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Unit of study_

BUSS1321: Business Practicum

Semester 1, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

The Undergraduate Business Practicum offers students an opportunity to interact with a sponsor organisation (e.g., corporate, SME, NFP, government) by working collaboratively on a project provided by the sponsor that requires an outcome within a specific timeframe. The project examines the sponsor's current activities, challenges and future aspirations. While undertaking the unit, participants will research the issues presented by the project and determine its scope and key deliverables in consultation with the sponsor. This process enables students to apply theoretical knowledge learned in class, where it is useful, and critically analyse information and data accessed during research to provide possible solutions to the problems and challenges identified. At the end of the period students present their findings to the sponsor and provide written summary (presentation document).

Unit details and rules

Unit code BUSS1321
Academic unit Work Integrated Learning Hub
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
Completion of at least 24 credit points (including BUSS1000 or BUSS1001)
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

A sound understanding of business and strong written and oral communication skills.

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Geoffrey Harrison, geoffrey.harrison@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment hurdle task Project proposal
Proposal
15% Week 04
Due date: 22 Mar 2020 at 23:00

Closing date: 05 Apr 2020
1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
Assignment hurdle task Mid-way reflection
Reflective essay
25% Week 07
Due date: 19 Apr 2020 at 23:00

Closing date: 03 May 2020
1200 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
Assignment hurdle task Report - final reflections
Written report
30% Week 12
Due date: 24 May 2020 at 23:00

Closing date: 07 Jun 2020
2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
Assignment hurdle task group assignment Presentation - key findings
Oral presentation
30% Week 13
Due date: 25 May 2020 at 23:00

Closing date: 30 May 2020
30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3
hurdle task = hurdle task ?
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  • Project proposal: In this task, you will create ‘performance objectives’ document that identifies what it is that you bring to the task in terms of experience and what it is you would like to take away from the task once it is completed. Later in the semester, when you write your reflective report, you will use this document as the starting point to compare what you have learnt with what you thought you would learn.
  • Mid-way reflection: This task asks you to critically reflect on your experience working on the task to date. It will compare your initial thoughts, expressed in the project proposal with what you have learnt to date about yourself, but also about your team members and their approaches to the task.
  • Report-final reflections: This task rounds off the reflective learning experiences which began with the project proposal, continued through the mid-way reflection and finally, to critically reflect on the task as it nears completion. It will ask you to compare and analyse where and why aspects were different to what you expected. Also, how the experience will inform the way you make decisions about important matters such as academic work and work experience.
  • Group Presentation - key findings​: Each member of the group will present equal amount of time. The three blogs/vlogs created during the semester can be referenced to show the methodology used by your team. This task is the presentation of your teams findings in relation to the project it was given, to the sponsor. It assesses your verbal communication skills, clarity of thought and critical analysis. The presentation document will be provided to the sponsor.

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 sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

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 Introduction; research methods (library) Workshop (2 hr)  
Week 02 Understanding team player profiles; Parker team player survey; managing conflict; critical reflection; making a start on the projects. Workshop (2 hr) LO2
Week 03 Project proposal assessment; team formation; skills inventory; commence initial research using public information. Workshop (2 hr) LO3
Week 04 Briefing from sponsor; understanding the brief and incorporating new information Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 05 Problem identification and solution generation methods; responding to sponsor needs; project design - methods of delivery. Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO3
Week 06 Creating blogs and vlogs for use in the final presentation. Workshop (2 hr) LO2
Week 07 Midway reflection assessment review. First blog/vlog - how your roles were chosen (2 team members) - this can be referenced as methodology in the group presentation. Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO3
Week 08 Second sponsor briefing; review data collected and its application to your project section. Second blog/vlog - how your team approached data collection (2 team members) - this can be referenced as methodology in the group presentation. Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 09 Review research, data collection (disposal) and and analysis progress; identify data to be included in final presentation of findings; third blog/vlog - how your team decided which data to include and reject (2 team members) - this can be referenced as methodology in the final presentation. Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO3
Week 10 Reflective report assessment review - individual 'feed forward'; ongoing data analysis. Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 11 Presentation skills, creation and rehearsal. Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 12 Presentation rehearsals Workshop (2 hr) LO2 LO3
Week 13 Group presentations of findings to sponsor Workshop (2 hr) LO2 LO3

Attendance and class requirements

Lecture recordings: All lectures and seminars are recorded and will be available on Canvas for student use. Please note the Business School does not own the system and cannot guarantee that the system will operate or that every class will be recorded. Students should ensure they attend and participate in all classes.

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.

Required readings

Readings and videos resources are available on Canvas.

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. apply and illustrate the knowledge and skills developed in business studies within a specific organisational setting
  • LO2. demonstrate contextually relevant written and oral communication skills
  • LO3. identify, research, analyse and evaluate issues facing modern organisations operating in a business environment; apply appropriate models and propose practicable recommendations.

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.

This is the first time this unit has been offered.

More information can be found on Canvas.

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.