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

All organisational operations are affected by the social, economic, legal and political environment within which they operate. Understanding the employment relationship and the institutions, parties and processes that affect its operation and development are essential for managers and human resource managers, for legal, social, financial, ethical and moral reasons. This unit explores the employment relationship in Australia, considering employer and employee rights and obligations. It also considers the effects of international environments, thus providing a strategic approach to the employment relationship.

Aims

This unit aims to develop and extend your knowledge and understanding of the broader context of legal obligations of organisations, from the perspective of managers and human resource managers. Laws, policies, conceptual frameworks and institutions in respect of employment relations are the central focus.

Objectives

Course Learning Goals (Undergraduate)
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 Integrate and apply disciplinary theory and skills to practical situations
1.2 Incorporate the use of technology appropriate to the discipline and context

Be critical thinkers and effective problem solvers (CTA)

2.1 Identify, research and critically analyse information relevant to a business problem or issue, be able to synthesise that information in order to evaluate potential solutions, make recommendations or otherwise effectively address the problem or issue

Be professional communicators in an intercultural context (PC)

3.1 Communicate effectively through written tasks appropriate to varied contexts and audiences
3.2 Communicate effectively through professional oral presentations appropriate to varied contexts and audiences

Be able to work effectively in a Team Environment (TW)

4.1 Demonstrate effective team skills in order to contribute appropriately to the production of a group output

Have a Social and Ethical Understanding (SEU)

5.1 Apply ethical reasoning, standards or codes of practice relevant to the discipline and make decisions that are informed by social and cultural understanding


Unit Objectives
Upon successful completion of this unit, you should be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the employment relationship in the Australian context.
2. Identify divergent views of employment relations.
3. Evaluate the inter-relationships between social, economic, political, legal and international environments and their effects on contemporary management of the employment relationship.
4. Demonstrate the application of theoretical concepts to employment 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

Understanding the employment relationship and the role of employment law

Theoretical approaches to the employment relationship

Trade unions and employer associations and industrial conflict

The role of government/the state and managing conflict

Creating the employment relationship

Equity

Wages and working conditions

OHS and workers' compensation

Terminating the employment relationship

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

The purpose of the lectures is to provide an outline of the main concepts, identify areas of discussion and debate, and to develop critical inquiry. You are encouraged to share your experiences of employment relations within this context. Cases, activities and discussions are used in tutorials to allow you to develop your abilities in applying theory and law to workplace situations, and to consider the broader implications of workplace decisions. You are expected to read the required material each week prior to attending lectures and tutorials in order to contribute to discussions in a more informed manner.

Teaching and learning strategies adopted foster an understanding of the challenges to managing the employment relationship in a dynamic environment. Assessment provides some options to allow you to enhance the depth and breadth of your knowledge, or specialize in a specific area, as you analyze multiple facets of the legal context of employment relations.

PowerPoint lecture material developed for this unit, additional readings, information about assessment items, and cases involved in assessment can be downloaded through the unit's Blackboard site.

This unit uses the SafeAssign tool in BlackBoard. SafeAssign is a text matching tool that assists students to develop the academic skills required to correctly use and cite reference material as well as to check citations and determine possible instances of plagiarism. You will be expected to submit draft and/or final versions of one or more assignments using SafeAssign. Your Unit Coordinator will provide detailed information on how the software will be used in this unit.

Assessment

The assessment in this unit aims to support your achievement of the learning objectives for both Discipline Knowledge and Other Graduate Capabilities. Assessment has been designed in order to allow you to:

Receive feedback on your learning as you progress toward the development of knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes (formative assessment); and

Demonstrate your learning in order to achieve a final grade (summative assessment).

There are 2 compulsory pieces of assessment in this unit worth 75% in total. For the remaining 25% you have a choice from a number of assessment items. Detailed descriptions, due dates, and assessment requirements are included in the Week 1 document available from the unit's Blackboard site.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: Quizzes on-line (Compulsory)
Description: One quiz will be made available through Blackboard each week from weeks 3 - 13 (inclusive) excluding week 11. You may attempt all 11 quizzes, but only the best 5 results will be counted. You must complete a MINIMUM of 5 quizzes for your results to count.
Length/Duration: 30 - 60 minutes for each quiz question
Compulsory or Optional: Compulsory
Formative or Summative: Formative and Summative
Relates to objectives: Unit objectives: 1, 4 and AOL goals: KS (1.1), CTA (2.1)
Weight: 25%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Weeks 3-13 inclusive

Assessment name: Essay (Optional)
Description: Employee versus Contractor determination. You will analyse a case study and make recommendations for its resolution.
Compulsory or Optional: Optional
Length/Duration: 1,250 words + reference list
Formative or Summative: Formative and Summative
Relates to objectives: Unit objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4 and AOL goals: KS (1.1), CTA (2.1), PC (3.1), SEU (5.1)
Weight: 25%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 5 in tutes

Assessment name: Film Analysis (Optional)
Description: Using the set DVD you are to undertake an analysis in accordance with assessment guidelines. The specific question(s) is outlined in the week 1 document.
Optional or Compulsory: Optional
Length/Duration: 1,250 words + reference list
Formative or Summative: Formative and Summative
Relates to objectives: Unit objectives: 2, 3, 4 and AOL goals: KS (1.1), CTA (2.1), PC (3.1), SEU (5.1)
Weight: 25%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 9 in tutorials

Assessment name: Case Study (Optional)
Description: Using the case study located under 'assessment' on Blackboard, you are required to explore ONE issue occurring at a workplace PLEASE NOTE: each issue is a separate assessment item worth 25% - you do only 1 - and your choice of issue will dictate which week your assessment is due.
Optional or Compulsory: Optional
Length/Duration: 1,250 words + reference list (each question)
Formative or Summative: Formative and Summative
Relates to objectives: Unit objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4 and AOL goals: KS (1.1), CTA (2.1), PC (3.1), SEU (5.1)
Weight: 25%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Weeks 6, 9 or 11

Assessment name: Examination (Compulsory)
Description: You will be examined on your employment relations knowledge and your application of this knowledge. The examination will contain wages calculations and award interpretation questions, employment scenarios relating to terminations and/or discrimination.
Compulsory or Optional: Compulsory
Length/Duration: 2 hours + 10 minutes perusal
Formative or Summative: Summative
Relates to objectives: Unit objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4 and AOL goals: KS (1.1), CTA (2.1)
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Internal
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
Balnave, N., Brown, J., Maconachie, G. and Stone, R. (2009) Employment Relations in Australia, 2nd edition, Wiley, Milton, Queensland.

Other Resources (available on course reserve in library)
Additional references can also be found at the unit's Blackboard site.

Unit Costs to Students
There are no out-of-the-ordinary costs associated with this unit.

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: 13-Feb-2013