Overview
This unit explores the dynamic factors shaping the success and direction of contemporary businesses, with an emphasis on understanding and managing modern organisations. You will examine relevant theories and conceptual frameworks to analyse how business environments affect operations and decision-making. The unit emphasises the role of core management functions, including planning, organising, leading, and controlling, in improving organisational performance, while also highlighting the importance of driving entrepreneurship, fostering innovation, and achieving sustainability.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
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 1 - 2025
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 SUTE student feedback
The lecturer created a very inclusive environment
Drawing on lived experience of students provides an effective link to discussion of business concepts.
Feedback from SUTE student feedback
Valuable feedback was provided on written work
Significant effort is provided with constructive feedback at three levels: in the submission, through the rubric evaluation, and in developmental comments uploaded through Feedback Studio.
Feedback from SUTE student feedback
Lectures and workshop discussions really connected the content to real-world applications
Applying conceptual frameworks to understand what is being published in business media provides an ongoing opportunity to track and analyse the impact of management decisions on business performance.
Feedback from SUTE student feedback
Teaching strategies were very effective and exceeded the standards I expected.
The great conceptual thinkers in business academia develop their insights from researching business practices. Unpacking the conceptual frameworks in real-world contexts adds great depth to workshop discussions.
- Explain relevant theories and conceptual frameworks in contemporary business.
- Apply relevant frameworks to determine the impact of key factors in business environments on operations and decision-making.
- Discuss the impact of entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainability on business strategies, organisational structures, and design.
- Apply essential management skills in planning, organising, leading, and controlling, and their contribution to enhancing organisational performance.
- Discuss the role of leadership in driving entrepreneurship, fostering innovation, and achieving sustainability.
Not applicable
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Presentation - 40% | |||||
| 2 - Reflective Practice Assignment - 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 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||||
Textbooks
Exploring management, 1st Asia-Pacific edition
1st Asia-Pacific edition (2023)
Authors: Schermerhorn, J.R., Bacharch, D.G, Woods, P., Junaid, F., McKeown, T., & Co, MJ.
John Wiley & Sons Australia
ISBN: 9781119874959
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- eReading List
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.
j.zhang@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Welcome Message and Introduction Video
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Unit Overview: Introduction to Unit Structure and Moodle Navigation
Module/Topic
Topic 1: Introduction to Contemporary Business
Chapter
Chapter 1 & 2, John R. Schermerhorn, Peter Woods, Fatima Junaid, Tui McKeown, Jess Co. (2023). Exploring Management, 1st Asia-Pacific Edition, John Wiley & Sons Australia, ISBN: 9781119874935.
Additional reading materials are available through the Moodle e-reading list.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Learning Objectives
- Explain what a manager does and the skills they need to do their job well.
- Understand ideas from classical, behavioural, and modern management approaches and how they help us manage today.
- Explore the importance of entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainability in today’s businesses.
Module/Topic
Topic 2: Context of Contempriry Business
Chapter
Chapter 4, John R. Schermerhorn, Peter Woods, Fatima Junaid, Tui McKeown, Jess Co. (2023). Exploring Management, 1st Asia-Pacific Edition, John Wiley & Sons Australia ISBN: 9781119874935
Additional reading materials are available through the Moodle e-reading list.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 1 Brief
Learning Objectives
- Explain the factors that constitute the external environment.
- Understand how changes in the external environment influence organisations.
- Describe how the context of management is shaped by globalisation.
- Explain the internal environment and organisational culture.
Module/Topic
Topic 3: Business Ethics and Sustainability
Chapter
Chapter 3, John R. Schermerhorn, Peter Woods, Fatima Junaid, Tui McKeown, Jess Co. (2023). Exploring Management, 1st Asia-Pacific Edition, John Wiley & Sons Australia, ISBN: 9781119874935.
Additional reading materials are available through the Moodle e-reading list.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Learning Objectives
- Discuss business ethics and identify common ethical issues in the workplace.
- Describe methods for maintaining high standards of ethical conduct.
- Interpret the concept of corporate social responsibility and its relevance to business.
- Explain the challenges associated with prioritising sustainability in business operations.
Module/Topic
Topic 4: Entrepreneurship
Chapter
Chapter 1 & Chapter 2, Bruce Barringer, & R. Ireland. (2018) Entrepreneurship: Successfully Launching New Ventures, edition Global Edition. Pearson. ISBN: 9781292255330
Additional reading materials are available through the Moodle e-reading list.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Learning Objectives
- Understand corporate entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial firms, and the entrepreneurial process.
- Recognise why people become entrepreneurs and the key traits of successful entrepreneurs.
- Discuss how entrepreneurs benefit economies, societies, and businesses.
- Gain insights into business model frameworks used to evaluate, develop and launch new business concepts.
Module/Topic
No lectures scheduled this week
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Please take this opportunity to complete Assignment 1.
Module/Topic
Topic 5: Innovation and Change
Chapter
Chapter 9, John R. Schermerhorn, Peter Woods, Fatima Junaid, Tui McKeown, Jess Co. (2023). Exploring Management, 1st Asia-Pacific Edition, John Wiley & Sons Australia, ISBN: 9781119874935.
Additional reading materials are available through the Moodle e-reading list.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 1 Due
Assessment 2 Brief
Learning Objectives
- Explain how the evolving and dynamic business environment is reshaping the definition of organisations.
- Analyse the role of organisations in fostering and achieving innovation.
- Illustrate how managers effectively lead and support organisational change.
Assessment 1: Business Environment Analysis Presentation Due: Week 6 Monday (21 Apr 2025) 11:45 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Topic 6: Strategic Management
Chapter
Chapter 6 & Chapter 7, John R. Schermerhorn, Peter Woods, Fatima Junaid, Tui McKeown, Jess Co. (2023). Exploring Management, 1st Asia-Pacific Edition, John Wiley & Sons Australia, ISBN: 9781119874935.
Additional reading materials are available through the Moodle e-reading list.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Learning Objectives
- Explain the importance of the planning process and why managers use it in organisational contexts.
- Identify different types of plans and their applications in achieving organisational goals.
- Describe key planning tools, techniques, and their role in supporting effective decision-making.
- Analyse the role of strategies in organisations, including how managers formulate and implement them.
Module/Topic
Topic 7: Organisational Structure
Chapter
Chapter 8, John R. Schermerhorn, Peter Woods, Fatima Junaid, Tui McKeown, Jess Co. (2023). Exploring Management, 1st Asia-Pacific Edition, John Wiley & Sons Australia, ISBN: 9781119874935.
Additional reading materials are available through the Moodle e-reading list.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Learning Objectives
- Explain organising as a key managerial responsibility and its role in achieving organisational goals.
- Identify and compare common types of organisational structures and their applications.
- Analyse current trends and innovations in organisational design.
Module/Topic
Topic 8: Managing Organisational Performance
Chapter
Chapter 11, John R. Schermerhorn, Peter Woods, Fatima Junaid, Tui McKeown, Jess Co. (2023). Exploring Management, 1st Asia-Pacific Edition, John Wiley & Sons Australia, ISBN: 9781119874935.
Additional reading materials are available through the Moodle e-reading list.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Learning Objectives
- Explain the purpose and importance of the control process in managerial decision-making.
- Identify and differentiate between the various types of controls managers use.
- Describe effective tools and techniques for implementing control measures.
Module/Topic
Topic 9: Leadership
Chapter
Chapter 12, John R. Schermerhorn, Peter Woods, Fatima Junaid, Tui McKeown, Jess Co. (2023). Exploring Management, 1st Asia-Pacific Edition, John Wiley & Sons Australia, ISBN: 9781119874935.
Additional reading materials are available through the Moodle e-reading list.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Learning Objectives
- Describe the fundamental principles of effective leadership and their impact on organisational success.
- Summarise key insights from contingency leadership theories and their application in various contexts.
- Analyse current trends and emerging issues in leadership development.
Module/Topic
Topic 10: Teams and Teamwork
Chapter
Chapter 15, John R. Schermerhorn, Peter Woods, Fatima Junaid, Tui McKeown, Jess Co. (2023). Exploring Management, 1st Asia-Pacific Edition, John Wiley & Sons Australia, ISBN: 9781119874935.
Additional reading materials are available through the Moodle e-reading list.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Learning Objectives
- Discuss the significance of teams and teamwork in achieving organisational success.
- Describe the stages of team development and their impact on team dynamics.
- Identify key factors and strategies that contribute to successful teamwork.
- Explain how managers lead and support high-performance teams effectively.
Module/Topic
No lectures scheduled this week
Work on Assignment 2
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 2 Due
Assignment 2: Reflective Summary Due: Week 12 Friday (6 June 2025) 11:45 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Presentation
Assessment Overview
In this assignment, you will analyse the business environment of a selected company within the Australian context. The lecturer will provide a specific company for the study. Students are required to explore environmental conditions, predict emerging trends, and propose entrepreneurial, innovative, and sustainable solutions to drive the company’s success. This assessment will culminate in an 8-minute (+/- 1 minute) pre-recorded presentation, uploaded on Moodle. Please refer to the assessment brief on Moodle for detailed instructions and guidance.
ULOs: 1, 2, and 3
Note: This assessment requires students to adhere to the guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence tools as specified in the Artificial Intelligence Assessment Scale (AIAS) Level 2. Any misuse or lack of disclosure regarding the use of AI tools will be considered a breach of academic integrity. AIAS Level 2 (AI Planning) states: AI may be used for pre-task activities such as brainstorming, outlining, and initial research. This level focuses on the effective use of AI for planning, synthesis, and ideation, but assessments should emphasise the ability to develop and refine these ideas independently. You may use AI for planning, idea development, and research. However, your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas.
Week 6 Monday (21 Apr 2025) 11:45 pm AEST
A 5% penalty will be applied for each 24-hour period a submission is late.
Week 8 Monday (5 May 2025)
Presentation Content and Analysis (24 marks)
- Application of business environment analysis frameworks to evaluate the company (8 marks).
- Depth of analysis of environmental factors and their implications for the company (6 marks).
- Prediction of emerging trends impacting the company or industry (4 marks).
- Identification of opportunities for entrepreneurial, innovative, and sustainable practices (6 marks).
Professional Presentation Format (16 marks)
- Clarity, structure, and organisation of the presentation (6 marks).
- Professional tone, articulation, and engagement (4 marks).
- Effective use of digital tools, visuals, graphs, and supporting materials to enhance understanding (4 marks).
- Adherence to the time limit (2 marks).
- Explain relevant theories and conceptual frameworks in contemporary business.
- Apply relevant frameworks to determine the impact of key factors in business environments on operations and decision-making.
- Discuss the impact of entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainability on business strategies, organisational structures, and design.
2 Reflective Practice Assignment
Assignment Overview
This individual assignment is worth 60 marks and requires you to critically reflect on your learning throughout the unit MGMT11109 Introduction to Business. The aim is to integrate the knowledge gained in the unit with your personal experiences, performance in Assignment 1 (including feedback), and your understanding of business management concepts. The word count for this assignment is 2,000 words (+/- 10%). You need to attain at least 30 marks in Assessment 2 to pass the unit. Please refer to the assessment brief on Moodle for detailed instructions and guidance.
ULOs: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5
Note: This assessment requires students to adhere to the guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence tools as specified in the Artificial Intelligence Assessment Scale (AIAS) Level 2. Any misuse or lack of disclosure regarding the use of AI tools will be considered a breach of academic integrity. AIAS Level 2 (AI Planning) states: AI may be used for pre-task activities such as brainstorming, outlining, and initial research. This level focuses on the effective use of AI for planning, synthesis, and ideation, but assessments should emphasise the ability to develop and refine these ideas independently. You may use AI for planning, idea development, and research. However, your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas.
Week 12 Friday (6 June 2025) 11:45 pm AEST
A 5% penalty will be applied for each 24-hour period a submission is late.
Grades will be released after the certification of grades date
Your reflective summary will be assessed based on the following criteria:
- Demonstration of critical and in-depth understanding of both personal experiences (business management-related) and unit content (12 marks).
- Insightful reflection and analysis on key topics introduced in the unit, showcasing thoughtful engagement (16 marks).
- Strong and relevant connections, using personal examples or observations to illustrate the relationship between unit knowledge and real-life experiences (16 marks).
- Logical flow and cohesive narrative, ensuring ideas are presented in a clear, sequential manner without abrupt jumps or inconsistencies (8 marks).
- Clear structure and adherence to assignment instructions, including appropriate headings, formatting, organisation, and word count (8 marks).
- Explain relevant theories and conceptual frameworks in contemporary business.
- Apply relevant frameworks to determine the impact of key factors in business environments on operations and decision-making.
- Discuss the impact of entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainability on business strategies, organisational structures, and design.
- Apply essential management skills in planning, organising, leading, and controlling, and their contribution to enhancing organisational performance.
- Discuss the role of leadership in driving entrepreneurship, fostering innovation, and achieving sustainability.
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?
