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Unit outline_

BUSS4812: Work and Organisational Studies Honours A

Semester 1, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit covers advanced research-integrated coursework topics in Work and Organisational Studies regarding contemporary scholarly debates and perspectives relating to theory and its relevance to the research process.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Work and Organisational Studies
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
Students must meet the entry requirements to the Honours program, including completion of a pass undergraduate degree and a major in the specialisation area
Corequisites
? 
BUSS4001 and (BUSS4213 or BUSS4013)
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Chris F Wright, chris.f.wright@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Minor essay
Essay
40% Week 08
Due date: 24 Apr 2020 at 17:00

Closing date: 08 May 2020
1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Assignment Major essay
Essay
60% Week 13
Due date: 29 May 2020 at 17:00

Closing date: 12 Jun 2020
3000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Participation Facilitation of seminar discussion
Participation
0% Weekly 250 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2

Assessment summary

  • Minor essay: Explain what is meant by a ‘paradigm’. Compare a functional and an interpretative approach to investigating either gender equity, industrial conflict, workplace communication, or another topic chosen in consultation with the unit of study coordinator.
  • Major essay: Does theory help us to understand work and organisations in 2020? In addressing this question you must write an essay on either a topic relating to your thesis, or one key topic addressed in this unit (e.g. employment relations, human resource management, gender, management, the labour process, leadership, organisational behaviour, public policy or another issue to be chosen in consultation with the unit of study coordinator).
  • Facilitation of seminar discussion: Each week, write a summary of your reflections of the issues raised in the required readings before class to help you prepare for class discussion.
Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

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

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

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. 

Distinction

75 - 84

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.

Credit

65 - 74

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.

Pass

50 - 64

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. 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

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 Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. 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. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

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.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

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.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction Workshop (2 hr)  
Week 02 1. What is theory?; 2. Theory and your thesis Workshop (2 hr)  
Week 03 1. Applying theory; 2. Research ethics Workshop (2 hr)  
Week 04 Paradigms Workshop (2 hr)  
Week 05 1. Theories of employment relations; 2. Research design Workshop (2 hr)  
Week 06 1. Theories of human resource management; 2. Planning your thesis and formulating research questions Workshop (2 hr)  
Week 07 Theories of gender, work and organisations Workshop (2 hr)  
Week 09 1. Theories of management; 2. Reviewing the literature Workshop (2 hr)  
Week 10 Theories of leadership and organisational strategy Workshop (2 hr)  
Week 11 Theories of organisational behaviour Workshop (2 hr)  
Week 12 Theories of work, organisations and public policy Workshop (2 hr)  
Week 13 Conclusions Workshop (2 hr)  

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.

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.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. understand different approaches to the development of knowledge relating to work and organisations
  • LO2. critically evaluate underlying concepts, assumptions and limitations of theories about work and organisations
  • LO3. develop coherent arguments and well-founded critiques of theory in work and organisational studies
  • LO4. apply these theories to empirical research and to challenging issues of policy and practice related to work and organisations
  • LO5. present theoretical and abstract ideas and their application to research, policy and practice to other members of the class
  • LO6. conduct research using libraries, online sources, primary sources, archives and other sources of information.

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. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised 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. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

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

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

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

Disclaimer

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

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