Units
Business in Australia
Unit code: MGN446
Contact hours:
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
This unit introduces students to the business environment in Australia. Students examine the geographical, historical, socio-cultural, political, regulatory, demographic, economic, legal, locational and other factors that have influenced, or still impinge upon, doing business in Australia in the current international environment. Learning activities include factory visits and industry analysis.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 Semester 1 | Yes |
| 2013 Semester 2 | Yes |
| 2013 Summer | Yes |
Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
This unit presents students new to Australia with an introduction to the Australian business environment and Australian industries that will be of practical use for both studying and conducting business in Australia. The curriculum in this unit is designed for INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS and identifies the kinds of issues that need to be considered in preparing for business operations in any foreign country, using Australia as a basis.
Aims
This unit will provide a practical understanding of Australian geography and demography, business history, political circumstances, social and cultural considerations, economic structure and financial institutions, government, legal and regulatory environment and conditions governing business entry. The unit provides an opportunity to develop the generic skills of teamwork, report writing and reasoned analysis.
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
Upon completion of this unit, you should be able to:
1. Describe the character of the people, places, institutions and traditions that form the Australian business environment and outline how this environment has evolved
2. Describe, using a variety of primary and secondary data sources, the structure and performance of a particular Australian industry sector, and identify challenges to successful entry to that sector.
3. Analyse the external environment and performance of an Australian business by using a variety of analyses.
4. Demonstrate analyses and arguments relating to the internal environment of a specific Australian business entity, in Australia.
The specific course learning goal and unit objectives that apply to this unit are shown in the assessment section of this unit outline.
Content
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
The three-hour seminar format provides the opportunity for group-based activities, skill development and experiential learning in addition to the usual lecture component.
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:
Assessment name:
Mid Semester Examination
Description:
A multiple choice and short answer examination in class covering the early content of the unit (weeks 1 to 6)
Length/Duration: 1 hour
Formative or Summative: Formative and Summative
Relates to objectives:
Unit objectives: 1 and AOL goals: KS (1.1)
Weight:
20%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Week 7
Assessment name:
Individual Presentation
Description:
Working in groups of 4 or 5, you will prepare and present a brief industry analysis on a selected Australian Industry. Students will receive individual marks for their presentation.
Length / Duration: Approximately 10 minutes each
Formative or Summative: Formative and Summative
Relates to objectives:
Unit objectives: 2, 3 and AOL goals: KS (1.1), CTA (2.1), PC (3.2)
Weight:
30%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Weeks 9 to 13
Assessment name:
Business Analysis
Description:
You will provide a report analysing the internal environment of an Australian Business, based on a case study provided.
Length/Duration: 2,000 words
Formative or Summative: Formative and Summative
Relates to objectives:
Unit objectives: 4 and AOL goals: KS (1.1), CTA (2.1), PC (3.1)
Weight:
50%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Week 13
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:
There is no prescribed text for this unit.
Required References:
See the unit's Blackboard website for other resources
Other Resources:
Readings, as outlined in the Week 1 Document, are available on the unit's Blackboard site and the Course Materials Database (CMD), accessed through the Blackboard website.
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
