Program Overview

Overview

This compulsory first year unit is designed to provide commencing undergraduate students with insights into the study and the practice of business. Students gain foundational knowledge in relation to business stakeholders, business challenges and the ways in which business leaders might approach responding to these challenges. Key stakeholders within and external to organisations are identified and their interests are analysed. Critical business challenges such as climate change and sustainability, the future of work and workforce diversity are investigated. The way that these challenges affect different types of business, sectors and stakeholders is analysed and responses constructed to them. The unit is delivered in a blended format, with face-to-face lectures, seminars, and interactive online modules. Success in this unit is determined by strong application of critical, strategic and cross-disciplinary thinking, as well as the ability to demonstrate business knowledge and problem-solving skills through effective written and oral communication.

Unit Details and Rules

• Academic unit: International Business
• Credit points: 6
• Prerequisites: None
• Corequisites: None
• Prohibitions: BUSS1001
• Assumed knowledge: None
• Available to study abroad and exchange students: No

Teaching Staff

• Coordinator: Anish Purkayastha

Assessment

• Type:
  • Final exam (Take-home short release)
  • Participation
  • Assignment
  • Presentation
• Description:
  • Final exam: Written exam
  • Participation: Tutorial participation
  • Assignment: Case study
  • Presentation: Team presentation
• Weight:
  • Final exam: 35%
  • Participation: 15%
  • Assignment: 25%
  • Presentation: 25%
• Due:
  • Final exam: Formal exam period
  • Participation: Ongoing
  • Assignment: Week 05
  • Presentation: Week 10
• Length:
  • Final exam: 3 hours
  • Participation: Ongoing
  • Assignment: 2000 words
  • Presentation: 10 minutes

Assessment Summary

• Case study: For this assignment, you will be undertaking a case study of a provided organisation. You will then be asked to undertake research, apply theoretical frameworks, and undertake critical analysis of the context and/or organisation.
• Team presentation: During the semester, you will be introduced to an industry partner who will present their current thinking on an innovation they are considering implementing in their business. Your task is to review the opportunity presented and to identify a strategy to maximise the opportunity that this innovation could create for both the business and for society. You will need to work in teams (3-5 participants) to prepare a presentation to present your strategy. This is an electronic submission of recorded oral presentation.
• Tutorial participation: You are required to demonstrate your ability to be engaged with classmates and the unit of study material in tutorials. As every tutorial includes collaborative work, it is essential that you actively engage with not only the class material but with your classmates and tutors. As such, students will be expected to have attended the lecture and completed all readings prior to attending the tutorial. Tutors will be grading each student’s level of participation between weeks 2-11.
• Final exam: The exam will test the knowledge of all areas of the unit from all 13 weeks via essay questions. The exam could draw from any and all content delivered and discussed in lectures, tutorial and from assigned readings and online videos. The exam will assess your ability to apply this knowledge to the real world problems and situations presented in the exam paper.

Assessment Criteria

• The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).
• As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.
• Result name:
  • High distinction: 85 - 100
  • Distinction: 75 - 84
  • Credit: 65 - 74
  • Pass: 50 - 64
  • Fail: 0 - 49

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 and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.
• We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Automated Writing Tools

• You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.
• The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.
• Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced.

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

• Week 01: Role of business in society (part 1: theory and fundamentals)
• Week 02: Internal analysis (part 1: theory and fundamentals)
• Week 03: External analysis (part 1: theory and fundamentals)
• Week 04: Strategy (part 1: theory and fundamentals)
• Week 05: Information, communication, and technology (part 2: trends, challenges, and opportunities)
• Week 06: Sustainability (part 2: trends, challenges, and opportunities)
• Week 07: Evolving workplace (part 2: trends, challenges, and opportunities)
• Week 08: Urbanisation (part 2: trends, challenges, and opportunities)
• Week 09: Emerging and growing markets (part 2: trends, challenges, and opportunities)
• Week 10: Design thinking (part 3: ‘solution’ toolkit)
• Week 11: Entrepreneurship (part 3: ‘solution’ toolkit)
• Week 12: Conclusions and your future in business

Learning Outcomes

• At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
  • LO1: demonstrate an understanding of theory and conceptual frameworks that are relevant to businesses operating in diverse sectors
  • LO2: explain and critically assess the challenges and opportunities facing businesses in a variety of key sectors within the global economy
  • LO3: apply conceptual frameworks to different business problems in order to derive insights about business performance and opportunities for strategic change
  • LO4: communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, using a range of modes of communication including presentations and writing effectively to different audiences
  • LO5: collaborate effectively with others by structuring work assignments in an effective way to meet deadlines and manage team conflict
  • LO6: demonstrate an understanding of how to make a positive impact within the business environment and plan for a sustainable and ethical approach to societal challenges.

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
• GQ2: Critical thinking and problem solving
• GQ3: Oral and written communication
• GQ4: Information and digital literacy
• GQ5: Inventiveness
• GQ6: Cultural competence
• GQ7: Interdisciplinary effectiveness
• GQ8: Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity
• GQ9: Influence

Outcome Map

• Learning outcomes:
  • LO1
  • LO2
  • LO3
  • LO4
  • LO5
  • LO6
• 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

• More information can be found on Canvas.
• Business School Policies
• Peer-Assisted Study Sessions (PASS)
• Disclaimer: The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.
• This unit of study outline was last modified on 17 Aug 2020.