BUSINESS SCHOOL
Version: 2019 Business School 1
Unit of Study Outline
Unit Code BUSS5020
Unit Title Business Insights
Semester 1, 2019
Pre-requisite Units:
Co-requisite Units:
Prohibited Units:
Assumed Knowledge and/or Skills:
Unit Coordinator: Elly Meredith
Address: Room 4043, Abercrombie Precinct(H70), The University of Sydney NSW 2006
Email: elly.meredith@sydney.edu.au Phone:
Consultation Hours: Please go to Canvas for details of all staff consultation times.
Class Day(s): Please go to the timetable website for class times and locations. Students must attend their
scheduled session. Changes can only be made through the timetable website.
Required Text / Resources:
See Canvas for key concept videos, weekly readings, and other resources.
This unit of study outline MUST be read in conjunction with
The Business School Unit of Study Common Policy and implementation information that applies to every unit of study offered by the
Business School (http://sydney.edu.au/business/currentstudents/policy). All assessment rules, such as standards used, penalties etc, are
covered.
1. Unit of Study Information
This unit is designed specifically to provide Commerce students with foundational knowledge in relation to
business challenges and the major issues and trends facing business leaders today. Students are required to
consider and analyse how business leaders might respond to these challenges in a changing and uncertain
environment. Students are also encouraged to think creatively about ways in which business, government and the
community can function better. This unit provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully
pursue the specialisations offered in the Master of Commerce.
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2. Program Learning Outcomes and Unit Learning Outcomes
The Program Learning Outcomes for this Program are located at
http://sydney.edu.au/business/about/accreditations/AoL
Unit Learning Outcomes
Unit Learning Outcomes
Program Learning Outcomes
On the successful completion of the Unit you should be able to:
Demonstrate a working knowledge of key business concepts, frameworks,
and trends.
1. Business Knowledge
Demonstrate critical thinking skills by identifying, assessing and responding
to business issues and challenges.
2. Critical Thinking
3. Business Analysis and
Problem-Solving
Communicate effectively orally and in writing.
4. Communication
Work collaboratively in a team to address complex business issues.
5. Team Working
Demonstrate knowledge of ethical frameworks relevant to business.
6. Ethical and Social
Responsibility
3. Assessment
Assessment
Title
Assessment
Type
Individual/
Group
Assessment
Conditions
Program
Learning
Outcomes
Assessed
Length
Weight
Due
Time
Due Date
Closing Date
Participation
Participation
Individual
Compulsory
2, 3, 4
NA
5%
Weekly
Weekly
Essay
Assignment
Individual
Compulsory
1, 2, 3, 4
1100
words
15%
10:00am
22-Mar-2019
01-Apr-2019
Mid-Semester
Exam
In-semester
Exam (mid)
Individual
Compulsory
1, 4
130 minutes
20%
Mid Semester
Exam Period
Mid
Semester
Exam Period
Presentation
Presentation
Group
Compulsory
1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
6
15
minutes
5%
Week 9
Week 9
Group Project
Assignment
Group
Compulsory
1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
6
2000
words
20%
10:00am
27-May-2019
06-Jun-2019
Final Exam
Final Exam
Individual
Compulsory
1, 4
130
minutes
35%
Final Exam Period
Final Exam Period
Academic
Honesty
Week 4
Assessment details
Participation
● Task Description
This is a continuous assessment. You must come prepared to all workshops (including having read all
required readings and watched all the required videos). You are required to attend in full and actively
participate in all workshops, including group and class-level discussions. Simply attending the workshops will
not ensure the you receive a satisfactory mark for particpation. A mark of 0 is possible for students who do not
attend or engage with class activities. Attendance will be taken at all workshops.
● Assessment Criteria
❍ Evidence of pre-class preparation in use of weekly readings and other preparatory material;
❍ Quality contributions to group and class discussions during workshops, including use of readings, key
concept videos, workshop content and additional information;
❍ Evidence of facilitating contributions of others in group dicussions including eliciting contributions and
synthesising contributions; and
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❍ Respect for others’ point of view (this does not mean that all responses are equally valid or beyond
challenge, but relates to the manner in which dialogue is conducted).
● Feedback – What, when and how feedback will be provided for this assessment
Qualitative feedback on your performance in workshops can be obtained from your workshop instructors
during their weekly consultation hours (please consult Canvas for additional details).
Essay
● Task Description
You are to write an essay about an article selected from the list provided on Canvas. In the essay you must
summarize the topic and key arguments, and critically evaluate the article’s argument. To achieve this, you
must draw on additional research, especially peer-reviewed academic journal articles and relevant industry
publications. This is an individual assessment. Students are expected to adhere to the principles of academic
integrity as outlined in the Academic Honesty in Coursework Policy 2015 and other relevant University policies.
The essay will be submitted to Turnitin text-matching software via Canvas for similarity checking. More details
about the assessment and the list of articles from which you must choose will be made available on Canvas
by the end of Week 1.
● Assessment Criteria
❍ Conforming with instructions;
❍ Presentation and communication;
❍ Research; and
❍ Depth of summary and critical analysis.
● Feedback – What, when and how feedback will be provided for this assessment
Qualitative and quantitative feedback will be provided via Turnitin.
Mid-Semester Exam
● Task Description
This exam may draw from any workshop, key concept videos, reading or other class content in the weeks up
to and including the week of the mid-semester exam. Exam conditions apply. This is a closed book exam.
Students will have 120 minutes (plus 10 minutes reading time, for a total of 130 minutes) to complete the
exam.
The exam will test your understanding and your ability to critically apply content from the workshops, key
concept videos, readings or other class content. You are expected to demontrate understanding, analyse,
make assessments, predicitions and/or recommendations in a business context. Questions will be in
multiple-choice and open response format. Further details regarding this assessment will be provided during
the semester.
● Assessment Criteria
❍ Conforming with instructions;
❍ Presentation and communication; and
❍ Understanding and application of theory in a business context.
● Feedback – What, when and how feedback will be provided for this assessment
Final Exam grades will be published on Canvas when available. Details of any post-exam review session(s)
will be annouced on Canvas.
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Presentation
● Task Description
Your group will be assigned to deliver a 15 minute presentation in class from Week 9. You are expected to
demonstrate analysis by applying relevant theories to provide solutions/recommendations to the task
assigned to you. This is a group assessment. Details about group formation will be provided on Canvas and in
class. Groups are expected to adhere to the principles of academic integrity as outlined in the Academic
Honesty in Coursework Policy 2015 and other relevant University policies. Any handouts, powerpoint slides or
other accompanying audiovisual content must be submitted to Turnitin text-matching software via Canvas for
similarity checking. Further details regarding this assessment will be provided during the semester.
● Assessment Criteria
❍ Conforming with instructions;
❍ Depth of analysis;
❍ Problem solving;
❍ Research; and
❍ Presentation and communication.
● Feedback – What, when and how feedback will be provided for this assessment
The final mark will be made available on Canvas within 14 business days of your team’s presentation.
Qualitative feedback can be obtained directly from your workshop instructor by appointment during their
consultation hours (please consult Canvas for additional details).
Group Project
● Task Description
The group project will be an in-depth investigation on the same topic on which your group presentation is
based. You are expected to draw on materials within the unit, as well as conduct external research to provide
solutions/recommendations to the task assigned to you. This is a group assessement. Groups are expected to
adhere to the principles of academic integrity as outlined in the Academic Honesty in Coursework Policy 2015
and other relevant University policies. The group project will be submitted to Turnitin text-matching software
via Canvas for similarity checking. Further details regarding this assessment will be provided during the
semester.
● Assessment Criteria
❍ Conforming with instructions;
❍ Depth of analysis;
❍ Problem solving;
❍ Research; and
❍ Presentation and communication.
● Feedback – What, when and how feedback will be provided for this assessment
The final mark will be published via Canvas when available. Written feedback will be made available via
Turnitin. The student who submitted the assessment is responsible for distributing the written feedback to the
rest of the group.
Final Exam
● Task Description
The final exam will test knowledge of the unit content accross the entire semester, and so may draw on any
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workshop, key concept video, reading or other unit content. Exam conditions apply. This is a closed book
exam. Students will have 120 minutes (plus 10 minutes reading time, for a total of 130 minutes) to complete
the exam.
The exam will test your understanding and your ability to critically apply content from the workshops, key
concept videos, readings, and other class content, analyse, make assessments, predictions and/or
recommendations in a business context. Questions will be in multiple-choice and open response format.
● Assessment Criteria
❍ Conforming with instructions;
❍ Presentation and communication; and
❍ Understanding and application of theory in a business context.
● Feedback – What, when and how feedback will be provided for this assessment
Final Exam grades will only be made available after semester grades have been released through Sydney
Student. Details of any post-exam review session(s) will be annouced on Canvas.
4. Other Resources for Students
All lectures and seminars are recorded and will be available within the LMS for student use. Please note the
Business School does not own the system and cannot guarantee that the system will operate or that every
class will be recorded. Students should ensure they attend and participate in all classes.
PASS
Peer-Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) is a peer-facilitated, cooperative student support scheme aiming to
improve students’ academic performance by providing extra, free learning opportunities with trained student
facilitators. Each session includes problem solving practice in areas directly related to understanding the unit
concepts more thoroughly. PASS features small class sizes and a friendly personal approach to help you
reinforce key course requirements in a collaborative, active and social learning environment. Registrations open
in the first week of semester.
For more information or to register, please visit:
https://sydney.edu.au/students/peer-assisted-study-sessions.html
Email all enquiries about the PASS program to: business.pass@sydney.edu.au
Readings
Unit readings are available on the LMS
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5. Unit Schedule
Week
List of Topics
Assessments Due
1
25 Feb 2019
Introduction
2
4 Mar 2019
Business Basics
Participation (assessed continuously through the semester)
3
11 Mar 2019
Business and Markets
4
18 Mar 2019
Business and Government
Essay
5
25 Mar 2019
Business and Demographics
6
1 Apr 2019
Business and Culture
7
8 Apr 2019
Review
Mid-semester exam (date TBC)
8
15 Apr 2019
Business and Technology
9
29 Apr 2019
Business and Strategy
Presentations
10
6 May 2019
Business and People
Presentations
11
13 May 2019
Business and Ethics
Presentations
12
20 May 2019
The Future of Business
Presentations
13
27 May 2019
Unit Synthesis and Review
Group Project Final exam (in final exam period)
