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Unit outline_

SMBA6007: Managing People and Organisations

Semester 1b, 2021 [Normal day] - Castlereagh St, Sydney

This unit draws a parallel between modern organisations and the broader social environment in which they operate. It demonstrates how global, technological and demographic trends are re-shaping modern workplaces and highlights the importance of inclusive leadership in managing people. Students build experience in leading change in organisations and develop a better understanding of the dynamics of organisational culture, power and influence and the role of diversity. Students develop this understanding by critically reflecting on their own work contexts, and through real-world case studies focus on the implementation of a change management program addressing significant workforce and leadership diversity challenges. By the end of this unit of study, students are better equipped to drive organisational performance and get the most from the people they manage.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Management Education
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
SMBA6001
Prohibitions
? 
MMGT6004
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Sabina Nielsen, sabina.nielsen@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Susan Price, susan.price@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Individual pitch
Video presentation
20% Week 02
Due date: 25 Apr 2021 at 23:59

Closing date: 09 May 2021
3 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Presentation group assignment Group presentation
Oral presentation
10% Week 03
Due date: 12 Jun 2021 at 09:00

Closing date: 26 Jun 2021
20 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Group report
Report
30% Week 04
Due date: 15 Jun 2021 at 23:59

Closing date: 29 Jun 2021
3500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Reflective essay
Essay
40% Week 05
Due date: 21 Jun 2021 at 23:59

Closing date: 05 Jul 2021
2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO2
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  • Individual pitch: Identify a diversity related business issue where biases, prejudices or other forms of implicit associations impair individual and team outcomes, and which are likely to create a significant challenge or opportunity for the management of a diverse organisation in the modern society (you can choose a specific organization you work for or one that is of interest to you future career).
  • Group presentation: As a group, deliver a board style presentation, outlining a diversity training intervention targeting a significant Diversity and/or Future of Work challenge that you identify.
  • Group report: As a group, submit a written project report outlining a diversity training/change management intervention targeting a Diversity and/or Future of Work challenge.
  • Reflective essay: Reflecting on the experiences associated with this unit, in a reflective essay address the following questions: 1. What are the three main things you have learned in this unit in relation to your approach to managing people, your leadership style and the type of organisation you wish to build? 2. What have you learned about your own strengths and weaknesses that are relevant to this? 3. How will these insights inform and shape your future practice as an organisational leader?

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.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

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 1. Introductions 2. Overview of course 3. Introduction to the future of work, workplaces and workforce Block teaching (4 hr)  
1. Future of work scenario exercise 2. Why D&I? 3. Masterclass panel and lecture insights for leading in the future of work and workforce (speakers tbc) Block teaching (7 hr)  
1. Introduction to team dynamics 2. Everest simulation 3. Forming project teams Block teaching (7 hr)  
Week 02 1. Leading change, an introduction 2. Leading in uncertainty 3. Organisational dynamics: power and politics in organisations 4. Communicating strategies Block teaching (7 hr)  
1. Leading change simulation (all day simulation) 2. Initial project check in - informal Block teaching (7 hr)  
Week 03 1. Project presentations 2. Negotiation for mutual gain Block teaching (7 hr)  
Project presentations and unit wrap-up Block teaching (7 hr)  

Attendance and class requirements

Lecture recordings and attendance: Note that in contrast to the University default text regarding class recordings on the Camperdown Campus MBA classes held at the CBD campus are not systematically recorded and 100% class attendance is expected for each unit of the MBA program. If there are extenuating circumstances as to why you are not able to attend a specific class, please contact your unit coordinator or the unit co-instructor prior to the commencement of this unit as there are some classes which are compulsory and failure to attend may require you to withdraw from the unit. A unit requirement is 80% attendance, and those who drop below this level may not pass the unit.

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. demonstrate an understanding of organisations as complex social environments
  • LO2. identify and engage with the key issues for organisations in relation to the 'future of work' and 'diversity'
  • LO3. design an intervention which will addresses 'future of work' and 'diversity' challenges facing organisations
  • LO4. work effectively as a team to design a change proposal that is relevant and urgent to an organisation
  • LO5. present a convincing, well-researched, and relevant diversity/future of work change proposal to an organisation's most senior leaders
  • LO6. demonstrate an understanding of strategies to build individual, team, and leadership engagement with a diversity/future of work change proposal
  • LO7. build your capacity to understand organisational dynamics, power structures, and influencing strategies.

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.