Unit Outline

BMA501

Managing Contemporary Organisations

Semester 1, 2024 - ECA

Theresa Simpkin

Tasmanian School of Business & Economics (TSBE)

College of Business and Economics

CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B

Contact Details

Unit Coordinator

Theresa Simpkin

Email: Terri.Simpkin@utas.edu.au

Contents

What is the Unit About?................................................................................................................................ 3

Unit Description............................................................................................................................................ 3

Intended Learning Outcomes................................................................................................................... 3

Requisites...................................................................................................................................................... 3

How will I be Assessed?................................................................................................................................ 4

Assessment schedule................................................................................................................................ 4

Assessment details..................................................................................................................................... 4

How your final result is determined........................................................................................................ 7

Submission of assignments..................................................................................................................... 7

Requests for extensions............................................................................................................................ 7

Late penalties................................................................................................................................................ 7

Review of results and appeals................................................................................................................. 7

Required Resources....................................................................................................................................... 8

Required reading materials....................................................................................................................... 8

Recommended reading materials............................................................................................................ 8

Other required resources........................................................................................................................... 8

Unit schedule.................................................................................................................................................... 9

AACSB Accreditation................................................................................................................................... 10

Sustainability.................................................................................................................................................. 10

What is the Unit About?

Unit Description

This unit offers an investigative insight into the fundamentals of management. Encompassing platform leadership and organisation theory, a brief history of management theory will be followed by investigations into different theories of organisations. You will explore topics under three key areas being: underpinning knowledge/theories; applying theory to practice; contemporary and future management issues. You will be offered the opportunity to advance your understanding of fundamental management principles which can be applied in various organisational settings, ranging from private sector entities to NGOs, public sector taxpayer-funded organisations and start-ups. All students will be invited and expected to discuss topics from across the scope of this unit and the management discipline. To support discussions, assorted readings and other learning material will focus on foundational management approaches and management theories. You’ll be expected to read widely, being aware of current business affairs and applying capabilities associated with self-directed learning. You are invited to bring your ideas and questions to workshops for deeper exploration of topics of interest with the group. You will explore management theory and review case studies for the purpose of strengthening your ability to identify and address business problems and research possible solutions. You will explore ways and means to create and sustain a workplace where people are given the best opportunities to succeed and in doing so, support organisational goals. Embedded in each of the modules are case studies to support and direct discussions during workshop sessions.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:

1.	Critically appraise management practice in the context of local and global organisations
2.	Create solutions to contemporary organisational challenges congruent with applicable UN SDGs.
3.	Evaluate how managerial competencies apply and their value in complex organisations.
4.	Communicate knowledge and ideas to diverse audiences within a collaborative environment.

Requisites

REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Anti-requisite (mutual excl)	XPD507

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule

ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Underpinning theory ‘quizzes’	See the MyLO site for the due date	15 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	Individual Case Study	Week 7	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 3:	Team Consultancy Report	Week 13	45 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Underpinning theory ‘quizzes’

Task Description:

A series of theory-based quizzes aims to solidify your knowledge of module content and the topics explored. The quizzes will consist of ten questions on the topics that you have explored and discussed. A time limit of 10 minutes will be applied (1 minute per question). The questions will consist of a range of topics and will be drawn from a bank of randomised questions.

Task Length:

Due Date:

See the MyLO site for the due date

Weight:

15 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)

1	Recognise and apply underpinning theory associated with management practice	LO1
2	Apply management theory and concepts	LO2
3	Compare, contrast and evaluate management theory and concepts	LO3

Assessment Task 2: Individual Case Study

Task Description:

Using a case organisation, your task is to explore contemporary business issues with a particular focus on risk to organisational strategy. Putting yourself in the role of CEO, you will provide an overview of risks posed by external factors (e.g. global, national, regional) with a view to developing adequate organisational responses. Particular attention should be placed on sustainable business practices illustrating alignment to the UN SDGs.

Task Length:

2000 words

Due Date:

Week 7

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)

1	Critically appraise organisational risk and identify links to strategy	LO1
2	Develop and justify responses to identified risks	LO2
3	Communicate arguments in a persuasive manner utilising appropriate source material to clearly substantiate reasoning.	LO4
4	Determine managerial responses to mitigate organisational risk and improve strategic outcomes	LO3

Assessment Task 3: Team Consultancy Report

Task Description:

In teams, you will present a report to the CEO and board of an organisation or your choice or an allocated case study organisation.

You are to create a strategic management proposal providing resolutions to specific contemporary organisational problems with due regard to internal and external factors. Your consulting group must consider matters associated with people, ethics and sustainable business identifying appropriate managerial competencies required to deliver on recommendations. Overt connections to the way in which your recommendations recognise and advance the intent of applicable/relevant UN SDGs must be made.

The individual component regarding communication and collaborative working will be assessed separately via a peer review process. This component will form 20% of the overall mark for this assessment task.

Task Length:

3000 words

Due Date:

Week 13

Weight:

45 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)

1	Critically apply appropriate management theory to the analysis of the case study organisation’s operation.	LO1
2	Develop considered recommendations with a clear connection between the identified problem for resolution and recommended managerial actions.	LO2
3	Peer review reports indicate collaborative working and good communication among team members illustrating fair contribution of effort.	LO4
4	Develop recommendations that identify how managerial actions reflect the intention of relevant UN SDGs.	LO3

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.

Required Resources

Required reading materials

A series of prescribed readings are provided in the weekly topic sections of the MyLO shell for this unit.

Students are advised that prescribed reading is to be completed prior to the weekly tutorial and timetabled workshops.

Other required resources

In addition to the texts/software recommended above, you are also expected to be familiar
with the key academic journals in the discipline from which useful insights may be derived.
In particular, you are encouraged to review regularly the relevant papers that are published
in the Content Section of the MyLO shell for this unit.
Academy of Management Executive
Academy of Management Journal
Academy of Management Learning and Education
Academy of Management Perspectives
Academy of Management Review
Asia-Pacific Journal of Human Resources
Asia-Pacific Journal of Management
Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management
Cross Cultural Management: An International Journal
Human Resource Development International
Human Resource Development Quarterly
Human Resource Management Journal (UK)
Human Resource Management Review
Business Review Weekly
California Management Review
Harvard Business Review
Journal of Management
Sloan Management Review

Unit schedule

Week	Date beginning	Module/ Focus Area	Activities	Resources/ Readings/ Further Information
1	26 February	Module one – underpinning principles	Introduction to the unit	See the weekly MyLO topics for prescribed reading. Please ensure all reading and activities are completed prior to timetabled learning activities (both online and on campus).
2	4 March		Management in context
3	11 March		Management structures
4	18 March		Global perspectives
5a	25 March		The reflective manager
Mid-Semester Break: Thursday 28 March – Wednesday 3 April 2024
5b	4 April		The reflective manager
6	8 April	Module Two – Contemporary practice	Contemporary managerial practice	See the weekly MyLO topics for prescribed reading. Please ensure all reading and activities are completed prior to timetabled learning activities (both online and on campus).
7	15 April		Death of change?
8	22 April		Impact/influence of managerial behaviours
9	29 April	Module three - Management in practice: critical perspectives	Management vs leadership	See the weekly MyLO topics for prescribed reading. Please ensure all reading and activities are completed prior to timetabled learning activities (both online and on campus).
10	6 May		Setting and achieving objectives
11	13 May		Creating and harnessing value (strategic alignment)
12	20 May		Contemporary management
13	27 May		Review and learning consolidation
Study Period: 3 June to 7 June
Exam Period: 8 June to 25 June

AACSB Accreditation

The Tasmanian School of Business and Economics (TSBE) gained initial Business Accreditation from the AACSB International (AACSB) in July 2021 – the lead program for accrediting business schools globally. AACSB seeks to connect educators, students, and business to achieve a common goal – to create the next generation of business leaders.

AACSB is the most reputable standard in business education and TSBE is now one of an elite group of the world’s business schools. By being an AACSB accredited School, TSBE has joined a global alliance committed to improve the quality of business education around the world, and to share the latest innovations in business education.

Gaining Business Accreditation with AACSB means that we have satisfied a multi-year process involving TSBE demonstrating our performance against the 15 accreditation standards.

TSBE has joined a select community of accredited business schools, with only five percent of all business schools globally accredited with AACSB. This will further enhance the reputation of TSBE, as well as the global recognition of your qualifications. To find out more about AACSB click here.

Sustainability

The College of Business and Economics is now a PRME (Principles for Responsible Management Education) signatory. We are committed to the six PRME values of Purpose, Values, Method, Research, Partnership and Dialogue and you will see in various units how we embed sustainability values in our teaching and research and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Across all sustainable development goals, our university is ranked at 25 overall globally, and for Sustainable Development Goal 13 – Climate Action – UTAS is the number one university. For more information about PRME, click here.