Skip to main content
Unit outline_

QBUS5017: People Analytics in 4th Industrial Revolution

Semester 2, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit of study introduces students to both the key issues concerning the 4th Industrial revolution in general and people analytics in particular as forces transforming business and work. Students are introduced to the critical concepts necessary for understanding both. The course begins with an overview of what industrial revolutions entail. In understanding the nature of current changes particular attention is devoted to the different operational, funding and business models of companies such as Apple, Google, Amazon and Wikipedia. In making sense of the automation of the people management function in contemporary organisations mainstream human resource management and critical management perspectives are used as contrasting ways of understanding how digital technologies are transforming recruitment, performance management and wage setting today.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Business Information Systems
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

BUSS5220 and BUSS5221

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator John Buchanan, john.buchanan@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Small continuous assessment In-class quizzes
n/a
0% Multiple weeks 5 min
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Assignment Reflective essay
Reflective essay
30% STUVAC
Due date: 10 Nov 2023 at 23:00

Closing date: 24 Nov 2023
1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Assignment Critical assessment of a key concept
Understanding technological revolutions - contrasting approaches
20% Week 04
Due date: 25 Aug 2023 at 23:59

Closing date: 08 Sep 2023
1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Assignment group assignment Research project
An evaluation of people analytics at Agoda: strategy, tactics, practice.
50% Week 10
Due date: 13 Oct 2023 at 23:00

Closing date: 27 Oct 2023
6000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Assessment details 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: *The world today + possibilities *Overview of course Concepts *What is an industrial revolution? (Part i) - Reflections on Case study: Skolts Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 02 Concepts (continued) - What is an industrial revolution? (Part II) Understanding the Barley/Faunce Model Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 03 Concepts (continued) - Contemporary data infrastructure + implications for management practice Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 04 Concepts (continued) - Competing narratives: Automation optimists Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 05 Concepts (continued) - Competing narratives: Surveillance Capitalism Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 06 Concepts (continued) - Competing narratives - Choke Point Capitalism, Digital Republicanism and Post capitalism/Post scarcity Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 07 Tools - How data, maths, stats and machine learning combine to help manage labour: managerialist analytics v labour process in the digital age Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 08 Tools (continued) - How data, maths, stats and machine learning combine to help manage labour: recruitment Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 09 Tools (continued) - How data, maths, stats and machine learning combine to help manage labour: Performance management Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 10 Tools (Continued) - How data, maths, stats and machine learning combine to help manage labour: wages and work related earnings Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 11 What's the Chinese story? Technological revolutions in general - and Industry 4.0/Made in China 2025 specifically Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 12 Report back: Group Essays - what the groups recommend Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 13 Summary and reflections Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Weekly No Description Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Lectures run from 4- 5pm on Tuesdays. Tute times are on Thursdays: 5 - 7pm 7 - 9pm Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance at workshops is an integral, very important part of this course. Work associated with the Group Assignment is actively conducted in these sessions from week 4 onwards.  Guidance concerning assignment 1 is provided in weeks 1 - 3. 

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.

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. Produce a critical assessment of concepts concerning the role of data and AI in reshaping business and work today.
  • LO2. Describe the choices concerning the development and deployment of AI and data in reshaping business and work.
  • LO3. Critically evaluate concerning the adoption or modification of a leading application or quantitative method associated with deploying data in labour management.

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.

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