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Unit of study_

WORK6040: Emerging Challenges in Industrial Relations

Semester 1, 2023 [Normal evening] - Remote

This unit focuses on contemporary and emerging challenges in the world of work and employment relations. It seeks to understand how these issues are understood and experienced by important stakeholders including managers, employees, unions, governments, policy makers and regulators. Key issues of focus include changing workforce demographics, new forms of work, sustainability and work, and flexibility and precarity in work. The unit engages with stakeholders to understand their interests in relation to these key issues changes. Analysis of these issues is informed by scholarly research and industry perspectives. This unit is a core unit in the Master of Human Resources and Industrial Relations.

Unit details and rules

Unit code WORK6040
Academic unit Work and Organisational Studies
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
WORK5002
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Jo Orsatti, jo.orsatti@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Small continuous assessment Reflective conversation
Contributions will be collated and assessed at the end of semester
30% Formal exam period
Due date: 05 Jun 2023 at 23:59
Small continuous assessment
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO5 LO2
Assignment Critical Reading Conversation
Due date as allocated by tutor (week 2-8)
5% Multiple weeks Maximum 5 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO5
Assignment Essay
n/a
30% Week 06
Due date: 02 Apr 2023 at 23:59

Closing date: 25 Apr 2023
2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO5 LO1
Assignment group assignment Group Report
n/a
25% Week 12
Due date: 21 May 2023 at 23:59

Closing date: 04 Jun 2023
3000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment group assignment Group Research Report - Video Summary of Report
n/a
10% Week 13
Due date: 28 May 2023 at 23:59

Closing date: 11 Jun 2023
Maximum 7 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO3 LO2
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

 

  • Critical reading conversation video: The critical reading conversation asks you to work as a member of a group to critically analyse an allocated article on the topic being addressed in the relevant week. 
  • Reflective conversation:  Contributions to an ongoing informed, reflective and evaluative conversation on topics, ideas and concepts we'll be introducing and thinking about in this unit.
  • Essay: The essay question is designed to develop your critical, analytical, and research skills. You will be asked to support your response to the essay question with evidence and use quality scholarly sources from unit materials and library databases.
  • Group research report written component: Working with a group you will prepare a submission to a simulated government inquiry. This report will be based on an original research project developed by the group and include recommendations for action.
  • Group research report video component: The group report video will be a short 7 min summary and presentation of the group written report.

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: the changing terrain and how we understand it in this unit Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 02 A changing world of work and employment relations. Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 03 Stakeholders and interests in work and employment relations. Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 04 A changing workforce Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 05 Flexibility and the work and life interface. Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 06 Precarity and low wages Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 07 New forms of work Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 08 Sustainability and work Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 09 Work and IR Research Bootcamp: Phase 1 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 10 Work and IR Research Bootcamp: Phase 2 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 11 Work and IR Research Bootcamp: Phase 3 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 12 Work and IR Research Bootcamp: Phase 4 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 13 Wrap up and synthesise Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  

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

See Canvas site

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. Identify emerging and future challenges in work and employment relations.
  • LO2. Assess the impact of emerging challenges in work and employment relations for key stakeholders (such as organisations, managers, workers, regulator and policy makers and societies at large)
  • LO3. Collect and use data and other evidence to generate insights on work and employment relations challenges.
  • LO4. Effectively work as a team member to attempt to resolve a unique and unfamiliar work and employment relations challenge in the interests of key stakeholders
  • LO5. Critically assess academic research on changes in work and employment relations.

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.

Since last offered the exam has been removed and replaced with an ongoing assessment task. In response to student feedback the essay task has also been modified to provide more structure.

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.