QCF263 Introduction to Studies in Business

Unit Outline: College 1 2026, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

The study of business is relevant to all individuals in a rapidly changing, technology-focused and innovation-driven world. This unit will provide you with the skills necessary to make valuable contributions within a business environment. QCF263 Introduction to Studies in Business will directly develop skills needed to prepare you for further studies in a range of areas related to business, leadership, management and entrepreneurship.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Explain business terms, concepts and strategies relevant to the business life cycle (CLO 1, CLO 3)
2. Select, interpret and analyse business data and information (CLO 1, CLO 2)
3. Apply business concepts to given business situations (CLO 1, CLO 2)
4. Evaluate business practices and strategies to make decisions and propose recommendations (CLO 2, CLO 6)
5. Create responses that communicate meaning to suit purpose and audience (CLO 3, CLO 6)

Content

Learning Approaches

In this unit an inquiry-based learning approach will be used. Your knowledge and understanding of business concepts will involve learning activities that incorporate an application of content to real world problem-based scenarios. You will have opportunities to work both independently and collaboratively to enhance your understanding of the unit content and ability to work successfully in a team context. .

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

You will receive feedback in various forms throughout the teaching period which may include: 

• Informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback in class, personal consultation 
• Formal: in writing, such as checklists, rubrics, written commentary  
• Direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation  
• Indirect: to the whole class. 

Formative and practical exercises will be provided to ensure there are opportunities for you to develop, practice and apply your knowledge. These activities will be provided, discussed and demonstrated in class.

Assessment

Overview

There are three summative assessment tasks to be completed in this unit:

1. A business basics portfolio
2. A business presentation
3. In-class reflection 

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Business basics portfolio

For this assessment you will prepare a business portfolio by completing a series of tasks that mirror real-world business planning activities including start-up fundamentals, marketing and financial management. Development of your portfolio is an individual task but is based on a group business concept.   

Weightings (Total weighting of 50%)

• Task 1: Start-up fundamentals (15%)
• Task 2: Marketing (20%)
• Task 3: Finance (15%)

This assessment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Assessment: Presentation

This assessment task requires you to create and deliver an individual, in-person 5-8 minute presentation that contributes to an oral and written presentation of your business concept, marketing plan and financial management strategies. Your presentation will be delivered in class in Week 12 to a panel of 'potential investors'. It will summarise the portfolio work you have completed and be supported by notes that are included in the 'Notes' section of your Powerpoint file.   

Assessment: In-class reflection

In class, you will write an individual reflection which highlights the important concepts you have learned this semester about business start-ups, and evaluates your participation in the unit.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.

The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Risk Assessment Statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.

Course Learning Outcomes

QC18 University Preparation Program

1. Demonstrate knowledge and skills that are fundamental to academic studies across a range of discipline areas.
   Relates to: Business basics portfolio, Presentation, In-class reflection
2. Apply critical, creative and analytical thinking and effective problem solving in a range of contexts
   Relates to: Business basics portfolio, Presentation
3. Communicate effectively in an academic context using written, oral and/or multimodal genres
   Relates to: Business basics portfolio, Presentation, In-class reflection
4. Demonstrate the capacity to work independently and/or collaboratively within the university context to effectively meet study goals
   Relates to: Business basics portfolio