Program Overview

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Overview

This unit aims to provide students with strategies, experiences, and approaches to build creativity and innovation into their business practice. Topics covered include creative leadership, business transformation, and inspiration through artistic practice and theory in business, science education, and the arts. This unit provides students with an opportunity to follow a process of building praxis-based knowledge (through experiential hands-on workshops) so students can build understanding and then put it into practice through the development and delivery of a creativity project in collaboration with their peers.

Unit Details and Rules

• Academic unit: Management Education
• Credit points: 6
• Prerequisites: None
• Corequisites: FMBA5001
• Prohibitions: SMBA6115
• Assumed knowledge: None
• Available to study abroad and exchange students: No

Teaching Staff

• Coordinator: Catherine Olivier

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 7 November 2025

• Type: Case studies
  • Description: Individual assignment Written task
  • Weight: 30%
  • Due: Week 07, Due date: 16 Nov 2025 at 23:59
  • Length: 4000 words
  • Use of AI: AI allowed
  • Outcomes assessed: LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6
• Type: Case studies
  • Description: Group assignment Written task
  • Weight: 40%
  • Due: Week 09, Due date: 05 Dec 2025 at 09:00
  • Length: 4000 words
  • Use of AI: AI allowed
  • Outcomes assessed: LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6
• Type: Portfolio or journal
  • Description: Reflective portfolio Portfolio
  • Weight: 30%
  • Due: Week 09, Due date: 06 Dec 2025 at 23:59
  • Length: 3000 words
  • Use of AI: AI allowed
  • Outcomes assessed: LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6

Assessment Summary

• Group assignment: Each group will be given two tasks based on individual assessments undertaken in this unit of study. The tasks will involve creative problem-solving and product/service development. More details will be provided in class.
• Individual assignment: Class members are required to complete two tasks related to creative problem solving and business model innovation. More details will be provided in class.
• Reflective portfolio: Students are required to submit a reflective portfolio on the development of their understanding, skills, and experience of creativity and innovation and how they apply to new product/service development and problem-solving in a business setting. Students may incorporate visual images and other materials in their portfolio where relevant.

Assessment Criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

• Result name: High distinction
  • Mark range: 85 - 100
  • Description: Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
• Result name: Distinction
  • Mark range: 75 - 84
  • Description: Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
• Result name: Credit
  • Mark range: 65 - 74
  • Description: Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
• Result name: Pass
  • Mark range: 50 - 64
  • Description: Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
• Result name: Fail
  • Mark range: 0 - 49
  • Description: When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Late Submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

• Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
• After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic Integrity

The University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Learning Support

Simple Extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.

Special Consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Weekly Schedule

WK | Topic | Learning activity | Learning outcomes ---|---|---|--- Week 01 | Overview | Block teaching (4 hr) | Learn, build, test 1 | Block teaching (4 hr) | Week 02 | Learn, build, test 2 | Block teaching (4 hr) | Learn, build, test 3 | Block teaching (4 hr) | Week 03 | Business model innovation 1 | Block teaching (4 hr) | Business model innovation 2 | Block teaching (4 hr) | Week 04 | Business Model Innovation 3 | Block teaching (4 hr) | Creativity and Trend-Driven Innovation | Block teaching (4 hr) | Week 05 | Composite Thinking | Block teaching (4 hr) | Metaphors, Paradox and Creativity | Block teaching (4 hr) |

Attendance and Class Requirements

Lecture recording and attendance: Note that MBA classes held at the CBD Campus are not systematically recorded and 100% class attendance is expected for each unit of the MBA Program.

Study Commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required Readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas.

• Liedtka, J. and Ogilvie, T., (2011), 'Designing for Growth: A Design Thinking Toolkit for Managers', Columbia University Press, ISBN: 978--

Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand, and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

• LO1: demonstrate an integrated understanding of key concepts, techniques, and trends in one or more fields of business practice and the challenges and opportunities involved in applying this knowledge in diverse contexts.
• LO2: question, assess, and respond independently and creatively to assumptions, propositions, and debates within one or more fields of business practice.
• LO3: apply a range of quantitative and qualitative research skills to identify and diagnose complex and unfamiliar problems and to use the evidence and findings generated to formulate strategically appropriate solutions within one or more fields of business practice.
• LO4: use a range of communications strategies to reach agreement with others about appropriate responses to complex and unfamiliar problems within one or more fields of business practice.
• LO5: influence others to work collaboratively to address complex and unfamiliar problems within one or more fields of business practice.
• LO6: demonstrate ethical and social awareness and responsibility in personal decision-making and behavior within one or more fields of business practice.

Graduate Qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course.

• GQ1: Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding, and skills of a recognized discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
• GQ2: Critical thinking and problem-solving Critical thinking and problem-solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence, and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
• GQ3: Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
• GQ4: Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create, and convey information using appropriate resources, tools, and strategies.
• GQ5: Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
• GQ6: Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures.
• GQ7: Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
• GQ8: Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
• GQ9: Influence Engaging others in a process, idea, or vision.

Outcome Map

Learning outcomes | Graduate qualities ---|--- GQ1 | GQ2 | GQ3 | GQ4 | GQ5 | GQ6 | GQ7 | GQ8 | GQ9

Responding to Student Feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

Additional Information

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrollment numbers.

This unit of study outline was last modified on 15 Jul 2025.