Units
Working in Business
Unit code: BSD124
Contact hours: 4 per week
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
This unit will help you to kickstart your study and your career in business regardless of your specific discipline. Not only does Working in Business give you an understanding of where business has come from and where it is headed, but you will also gain insights into yourself and how you can develop as both a student and professional in the business world. It covers an overview of business, the important issues for working as a professional in an organisation, and also gives you the opportunity to reflect on your own skills, preferences and career options so you can plan a future that suits you.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 13TP1 | Yes |
| 2013 13TP2 | Yes |
| 2013 13TP3 | Yes |
Sample subject outline - 13 Week Teaching Period - 1 2013
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
Unit Rationale
Management is a professional practice and a key aspect of working in business is the ability to draw upon a range of management skills including self-awareness, interpersonal effectiveness and communication. The unit provides a platform for the development of these skills by helping students to reflect on their own competencies, preferences and career options. By offering insight into the meanings of professionalism in the workplace the unit creates a solid foundation for students who wish to go on and develop their studies in business or simply wish to understand more thoroughly areas for personal and professional development.
Aims
The aims of this unit are to develop an understanding of the skills required to work effectively in a professional business environment.
Objectives
Upon completion of this unit, you should be able to:
1. Identify, evaluate and apply principles of intrapersonal and interpersonal effectiveness in a professional setting.
2. Identify and analyse areas for personal and professional development.
3. Apply team and intercultural theory to facilitate collaborative working.
4. Communicate ideas in a professional manner in a group presentation and reflective portfolio.
The specific course learning goals that apply to this unit are shown in the assessment section of this unit outline.
Course Learning Goals (Undergraduate)
The School of Business 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 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
Content
Intrapersonal Effectiveness
Interpersonal Effectiveness
Organisational Effectiveness
Career Planning and E-Portfolio
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
The teaching and learning approach in this unit incorporate a number of methods to engage students and link theory and practice.
Lectures will review core theoretical concepts and provide opportunities to develop broad knowledge and understanding using videos, audience response technology and team-based learning activities. Lectures will also be the forum for the formative team-based learning multiple-choice activities which are part of the assessment in this unit. Workshops will provide application of lecture material.
Tutorials will deepen your understanding of the subject and enable you to participate in team-based learning activities to develop your skills in collaborative working. As team-work is a fundamental aspect of this unit you will be expected to participate fully in the tutorial in order to contribute to the group assessment.
Tutorial activities and exercises (1.5 hours per tutorial) are used to reinforce what is covered in lectures, and to get you thinking how management 'works' in practices. In addition, you are also required to sit for a formative or summative quiz each week until Week 10. Therefore you must be familiar with relevant readings and lecture content for each week in order for you to progress well. the lecture PowerPoint slides are available on the Blackboard site. Furthermore, you will also receive practical help in information literacy and business communication, so that the assignments you produced are of quality.
Late Assignment Policy
Students will be penalised for the late submission of assignments. Refer to the Diploma Course Guide for details.
Review of Grade or Academic Rulings
For rules on how to apply for a review of grade, refer to the Diploma Course Guide.
Consultation
The lecturer will be available for consultation from Week 2. Times will be advised in class and will also be displayed in a schedule on the Reception counter, on consultation room doors and on the BSD124 Blackboard site under the Announcements section.
Exam Timetable
There is no final examination for this unit.
Assessment
This unit may require students to submit their assessment items through SafeAssign.
Please refer to the Week 1 document for this unit.Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester, which may include:
Assessment name:
Multiple-Choice Quiz
Description:
Length: 8 minutes x 4
Formative or Summative: Summative (Formative quizzes in the lectures)
Description: There will be 4 multiple choice quizzes conducted in tutorials relating to the theory and concepts taught in the unit.
Relates to objectives:
1 and AoL goals: KS (1.1)
Weight:
20%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Week 4, 6, 9 and 12
Assessment name:
Presentation (Oral or Group)
Description:
Length: 16 minutes per team
Summative
Description: This assessment requires you to collaborate with others during your tutorial to produce a group presentation on an aspect of professionalism in the workplace. You will also undertake Self and Peer Assessment using the SPARK software. SPARK will be used to adjust the group mark for each individual member.
Relates to objectives:
3, 4 and AoL goals: KS (1.2), PC (3.2) and TW (4.1)
Weight:
20%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Group
Due date:
Weeks 10 and 11
Assessment name:
Portfolio
Description:
The portfolio will be submitted in two parts.
PART 1: this assessment will require you to write a portfolio of up to 800 words on your interpersonal effectiveness by reflecting on the work you have done in analysing your professional strengths and weaknesses. Weighting 10%
PART 2: The final portfolio requires you to write a 2000 words on your intrapersonal and interpersonal effectiveness while taking cultural and diversity into consideration. You will also have to reflect on your interpersonal effectiveness and to identify areas for personal and professional dvelopment. Weighting 50%
Relates to objectives:
2, 3, 4 and AoL goals: KS (1.1), CTA (2.1), PC (3.1), and SEU (5.1)
Weight:
60%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Week 6 and 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:
McShane, S., Olekans, M. & Travaglione. (2010). Organisational Behaviour on the Pacific Rim (4th ed.). Sydney: McGraw Hill.
Required References:
See Week One Document
Other Resources:
Keepad (please book a Keepad for use during Lectures from the Library Loans Desk)
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: 14-Mar-2013
