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Unit outline_

CLAW2208: Business Regulation, Risk and Compliance

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

Over recent years there has been a dramatic rise in the volume and reach of regulation in response to a variety of social, environmental and economic issues. Much of this regulation impacts on business, and its management who are, increasingly, personally liable. This unit has been designed to provide students with a comprehensive overview of the overall regulatory infrastructure which impacts on all faculty disciplines. Business Regulation, Risk and Compliance addresses self-regulation as an alternative to regulation by law; the regulatory process and the scope for business to influence regulatory initiatives; the alternative regulatory instruments; the executive arm of government - the bureaucracy - and the avenues for challenging administrative decisions; the investigative and enforcement powers of the major regulatory agencies - ACCC, ATO and ASIC; personal and corporate liability for regulatory breach; indemnification; whistleblowing and whistle-blower protection: regulatory compliance with special reference to Australian Standard AS3806-2006 on Compliance Standards and the strategies which facilitate legal action including class actions and litigation funding as well as the major alternatives to litigation including arbitration and alternative dispute resolution with particular emphasis on mediation.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
Completion of at least 24 credit points of study
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Andrew Terry, andrew.terry@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Presentation Presentation
Written Presentation
25% Multiple weeks 20 Powerpoint Slides
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Small test Take home test 1
Short answer questions
15% Week 07 12 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Small test Take home test 2
Short answer questions
20% Week 13 12 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Research assignment
Written task
40% Week 14 (STUVAC)
Due date: 05 Jun 2020 at 16:00

Closing date: 12 Jun 2020
2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7

Assessment summary

  • Research assignment: Students will be allocated an individual research assignment in week 6 for submission via Turnitin.
  • Presentation: Students will submit a Powerpoint presentation (of about 20 slides) based on their research assignment topic. The presentation must be submitted to andrew.terry@sydney.edu.au at least 24 hours before the class in weeks 9-12 scheduled to address that topic for uploading to the Canvas site. The presentation schedule will be uploaded to the Canvas site.
  • Take-home test 1: This is an open book test which will require 4 questions to be answered from a choice of 6 questions based on material covered in weeks 1-6 inclusive.
  • Take-home test 2: This is an open book test which will require 5 questions based on the materials in weeks 7-12. 

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.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

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. Introduction and overview: regulation, risk and compliance; 2. Red tape and the contemporary challenge to business Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 02 Regulatory frameworks and processes Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 03 Regulatory reform: policy and process Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 04 Alternative regulatory strategies Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 05 1. Regulatory enforcement and sanctions; 2. Regulatory challenge and review Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 06 Regulatory risk and compliance Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 07 Dispute resolution Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 08 1. Small business regulatory issues; 2. Privacy Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 09 Industry disruption and the regulation of new business models Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 10 The regulatory challenge of social media, big data and digital platforms Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 11 Contemporary regulatory issues: surveillance, artificial intelligence, class actions and litigation funding, Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 12 Corporate culture and ethical issues in business regulation Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 13 Rethinking regulation Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  

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

There is no one suitable text for this unit. Comprehensive readings and materials - which will include relevant journal articles, chapters, monographs and government reports - will be made available on the 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. recognise and evaluate corporate and personal business risk arising from increasingly complex and comprehensive regulatory regimes
  • LO2. describe the frameworks and processes for prescribing regulatory schemes and identify and assess the alternative regulatory strategies available to governments to achieve particular policy outcomes
  • LO3. identify, explain and assess the nature and tools of regulatory enforcement available to regulatory agencies
  • LO4. identify and analyse the legal and administrative machinery that exists to challenge executive decisions
  • LO5. describe and evaluate the alternative strategies for dispute resolution and design regulatory compliance strategies to minimise the likelihood of contravening regulatory regimes
  • LO6. evaluate ethical considerations, including whistleblowing, relevant to business and its regulation
  • LO7. analyse and evaluate specific regulatory regimes addressed in this unit.

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.

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.