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Unit of study_

WORK2203: IR Policy and Processes

Semester 2, 2021 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

The aim of this unit of study is to provide an understanding of the institutions and processes engaged in the regulation of work and labour markets. At times of intense change and debate such as today, it becomes all the more important to develop understandings of industrial relations policy which are intellectually rigorous; that is, which are evidence-based, theoretically-explicit and historically-informed. This unit is framed by these considerations. Particular topics may include: the development of policy; the nature of regulation; state and federal government policies; arguments for change; the influence of lobby groups; employer and union strategy; work-family debates and policies; the working of tribunals and courts; dispute settling procedures; the development of wage determination; the outcomes and implications of policy change.

Unit details and rules

Unit code WORK2203
Academic unit Work and Organisational Studies
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
Completion of 24 credit points of 1000-level units of study including WORK1003
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Chris F Wright, chris.f.wright@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Chris F Wright, chris.f.wright@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Isabella Dabaja, isabella.dabaja@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam (Take-home short release) Type D final exam Final exam
Online exam consisting of extended reponse (essay-style) questions.
30% Formal exam period 3 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Assignment Essay
Essay
40% Week 08
Due date: 08 Oct 2021 at 17:00

Closing date: 22 Oct 2021
2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Participation Class participation
Participation
10% Weekly n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Presentation group assignment Tutorial presentation/facilitation
Attendance and presentation
20% Weekly 5-10 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
group assignment = group assignment ?
Type D final exam = Type D final exam ?

Assessment summary

  • Class participation: Students are required to attend all tutorials, beginning in Week 2. The tutorials are designed to encourage active participation. Discussions will be structured around questions listed in the tutorial guide which will be on Canvas before the semester begins. Classes will include debates as well as standard group discussions.
  • Tutorial presentation/facilitation: In the Week 3 tutorial, students will be allocated a week during which they will lead and facilitate the class discussion in a small group. Students will start the class they lead with an overview of the set reading/s which will focus on the issues that arose for them. Students are asked to facilitate the discussion for the set weekly topic for most of the class. This might include referring to relevant news articles or designing class tasks which will stimulate the discussion and engagement. Each group will submit a summary of their work to the class and to the tutor.
  • Essay: Students are required to write an essay addressing the following question: Assess the helpfulness of Befort & Budd’s ‘efficiency, equity and voice’ framework for understanding any one policy issue discussed in this unit of study.
  • Final exam: The final exam will consist of a selection of extended response (essay style) questions covering all the topics examined in the lectures, tutorials and readings from Weeks 1-12.

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 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:

In accordance with Business School policy (https://www.sydney.edu.au/handbooks/business_school/rules/faculty_resolutions.shtml), "any assessment submitted after the due time and date will incur a late penalty of 5% of the total marks per 24 hour period, or part thereof, late (note that this is applied to the mark gained after the submitted work is marked)". This does not apply to students with extensions resulting from an approved special consideration application, special arrangement or previously arranged disability adjustment.

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 Introducing industrial relations policy Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 02 Work and industrial relations today: what are the problems? Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 03 What can and should governments do? Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 04 How did we get here? What has policy been about in Australia? Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 05 What is the Fair Work Act aiming to achieve? Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 06 Policy issues: The union ‘problem’ Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 07 Policy issues: Work and family Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 08 Reading week (essay due Friday 8 October) Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 09 Policy issues: Skills and immigration Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 10 Policy issues: The productivity puzzle Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 11 COVID-19, remote working and unemployment Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 12 Future industrial relations policy Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 13 Overview and exam primer Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

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

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas.

Textbook

  • Hancock, K. and Lansbury, R.D. (2016). Industrial relations reform: Looking to the future. Leichhardt: The Federation Press.

Please see the Tutorial Guide and Reading List in Canvas for the complete list of weekly tutorial readings.

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. describe how the state regulates employment relations
  • LO2. describe the major issues in industrial relations policy today
  • LO3. apply theoretical frameworks to current debates about industrial relations policy
  • LO4. explain the motivations of the parties seeking to influence industrial relations policy
  • LO5. describe the likely outcomes of changes in industrial relations policy.

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.
  • Journal of Industrial Relations: A key source for this unit of study is the Journal of Industrial Relations' ‘Annual Review' which appears in the June issues. The articles from the most recent issue will be made available online via the eReserve Library site, as are all articles in this and other journals listed in the tutorial guide.
  • Prize: There is a cash prize, donated by the Industrial Relations Society of NSW, for the student with the highest mark in this unit of study.

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.