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Unit outline_

BUSS4921: Managing Post-Crisis Through Action Research

Semester 2, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

In this unit students formulate and investigate a research question by applying action-research methodology to solve global, local and personal challenges. Students engage with the concept of leadership and explore their personal leadership capabilities. Students propose future actions for effecting changes in a post-crisis world based on their research findings. Research projects are co-created with peers and mentors and take into account students' interests and strengths. The unit culminates in a research presentation and a leadership portfolio showcase.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Business School
Credit points 12
Prerequisites
? 
Students must meet the entry requirements for the Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Advanced Coursework), including completion of a pass undergraduate degree and a major in a business subject area
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

Basic research methodologies, database search skills, academic integrity, academic writing

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Sandris Zeivots, sandris.zeivots@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Craig Gilliver, craig.gilliver@sydney.edu.au
Sandris Zeivots, sandris.zeivots@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 2 September 2024
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Personal leadership legacy statement
n/a
10% Week 03
Due date: 16 Aug 2024 at 17:00
500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO4
Assignment group assignment Research plan
n/a
20% Week 05
Due date: 30 Aug 2024 at 17:00
approx. 1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO5
Presentation group assignment Presentation
Students reporting on their research in a presentation.
20% Week 12
Due date: 21 Oct 2024 at 17:00
Presentation: 7 min
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO5
Assignment group assignment Research paper
Students submit a paper reporting on their research.
20% Week 12
Due date: 25 Oct 2024 at 17:00
qpprox. 1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO5
Assignment Leadership portfolio
n/a
30% Week 13
Due date: 01 Nov 2024 at 17:00
approx. 2500 words equivalent
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO5 LO4
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Personal leadership legacy statement:
This is a short 500-word reflective statement about your ownpersonal ambitions and aspirations for leadership.
Research design plan:
This is a written assignment to be developed in a group setting. A research designplan describes the problem the student group plans to investigate and how they are going to address it byapplying action research methodology.
Presentation:
This is a group presentation of the research project delivered in an engaging pitch format.The presentation is delivered to a panel of academic and industry judges and communicates the researchproblem addressed and the solution developed. Groups also submit a research paper supporting thepresentation.
Leadership Portfolio:
This is an individual assignment. A portfolio is a carefully curated collection of thestudent's work, their learning and development. It showcases what the student has learned about leadership,research, and how they demonstrated leadership throughout this unit, their research project, team work,etc.
Detailed expectations for each assessment are stated in the rubric criteria which are available 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.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction to leadership post-crisis and philosophical underpinnings of Action Research Lecture and tutorial (6 hr) LO1 LO3
Week 02 Preparedness for crises and responses to crises, and motivators and values in Action Research Lecture and tutorial (6 hr) LO1 LO3
Week 03 The human cost and benefit of recovery, and Action Research process and methodology. Lecture and tutorial (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 04 Ethical and responsible recovery and engaging with research participants Lecture and tutorial (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 05 The economy in seismic change and project kick-off. Lecture and tutorial (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 06 Rebuilding post-crisis and conducting ethical research Lecture and tutorial (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 07 Critical global, local and personal challenges, and recording and monitoring research data. Planned library visit: Object-Based Learning experience. Lecture and tutorial (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 08 Pitch week: Pitching for effective leadership and pitching your research. Lecture and tutorial (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 09 Technology and disruption, and turning data insights into action Lecture and tutorial (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 10 Reimagining businesses and industries post crisis and communicating your research Lecture and tutorial (6 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 11 Reimagining businesses and industries post crisis and communicating your research Lecture and tutorial (6 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 12 Leadership for good, and presenting your research findings at The Future Makers Forum. Lecture and tutorial (6 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 13 Showcasing your leadership through research and portfolio. Lecture and tutorial (6 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5

Attendance and class requirements

Note this is a 12cr unit. You are expected to do 2 x 1hr lectures (online, asynchronous) per week and attend 2 x 2hr workshops per week. One or two research workshops might be replaced with group or individual consultations to discuss particular aspects of a research project where deemed appropriate. One workshop each week focuses predominantly on the leadership component of this unit, the second workshop each week focuses on research project work. Workshop attendance is critical to succeeding in this unit as workshop time is used to debrief and deepen your understanding of the interactive unit content as well as prepare and progress your research work and assignments.

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 12 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 240-300 hours of student effort in total.

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. Identify global, local and personal challenges in a post crisis world and formulate respective research questions.
  • LO2. Design and apply appropriate action research methodologies to address global, local and personal challenges.
  • LO3. Distinguish different approaches and styles of leadership in business post-crisis and analyse the differences in impact.
  • LO4. Reflect on and identify your leadership style and capacity for effecting change in a post-crisis world.
  • LO5. Communicate proposed action plans informed by your research findings for effecting change in a post-crisis world.

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.

This is the fifth time this unit has been offered. Students have provided very positive feedback in the last semesters and we look forward to providing you an equally positive learning experience. Students particularly commented on the highly engaging and interactive nature of the lecture material on Canvas and interesting workshops each week.

Disclaimer

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

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.