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Course Outline

BUS104 Discovering Management

Course Coordinator:Melissa Innes (minnes1@usc.edu.au) School:School of Business and Creative Industries

2026Trimester 2

UniSC Sunshine Coast

UniSC Moreton Bay

 Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Online

 Online You can do this course without coming onto campus, unless your program has specified a mandatory onsite requirement.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

Understanding the principles of business management and how people interact in organisations can create a distinct advantage for businesses. This course facilitates your understanding of how and why behaviour in organisations influences work performance and collaboration that contributes to organisational goals. Business environments and structure influence managerial decision-making and planning. Increased knowledge of ethical and sustainable business practices (aligned with SDG definitions) facilitates learning about values and the difference you can make in your own and others’ work lives.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – Interactive online learning activities. 1hr Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Scheduled face to face workshops. 2hrs Week 1 11 times
Seminar – Scheduled face to face seminar. 1hr Week 1 Once Only
Online
Learning materials – Interactive online learning activities. 1hr Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Scheduled online workshops (Recorded). 2hrs Week 1 11 times
Seminar – Scheduled online seminar (Recorded). 1hr Week 1 Once Only

Course Topics

  1. Managers and management
  2. The managerial environment
  3. Foundations of decision making
  4. Foundations of planning
  5. Organisational structure and design
  6. Managing human resources
  7. Managing change and innovation
  8. Understanding groups and managing work teams
  9. Foundations of individual behaviour
  10. Motivating and rewarding employees
  11. Leadership and trust
  12. Foundations of control

What level is this course?

100 Level (Introductory)

Engaging with discipline knowledge and skills at foundational level, broad application of knowledge and skills in familiar contexts and with support. Limited or no prerequisites. Normally, associated with the first full-time study year of an undergraduate program.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... Professional Standard Mapping * Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
1 Identify, explain and apply relevant management and organisational behaviour theories and knowledge in a business context Knowledgeable 
PC3.1, PC6.2
2 Apply report-writing skills, management theory and creative thinking skills to the development of a business report. Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker
Engaged 
PC3, PC3.1, PC6.2
3 Identify ethical and sustainable business practices (aligned with SDG definitions), and apply principles of corporate social responsibility, to business contexts. Ethical
Sustainability-focussed 
PC4, PC4.1
4 Demonstrate effective and professional written and oral communication skills in business and academic contexts. Empowered 
PC1.1, PC1.2

* Competencies by Professional Body

CODE COMPETENCY
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
PC1.1 Written Communication
PC1.2 Oral Communication
PC3 Creative and Critical Thinking
PC3.1 Problem Solving
PC4 Community Consciousness
PC4.1 Social Responsibility and Sustainability
PC6.2 Discipline Knowledge

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

Not applicable

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

You will have proficient verbal and written communication skills

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

Students are requested to check their Task 1 Topic Question with their workshop facilitator by Week 3. Prior to task 1 (due Week 5) students are welcome to bring (in Week 4) their Literature Review paragraph structure / outline to workshops to receive formative feedback (not assessed). Informal feedback is also provided in workshops on an ongoing basis around weekly learning materials and task resources; as well as with the offer of private consultation for students arranged with workshop facilitators. Formal, direct feedback occurs when submitted assessments receive in-line comments, an overall comment addressing performance and a formal marking rubric indicating assessment outcomes. At times, indirect feedback in the form of a canvas course announcement to all enrolled students will be provided by the course coordinator.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Literature Review (or component) Individual 20% 
600 words (excluding reference list) (+/-10%)
 Week 5 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 2 Report Individual 40% 
1,500 words (excluding reference list) (+/-10%)
 Week 9 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 3 Oral and Written Piece Individual 40% 
7-10 minutes (presentation)
500 words (course-specific notes and theory applied to accompany presentation slides)
 Week 12 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All - Assessment Task 1:Management Research Brief
Goal: 
To demonstrate knowledge of key management concepts using authentic professional written communication skills, appropriate scholarly research and referencing.
Product: Literature Review (or component)
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Format: This task must be developed and submitted in CADMUS (see Canvas for more details). This is an individual assessment task based on concepts presented in weeks' 1- 4. This task facilitates development of authentic, foundational, and individualised research and writing skills useful throughout your degree. Students propose a research topic from Weeks 1-4 and prepare three x 200-word paragraphs using correct paragraph structure, authentic written communication skills and the inclusion of eight or more quality academic peer-reviewed journal article references to be presented in a Reference List. Further details available on Canvas.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Organisation and structure of written content adopting strategies provided.
 4
2 
Development and articulation of informed arguments grounded on unique research question and applying relevant management discipline theories.
 1
3 
Critical analysis of authentically-sourced secondary data and discipline-specific literature in the field
 4
4 
Accurate referencing of traceable and accessible sources of information used within the body of the document and listed in a Reference List using UniSC's Harvard referencing style.
 4
5 
Accuracy, authenticity, and professional presentation of written work including English expression, discipline-specific management vocabulary, grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
 4
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Problem solving
All - Assessment Task 2:'Business in the Media' Case Report
Goal: 
To demonstrate critical application of knowledge of relevant management concepts from weeks' 5-8, to a business case example in the media, presented in report format.
Product: Report
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Format: This task must be developed and submitted in CADMUS (see Canvas for more details). This is an individual assessment task. Task 2 is based on concepts presented in weeks' 5-8. Students are required to locate a small-to-medium sized business case article in the media, identify important relevant, specific management issues affecting the business, conduct scholarly research to understand the issues further, and then develop recommendations to help the business respond to its situation. Findings must be presented in report format with the inclusion of twelve or more quality academic references to be presented in a Reference List. Further details available on Canvas.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Identification and critical analysis of management discipline-specific pertinent issues in a business context.
 1
2 
Development and articulation of informed arguments grounded on unique case example and applying management discipline-specific theories.
 1
3 
Demonstrate original critical thinking to develop and evaluate appropriate solutions to business problems based on analysis of issues utilising management discipline-specific theories / content.
 1
4 
Organisation and structure of written content demonstrating authenticity in a report-presentation style.
 4
5 
Accurate referencing of traceable and accessible sources of information used within the body of the document and listed in a Reference List using UniSC's Harvard referencing style.
 4
6 
Accuracy, authenticity, and professional presentation of written work including English expression, management discipline-specific vocabulary, grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
 4
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Problem solving, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 3:Management Consultancy Pitch (Narrated PowerPoint Presentation)
Goal: 
To demonstrate knowledge and application of discipline-specific management, ethical and sustainable business concepts (aligned with SDG definitions) in an authentic business context utilising professional oral communication skills and appropriately sourced, traceable, and accessible scholarly research.
Product: Oral and Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Format: This is an individual assessment task. Task 3 is based on concepts presented in weeks' 1-12. Students prepare a narrated PowerPoint presentation including the recording of their face and voice (as per online learning materials each week). The presentation is a Management Consultancy Pitch outlining how a new or existing business could improve (or implement) elements of their business based on course content. The pitch will include an Acknowledgement of Country and reference to the sustainable and ethical issues relevant to the business (including Sustainable Development Goals addressed). There are TWO items to submit:
1) A rendered MP4 file of narrated PowerPoint presentation
2) Notes to accompany PowerPoint slides (in Word format and clearly identifying which slide the notes relate to).
Further details available on Canvas.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Identification and critical analysis of discipline-specific pertinent management issues in a unique business context supported by accurate referencing.
 1 2
2 
Recognition of sustainable business practices (incorporating analysis of relevant SDGs), and implications for the business.
 3
3 
Recognition of ethical issues affecting the industry / business, and implications for the business.
 3
4 
Demonstration of critical thinking to develop and evaluate appropriate and original solutions to business problems.
 1 2
5 
Structure of the presentation.
 4
6 
Use of appropriate verbal and non-verbal communication (posture, gesture, eye contact, and vocal expressiveness).
 4
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Problem solving, Applying technologies

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

You need regular access to the resource(s) below. Many texts are available as ebooks through the Library at no additional cost.

Required? Author Year Title Edition Publisher
Recommended IMPORTANT: Students are recommended NOT to purchase the hard copy text. Instead, the online version (called 'Revel)' is cheaper and interactive. SEE CANVAS FOR MORE DETAILS. Robbins S. Coulter M. De Cenzo D. & Woods M 2022 Management: The Essentials 5th Ed. Pearson

Specific requirements

STUDENTS ARE ADVISED NOT TO PURCHASE THE RECOMMENDED TEXT IN HARD COPY! The recommended text will be available in an interactive online format (called 'Revel') via a link on the 'Canvas' site once the canvas site opens in Orientation week. Students should NOT purchase the hard copy text until accessing Canvas and assessing their options.

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.

The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

For course-specific questions, contact your teaching staff or Course Coordinator.  

For other enquiries or to access support, please contact Student Central: 

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