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Unit of study_

DESN9003: Strategic Design and Leadership

Semester 2, 2023 [Normal evening] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

In this unit, students examine design leadership and learn various approaches that can be applied to elevate the value of design in an organisation. Students learn about what it means to be a design leader and how to tap into their design skills to be a better leader. The unit demonstrates how to use design as a method for navigating an organisation and use people-centred strategies to map the internal context and external factors which influence strategic design and leadership. Students will learn how to grow their influence by design and create an enabling environment for design in their organisation. In this unit, students will learn about the potential and pitfalls of leadership in organisations, challenging each one to consider their future as a design leader. The aim of this unit is to provide students with tools, methods and models that can be applied within organisations to enable growth in strategic design and leadership.

Unit details and rules

Unit code DESN9003
Academic unit Design Lab
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

IDEA9106

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Daniel Faellman, k.faellman@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Daniel Faellman, k.faellman@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Critical reflection
Critical reflection on chosen design task
10% Week 04 See Canvas
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4
Assignment Research report
Research report and presentations
45% Week 08 See Canvas
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
Assignment Reflective Report
Reflective report on yourself as a (future) design leader
45% Week 13 See Canvas
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO3 LO2

Assessment summary

  • Reflective report on yourself as a (future) design leader: This assignment will require you to integrate information from lectures and tutorials throughout the unit to reflect on yourself as a future design leader
  • Research report and presentation: In this assignment, you will do in-depth research into one or more of the topics covered in the lectures and tutorials and present your findings as an individual report and an oral presentation
  • Critical reflection on an academic article: In this assignment, you will select one of a number of provided strategic design and leadership articles and provide a critical reflection

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

Work of outstanding quality, demonstrating mastery of the learning outcomes assessed. The work shows significant innovation, experimentation, critical analysis, synthesis, insight, creativity, and/or exceptional skill.

Distinction

75 - 84

Work of excellent quality, demonstrating a sound grasp of the learning outcomes assessed. The work shows innovation, experimentation, critical analysis, synthesis, insight, creativity, and/or superior skill.

Credit

65 - 74

Work of good quality, demonstrating more than satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes assessed, or work of excellent quality for a majority of the learning outcomes assessed.

Pass

50 - 64

Work demonstrating satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes assessed.

Fail

0 - 49

Work that does not demonstrate satisfactory achievement of one or more of the learning outcomes assessed.

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.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

The Assessment Procedures 2011 provide that any written work submitted after 11:59pm on the due date will be penalised by 5% of the maximum awardable mark for each calendar day after the due date. If the assessment is submitted more than ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded. However, a unit of study may prohibit late submission or exclude late penalties only if expressly stated below.

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 What is leadership and design leadership? Lecture (1 hr) LO1
Tutorial week 1 Tutorial (2 hr) LO1
Week 02 Who can be a leader? Lecture (1 hr) LO1
Tutorial week 2 Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO4
Week 03 How can design elevate leadership? Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2
Tutorial week 3 Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO4
Week 04 How do organisations work, and what does design have to do with it? Lecture (1 hr) LO3
Tutorial week 4 Tutorial (2 hr) LO3
Week 05 How can design leaders earn the right to play in strategic design? Lecture (1 hr) LO3 LO4
Tutorial week 5 Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 06 How can design leaders influence an organisation’s culture? Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Tutorial week 6 Tutorial (2 hr) LO3
Week 07 How can design leaders elevate design in organisations? Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Tutorial week 7 Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 08 Research report and presentation Presentation (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 09 Exploring your personality and leadership styles Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Tutorial week 9 Tutorial (2 hr) LO4
Week 10 What sets design leaders on their path? Lecture (1 hr) LO4
Tutorial week 10 Tutorial (2 hr) LO4
Week 11 What challenges lie ahead for design leaders? Lecture (1 hr) LO3
Tutorial week 11 Tutorial (2 hr) LO4
Week 12 Reflections on a design and leadership Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Tutorial week 12 Tutorial (2 hr) LO4

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.

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. understand the different dimensions of leadership and design leadership
  • LO2. leverage design to enhance leadership skills
  • LO3. understand the organisational dynamics that support or limit design leadership
  • LO4. develop a personal vision of design leadership.

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.

Some changes have been made to the lecture/tutorial cadence as well as some adjustments to the assessments, after discussion with the program head.

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.