Outline

Overview

The grand challenges of sustainability, climate change, social inequality, health and wellbeing, and corporate misconduct have revealed a critical need to transform business beyond the singular mindset of shareholder primacy. Coupled with this, a business must be proactive in establishing and maintaining its social license to operate as increasing risk and uncertainty has exposed a loss of trust in business. In response, this unit centres on co-creating a responsible business mindset with students based on an understanding that a business is deeply connected with the society and environment in which it operates. It is oriented towards examining the practices of business where organisational and personal considerations for ethical, sustainable, environmental and community objectives are embedded within, and not in conflict with, the desire to be profitable. An understanding of how a responsible business mindset can be shaped by the Sustainable Development Goals, ethical, Indigenous and other relevant frameworks is interwoven with consideration of the evolving legal and institutional structures for corporate governance and the role of business culture in the context of a broader set of stakeholders. Multi-disciplinary insights from the legal, workplace, marketing, accounting and finance perspectives provide context and texture, as students orient themselves with developing responses to practical market realities, drawing on theoretical understandings of a responsible business mindset. This unit integrates a responsible business mindset in all aspects of organisational planning, processes, reporting and decision-making, with the aim to develop future leaders who are not only mindful of the outcomes of responsible business actions, but can also bring critical reflection to such theories and practices.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Business School
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Anna Young-Ferris, anna.young-ferris@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Reflective ePortfolio Video log (vlog)	20%	Multiple weeks	8 mins
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Workshop Presentation Debate Workshop presentation debate	30%	Ongoing	20 mins
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Case Study Presentation Submitted presentation	20%	STUVAC	1000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Case Study Report Written assignment	30%	STUVAC	1500 words
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Reflective ePortfolio is worth 20 marks which includes 20 marks for a group component.
Workshop Presentation Debate is worth 30 marks which includes 10 marks for an individual component and 20 marks for a group component.
Case Study Report is worth 30 marks which includes 30 marks for a group component.
Case Study Presentation is worth 20 marks which includes 15 marks for an individual component and 5 marks for a group component.

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.

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.  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.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction - Topic 1: What is a Responsible Business Mindset?	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 02	Perspective 1: The Regulation - Topic 2: Financial Crime and Justice	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 03	Perspective 1: The Regulation - Topic 3: Regulation and Disclosure in Responsible Business	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 04	Perspective 1: The Regulation - Topic 4: Corporate Governance, Anti-Slavery and Climate Change Regulation	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 05	Perspective 2: The Workplace - Topic 5: Organisational level: Reimagining Responsible Workplaces	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 06	Perspective 2: The Workplace - Topic 6: Team level: Working Together Responsibly	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 07	Perspective 2: The Workplace - Topic 7: Individual level: Creating Sustainable Work	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 08	Perspective 3: The Numbers - Topic 8: Refocusing Financial Reporting Information	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 09	Perspective 3: The Numbers - Topic 10: Reframing the Management Accounting Approach	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 10	Perspective 3: The Numbers - Topic 9: Rethinking Auditing in Responsible Business	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 11	Perspective 4: The Impact - Topic 11: Organisational Sustainability, Reporting and Stewardship	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 12	Perspective 4: The Impact - Topic 12: Climate Risk and Business Opportunity	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 13	Perspective 4: The Impact - Topic 13: Reimagining Business, Reimagining Capitalism	Workshop (3 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 and resources for this unit can be accessed through the Canvas.

Learning outcomes

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.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

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

LO1. To apply theoretical and multidisciplinary understanding to approaches to responsible business practice and behaviour
LO2. To analyse and critically reflect upon business dilemmas through a responsible business mindset.
LO3. To critically evaluate innovative and sustainable solutions to business dilemmas that are both profitable and sustainable informed by ethical, sustainable, environmental and community objectives.
LO4. To work collaboratively and effectively as a team to examine and develop solutions through a responsible business mindset.
LO5. To integrate Sustainable Development Goals and other relevant frameworks with organisational objectives as part of a responsible business mindset .

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
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

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

This is the first time this unit has been offered.

Additional information

BUSS5100: Communicating in Business

As you transition into your postgraduate studies, we encourage you to take advantage of our free academic language and learning unit – BUSS5100: Communicating in Business. You will be provided with weekly online content and optional workshop sessions designed to guide you through important skill areas associated with research, referencing, writing and critical reasoning skills. By joining BUSS5100, you will also have access to our 1-1 essay proofreading services (ALLSI).

Please contact BUSS5100.coordinator@sydney.edu.au for more info.

PASS Program: Peer Assisted Study Sessions

The Sydney University Business School funds an additional program for BUSS5220 students called PASS. PASS stands for Peer Assisted Study Sessions. Research from the UK, USA and Australia has consistently demonstrated that students who regularly attend PASS are likely to improve their academic performance and are less likely to fail or drop out. In 2020, 99% of respondents to end of semester, anonymous surveys, reported they learnt during PASS and 97% reported that they enjoyed the program. One student commented “I loved everything about PASS – it was GREAT for clarifying ideas from class [and] helped my studies. I also had the opportunity to make many friends through PASS”.

What’s in it for you?

Weekly, hour-long sessions lead by senior, high achieving students.
A focus on mastery of course content through discussion and peer learning.
Extra learning opportunities, including problem solving practice where relevant, in areas directly related to understanding the concepts more thoroughly.
Great opportunities to meet other students and study effectively together in relaxed, interactive, small groups.
Registering for the PASS program

Attendance in PASS is voluntary but highly recommended. Registrations open the first week of semester. PASS starts in week 2 of semester. Spaces in the PASS program are limited.

Students register through the PASS online page at: https://sydney.edu.au/students/pass/eligibility-registration.html

Email all enquiries about the PASS program to: business.pass@sydney.edu.au

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.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

BUSS5220: Responsible and Business Mindsets

Semester 1, 2021 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect