Units

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Sample subject outline - 6 Week Teaching Period - 6 2013

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

Rationale

In this globally connected world it has never been so important for organisations to effectively manage their public reputation portrayed in both traditional and social media. Business leaders when faced with issues need to develop strategies for effectively identifying and engaging with a broad range of stakeholders who are impacted by the decisions or activities of the organisation. It is imperative, that business leaders and managers today, have well developed skills in effectively communicating their message to their stakeholders and the media.

This unit has been included in the MBA program to help students to develop an understanding of the role of stakeholder engagement and the role media plays in influencing organisational issues.

This unit has been positioned in the latter part of the program as exploring stakeholder engagement and media requires students to have a broad multidisciplinary, 'big picture' view of businesses and how they operate. This unit provides builds upon the earlier learning in GSN407 Communicating to Influence and complements the other units in the Leadership and Strategy elective pathway.

Aims

The mission of the MBA and associated programs is to provide world class, graduate business education and stimulating real world learning opportunities to develop current and future business leaders and managers to confidently lead in complex environments.

The aim of this particular unit is to help business managers and leaders to understand and engage with stakeholder analysis, stakeholder engagement and media principles.

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)
4.1Operate 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. Demonstrate knowledge of the role of media and stakeholder engagement and their relationship to organisational reputation. KS 1.1 (MBA 1), SEU 5.1 (MBA 2)
2. Critique the approach used by an organization to manage an issue drawing upon issue management theory and research in contemporary business practice. KS 1.1 (MBA 1), CTA 2.1 (MBA 4), PC 3.1 (MBA 3), SEU 5.1 (MBA 2)
3. Identify, map and describe stakeholders relevant for an organisation. CTA 2.1 (MBA 4)
4.Make recommendations on how to manage organisational issues through integrating stakeholder and media engagement principles. KS, 1.1 (MBA 1), CTA 2.1 (MBA 4), PC 3.1 (MBA 3)

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

Content

• Role and analysis of stakeholders in relation to organisational outcomes and reputation


• Structure and role of contemporary media organisations


• Stakeholder issue construction and response


• Approaches to engaging with stakeholders


• Approaches to engaging with the media


• Working with the media and stakeholders.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit adopts a blended learning approach and as such, includes a variety of teaching and learning approaches.

Three hour face-to-face class sessions are supplemented by the textbook and a range of online materials that are designed to support and extend learning prior to, during and after class sessions. Online materials are available in the unit Blackboard site. Given the importance of the unit Blackboard site to the teaching and learning strategy used in this unit, a computer or tablet device with internet access is strongly recommended for all students.

The principal purpose of the lectures and readings is to build upon the key concepts that were introduced through the Preparation for Class activities and readings. The purpose of the case study work, experiential learning tasks and all assessment tasks is to help the student develop their understanding of the concepts and enable them to be applied within a range of business contexts.

There is an expectation that the student will participate in class sessions, to take advantage of the opportunity to discuss important issues with their instructor and their peers in an informal environment. These sessions also provide students with an opportunity to hone important generic skills that are in high demand in the business.

It is expected that students have completed all Preparation for Class activities and readings identified in the unit Blackboard site prior to coming to class to be able to maximise the learning opportunities of the class sessions.

A variety of learning activities designed to engage students in their learning will be incorporated into the lectures/workshops. Such learning activities may include short lectures, class discussions, debates, role plays, group work, guest speakers, student presentations, simulations, case study analysis, videos, readings, wikis, media/current events reports, web searches, etc.
There is a commitment to critical inquiry and intellectual debate in regard to the material covered. Students are encouraged to relate the theories and research discussed to situations known to them and will be encouraged to share their experiences relating to the topics explored in this unit with the class to enrich the overall learning experience of all students.
Expanding the awareness of Australian management policies and practices into intercultural and international perspectives is fostered within this unit. Typically, students enrolling in this unit have extremely varied backgrounds. There is diversity of professional background and socio-cultural background. Students are reminded that this is to their advantage and they have much to learn from one another. To this end, students are strongly encouraged to be sensitive to cultural, gender-related and international issues.

Assessment

Students will receive a variety of formative feedback throughout this unit.
Informally, feedback will be given verbally in class through class discussions and during the debriefing of learning activities.
Direct feedback will be available to those students who request a private or group consultation session with the lecturer.
Formal feedback will be received on both formative and summative assessment tasks through a Criterion Reference Assessment sheet which will also include written feedback on the assessment task. The Criterion Reference Assessment Sheet will be available in the GSN558 Blackboard site at the commencement of the unit. Students will receive feedback on their formative assessment task prior to their summative assessment task being submitted.

Assessment name: Report
Description: Assessment Name: Critique of a current media issue

Description: You are required to identify a current media issue impacting an organisation. This task requires you to investigate the issue and to analyse the role of stakeholders and the media in constructing this issue. Using your knowledge of issue management theory and research you are required to critique the ways the organisation has responded to the issue and make recommendations for alternate ways the organisation could have responded to the issue.

Formative/Summative: formative and sSummative

Length: 1500 words
Relates to objectives: Unit objectives: 1, 2, 3 and 4
AOL goals: KS 1.1, CTA 2.1, PC3.1, SEU 5.1
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 4

Assessment name: Essay & Presentation
Description: Assessment Name: Stakeholder and Media Engagement

Description: You are required to reflect upon and critique your organisation's current practice in relation to stakeholder and media engagement. In your essay you should include a stakeholder map and identify strategies for how your organisation could work with stakeholders and the media to most effectively manage issues facing the organisation.

Length/Duration: 2000 words plus 5 minute presentation
Formative /Summative: Summative
Weighting: Essay (40%) Presentation (20%)
Relates to objectives: Unit objectives: 1, 2, 3 and 4
AOL goals: KS 1.1, CTA 2.1, PC 3.1, PC 3.2
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 7

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: to be confirmed
Other Resources: GSN558 Blackboard site

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: 30-Oct-2012