Overview
This unit will provide you with the opportunity to complete a supervised project at an advanced level that relates to your discipline area. You will typically enrol in this unit in the later stages of your course of study, and will only be permitted to enrol in this unit with prior agreement from a discipline supervisor and the unit co-ordinator.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisite: Enrolment in this unit requires approval of the Dean of School, Business and Law
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2026
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Student feedback
The good aspects of the student unit delivery and learning experience should be continued. However, the enrollment process should be improved in the new unit BUSN13004 Professional practice and experience.
The enrollment process is a focus area in the new unit BUSN13004 Professional practice and experience which replaces this unit BUSN19021 Project as of term 1 2021. The approval process for the students wishing to enroll in the project option of BUSN13004 will no longer involve a minimum pre-requisite GPA.
- Demonstrate the ability to select a topic suitable for major project work
- Justify the project topic based on secondary information searches and preliminary primary research
- Formulate project schedules from initial problem definition through to the presentation of final information
- Draft and complete proposal, progress and final reports for the project
- Develop practical skills of project management through the implementation of a 'real world' project of your choice.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 20% | |||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 20% | |||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 60% | |||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||||
| 5 - Team Work | |||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||||
| 10 - First Nations Knowledges | |||||
| 11 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 20% | |||||||||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 20% | |||||||||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 60% | |||||||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
s.danvers@cqu.edu.au
Week 1
Begin Date: 13 Jul 2026Module/Topic
Review, values, ethics, justification.
Revisit approved project plan; align with values, ethics, and context; strengthen justification.
Chapter
Ch. 1 – Action research: what it is and what it is not.
Ch. 2 – Why should you do action research?
Ch. 5 – Influence and ethics.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 2
Begin Date: 20 Jul 2026Module/Topic
Refining Research Issue & Preparing for Design.
Refine research question; map stakeholders; analyse organisational context.
Chapter
Ch. 3 – The main features of action research processes.
Ch. 4 – Working with others in organisational and institutional settings
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 3
Begin Date: 27 Jul 2026Module/Topic
Designing the Project & Building the Schedule.
Develop project design; build schedule; embed ethics.
Chapter
Ch. 6 – Designing your project: action planning.
Ch. 7 – Designing your project: checklists for action.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 4
Begin Date: 03 Aug 2026Module/Topic
Planning Evidence Collection.
Select methods; develop triangulation plan; integrate evidence tasks.
Chapter
Ch. 8 – Monitoring the action, looking for data, and documenting the processes involved.
Ch. 9 – Collecting and managing the data.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 5
Begin Date: 10 Aug 2026Module/Topic
Implementing the First Action Cycle.
Implement cycle 1; document actions; reflect on outcomes.
Chapter
Ch. 8 – Monitoring the action, looking for data, and documenting the processes involved.
Ch. 9 – Collecting and managing the data.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 6
Begin Date: 17 Aug 2026Module/Topic
Analysing Evidence & Evaluating Cycle 1.
Analyse data; evaluate cycle 1; update schedule.
Chapter
Ch. 10 – Analysing and interpreting the data and generating evidence.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 24 Aug 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 7
Begin Date: 31 Aug 2026Module/Topic
Planning & Implementing the Second Action Cycle.
Revise plan; implement cycle 2; continue evidence collection.
Chapter
Ch. 6 – Designing your project: action planning.
Ch. 8 – Monitoring the action…
Ch. 10 – Analysing and interpreting the data…
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 8
Begin Date: 07 Sep 2026Module/Topic
Validation & Research Quality.
Apply validation criteria; engage critical friends; strengthen justification.
Chapter
Ch. 11 – Validation process: making claims to knowledge and validating them.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 9
Begin Date: 14 Sep 2026Module/Topic
Making & Refining Claims to Knowledge.
Formulate claims; link claims to evidence; prepare report outline.
Chapter
Ch. 11 – Validation process…
Ch. 12 – Legitimation processes: presenting reports and legitimating them.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 10
Begin Date: 21 Sep 2026Module/Topic
Writing the Action Research Report.
Draft report; integrate evidence; prepare artefacts.
Chapter
Ch. 13 – Writing your report.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 11
Begin Date: 28 Sep 2026Module/Topic
Refining Report & Preparing Dissemination.
Revise report; prepare dissemination product; reflect on implications.
Chapter
Ch. 13 – Writing your report.
Ch. 14 – Disseminating your research and getting published.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 12
Begin Date: 05 Oct 2026Module/Topic
Final Submission & Professional Reflection.
Submit report; deliver dissemination artefact; reflect on learning.
Chapter
Ch. 14 – Disseminating your research and getting published.
Integrative reflection across Chs. 1–14
Events and Submissions/Topic
Exam Week
Begin Date: 12 Oct 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation/Exam Week
Begin Date: 19 Oct 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Written Assessment
You will amend and update your research plan that was approved at the end of BUSN19002 Business Research Methodology. It may reflect changing priorities or circumstances at your workplace, but it must now include your project schedule and details of evidence collection. It must reflect your outcomes from Weeks 1–4 of this unit. It must also be signed as approved by your workplace mentor prior to submission.
Week 5 Friday (14 Aug 2026) 11:55 pm AEST
Week 7 Friday (4 Sept 2026)
This return date only applies to submission made by the due date and time.
Your research proposal must demonstrate:
- Clear application to the problem being investigated (20%)
- An effective approach to evidence gathering (30%)
- A schedule that can realistically address the problem being investigated (30%), and
- Clear and precise written communication, approved by your workplace mentor (20%).
- Demonstrate the ability to select a topic suitable for major project work
- Justify the project topic based on secondary information searches and preliminary primary research
- Formulate project schedules from initial problem definition through to the presentation of final information
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
2 Written Assessment
Your final research report represents the conclusion of your earlier research plan. It provides a clear description of your schedule and evidence collection (consistent with your earlier plan), your final conclusions, and how those conclusions were arrived at. A template will be provided in Moodle for you to use. The report must include a certification from your employer that the research was approved by them and that they are satisfied with the conduct of the research.
Please note that clear solutions may, or may not, be found in the limited time that you have to conduct this research. If solutions are found, document them. If a better understanding of the problem is found, document that also.
Week 12 Friday (9 Oct 2026) 11:55 pm AEST
Your assessment will be returned on Certification Day.
Your research report will be assessed as follows:
- Your report clearly indicates the problem under review and the steps that your research took to solve, or better understand the problem (20%)
- Your research schedule and evidence collection are consistent with your stated research problem (30%)
- Your final report is clear in stating the outcomes from your research, and includes a final certification from your employer that your employer approved of the research project (30%)
- Your report is professionally written, with the outcomes of the research clearly described (20%).
- Justify the project topic based on secondary information searches and preliminary primary research
- Formulate project schedules from initial problem definition through to the presentation of final information
- Draft and complete proposal, progress and final reports for the project
- Develop practical skills of project management through the implementation of a 'real world' project of your choice.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
3 Written Assessment
Your personal reflection is description of your own, personal journey through this project. At a minimum, you should include:
- Your own confidence in identifying a problem and structuring a project to address it (and how your confidence levels might have changed during the project)
- The support you received from your employer
- Any skills you learned during the project that will be useful in your professional career, and
- Your level of satisfaction with the outcome.
Your unit coordinator will advise you during term whether submission will be via upload into Moodle, or using the University's e-Portfolio.
Exam Week Friday (16 Oct 2026) 11:55 pm AEST
Your assessment will be returned on Certification Day.
Your research report will be assessed as follows:
- Your reflections are clear and consistent with project described in your project report (20%)
- Your reflections demonstrate that you are now able to identify workplace problems and articulate a plan to address these problems (30%)
- Your reflections indicate the new skills that you have attained and the extent that you consider them useful for your professional career (30%)
- Your reflections are clearly presented and easy to read (20%).
- Demonstrate the ability to select a topic suitable for major project work
- Draft and complete proposal, progress and final reports for the project
- Communication
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
