding and application of ways in which entrepreneurial thinking leads to organisational renewal and innovation.

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

Content

Module 1: Problem Solving

Module 2: Creative Problem Solving: Generating, Evaluating and Applying Ideas

Module 3: Creativity, Leadership and Culture

Module 4: From Problem to Opportunity: Entrepreneurial Thinking and Intention

Module 5: Entrepreneurial Orientation and Culture

Module 6: Creative and Entrepreneurial Approaches for Projects and the Organisation

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 sessions.


• A comprehensive set of readings, cases, workplace documents and other authentic materials 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-faces sessions rather than content input by the lecturer.


• A Blackboard learning site is provided where additional materials such as podcasts, vodcasts, audio and video files, 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: Assignment 2
Description: Entrepreneurial Project Case Study Analysis and Report: Students will analyse a case study which identifies an entrepreneurial project and its proposed approach for a new implementation. They will write a report for the executive officer of their organisation with the aim of elevating the project for acceptance as an entrepreneurial project in their organisation. The analysis and report will articulate the opportunity in terms of strategic intent; the organisational risks, the potential benefits and realisation of value and a recommended approach. The application of the principles of entrepreneurial thinking will inform the analysis and recommendations.

How students will be assessed: The Case Study Analysis and Report will be assessed against the criteria outlined in the criterion referenced assessment document

Length: up to 2,000 words
Relates to objectives: Unit objectives; 1, 2, 3, 4 and AOL goals: TBA
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of Module 6

Assessment name: Assignment 1
Description: Application of Creative Problem Solving to Workplaces: Students will identify a situation from their own workplace where there is an ill-defined problem. Students will describe the issue and frame it as a problem, then develop a plan of implementation of creative problem solving to the issue.

How students will be assessed: The presentation and report will be assessed against the criteria outlined in the criterion referenced assessment document.

Length: up to 1,000 words
Relates to objectives: Unit objectives: 1, 2
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: End of Module 3

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 (provided)
Morris, M., Kuratko, D. and Covin J., (2008) Corporate Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Fort Worth: Harcourt College Publishers.

Proctor, T. (2005) Creative Problem Solving for Managers, 2nd Ed. London: Routledge.

Required References
Study Guide and Readings - the Study Guide and Readings for this unit contain an overview of the material, as well as the additional readings and the case studies to be discussed in class each week.

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: 27-Feb-2013