BSN451 Data-Driven Decision Making
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | BSN451 |
|---|---|
| Antirequisite(s): | AYN443 or AYN416 or EFN420 or EFN422 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2027, Gardens Point, Internal
| Unit code: | BSN451 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Anti-requisite: | AYN443 or AYN416 or EFN420 or EFN422 |
Overview
This multidisciplinary core unit will prepare you for today’s digital economy, where data is the new currency. Data can be collected, exchanged, used to create value, and drive economic activity. As such, the ability to collect, clean, analyse, interpret and report financial and non-financial data using digital tools and GenAI has fast become an essential skill of the modern business professional. Organisations across all sectors are actively seeking graduates with the ability to identify business opportunities and risks through both numerical and narrative analysis. These skills are increasingly relied upon to inform better decision making, drive business strategy, identify market trends, decipher consumer behaviour, optimise operations, and ultimately improve the social, environmental, and financial performance of businesses.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Analyse the role of accurate and reliable data in effective business decision-making across different organisational structures and stakeholder contexts. [KS 1.1, HO 2.1]
- Apply ethical and responsible judgement in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of quantitative and qualitative data across financial, social, and environmental contexts. [SE 5.1, 5.2]
- Leverage digital and analytical tools to collect, record, analyse and critically evaluate quantitative and qualitative data to generate evidence-based business insights. [KS 1.2, HO 2.2]
- Generate and professionally communicate defensible, evidence-based strategies, decisions, and solutions that address complex business challenges for diverse audiences. [PC 3.1]Relates to: PG Business Capabilities 2027: PC (3.1)
Content
This unit will introduce you to the fundamental principles and techniques used to create, analyse, evaluate, and communicate business information in the real world. You will explore core business concepts, including business structures, the form and flow of transactions, how organisations record and report their performance, and how to interpret this financial and nonfinancial information to aid stakeholder decision-making and improve business outcomes. You will develop the digital skills necessary to assess and ensure data quality, design statistical processes (estimation and hypothesis testing) and apply research methodologies (quantitative and qualitative) to analyse data across the core disciplines in business: Management, HR, Marketing, Global Business, Finance and Accounting. You will learn quantitative methods such as probability distributions, measures of central tendency, financial statement and correlation analysis, and linear regression, alongside qualitative approaches including content, thematic, narrative, grounded theory and discourse analysis in business reports.
By engaging with both numerical and narrative business information, you will develop a well-rounded perspective on how financial and non-financial data informs business decisions, supports accountability, and reflects broader social and environmental concerns. It will prepare you to not only collect, record and interpret data but also to apply a critical lens for evaluating how that data is communicated and understood in business contexts, including the ethical use of GenAI.
QUT Business Capabilities (Postgraduate)
The content and assessment in this unit are aligned to a selection of the following set of QUT Business Capabilities, also known as Assurance of Learning Goals (AoLs). Developing these capabilities will assist you in meeting the desired graduate outcomes set at QUT and equip you with the knowledge and skills to succeed in your chosen career.
Knowledge & Technical Skills (KS)
1.1 Demonstrate and apply advanced, integrated discipline and professional practice knowledge, including relevant research principles and methods, to address complex and evolving business challenges.
1.2 Leverage digital technologies, data-driven tools, technical and research skills to organise and interpret discipline and professional practice knowledge to investigate digitally enhanced business environments.
Higher Order Thinking Skills (HO)
2.1 Critically investigate complex, real-world business problems by analysing, evaluating, and synthesising discipline and professional practice knowledge.
2.2 Exercise creativity and intellectual independence and make evidence-based decisions and judgements in planning, designing, and executing strategic responses to address real-world business challenges.
Professional Communication (PC)
3.1 Use information and digital literacy skills to communicate effectively and professionally in written forms, using appropriate technologies and media for diverse purposes, audiences, and business contexts.
3.2 Use information and digital literacy skills to communicate effectively and professionally in oral forms, using appropriate technologies and media for diverse purposes, audiences, and business contexts.
Teamwork & Self (TS)
4.1 Exercise self-reflection and accountability in applying knowledge and skills to support continuous learning, adaptability and effective professional growth.
4.2 Apply collaborative capabilities to work effectively in diverse teams and across complex, interdisciplinary business environments.
Social, Ethical & Global Understanding (SE)
5.1 Demonstrate ethical reasoning and apply legal and governance principles to critically evaluate and respond to complex business decisions and practices.
5.2 Apply socially responsible and sustainability-focused thinking to analyse business issues and reflect on the broader impact of organisations in national and global contexts.
Learning Approaches
This unit will be interactive and applied, using real-world examples and hands-on activities to bring business information and research methods to life. Weekly classes will facilitate instruction alongside discussions, practical exercises and opportunities to reflect on how data informs strategy and decision-making across business disciplines. This approach will support the development of your graduate attributes, including critical thinking, evidence-based decision-making, and effective communication in diverse business contexts.
To enrich your learning experience, you will engage with guest contributors from diverse business fields. These experts will share how data is used in their professions to support decision-making, strategy, and communication.
As part of the unit’s digital strategy, you will be introduced to data analysis tools commonly used in business practice. These technologies will support your ability to interpret and communicate insights effectively, preparing you to work confidently in digitally enabled environments.
To ground your experience in authentic, professional contexts, you will also examine sustainability issues and explore diverse cultural perspectives in business research and decision-making. These themes are embedded throughout the unit to help you develop ethically responsible approaches to business research practice.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester, which may include:
- Informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback in class, personal consultation
- Formal: in writing, such as checklists (e.g. criteria sheets), written commentary
- Direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation
- Indirect: to the whole class
Assessment
Overview
The assessment aims to support your achievement of the learning outcomes for this unit. It has been designed to allow you to both:
- receive feedback on your learning as you progress toward the development of knowledge, understanding, skills, and attitudes (formative assessment); and
- demonstrate your learning in order to achieve a final grade (summative assessment).
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Business Snapshot
In your role as a junior data analyst, you have been asked to prepare a business snapshot of an ASX200-listed company. This snapshot will be informed by a series of in-class activities that will explore your selected company’s structure, key stakeholders, and current financial position and performance. You will also engage with and reflect on the responsible and ethical use of Generative AI tools to complete this task.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.
This assessment item recommends your attendance at your scheduled tutorial/session.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Formative and Summative: Formative and Summative
Business Capabilities (AoL goals): KS (1.1), HO (2.1), SE (5.1)
Assessment: Company Performance Report
Building on your business snapshot, your next task is to comprehensively evaluate the social, environmental, and financial performance of your ASX200-listed company. To do this you will use Morningstar DatAnalysis Premium to obtain quantitative and qualitative data. You will then analyse this data using the techniques you have learned in this unit.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Formative and Summative: Formative and Summative
Business Capabilities (AoL goals): KS (1.2), HO (2.2), PC (3.1), SE (5.1)
Assessment: Final exam
This examination will assess your understanding of the topics covered throughout semester, including your ability to apply this understanding across financial, social, and environmental contexts.
The use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is prohibited during this assessment.
This invigilated examination requires attendance on campus or at an assessment centre, regardless of your attendance mode for the unit.
This assessment item is a Verified Identity Assessment. Requirements are provided on the Unit Canvas site.
The late submission period does not apply, and no assignment extensions are available.
Formative and Summative: Summative
Business Capabilities (AoL goals): KS (1.1), HO (2.1), SE (5.1, 5.2)
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
Information about the resources will be provided on the unit Canvas site.
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no out-of-the ordinary risks associated with learning and teaching activities in this unit.
Standards/Competencies
This unit is designed to support your development of the following standards\competencies.
QUT Business Capabilities (Postgraduate) 2027
HO (2.1): Critical Analysis
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam
HO (2.2): Independent Judgement and Decision-Making
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report
KS (1.1): Discipline Knowledge
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam
KS (1.2): Technical and Technological Skills
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report
PC (3.1): Professional Communication (Written)
Relates to: ULO4, Company Performance Report
SE (5.1): Ethical and Legal Understanding
Relates to: ULO2, Business Snapshot, Company Performance Report, Final exam
SE (5.2): Global Social Responsibility
Relates to: ULO2, Final exam
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.BS12 Master of Business
- Demonstrate and apply advanced, integrated discipline and professional practice knowledge, including relevant research principles and methods, to address complex and evolving business challenges.
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam - Leverage digital technologies, data-driven tools, technical and research skills to organise, interpret and extend discipline and professional practice knowledge in digitally enhanced business environments.
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report - Critically investigate complex, real-world business problems by analysing, evaluating, and synthesising discipline and professional practice knowledge.
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam - Exercise creativity and intellectual independence and make evidence-based decisions and judgements in planning, designing, and executing strategic responses to address real world business challenges.
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report - Use information and digital literacy skills to communicate effectively and professionally in written forms, using appropriate technologies and media for diverse purposes, audiences, and business contexts
Relates to: ULO4, Company Performance Report - Demonstrate ethical reasoning and apply legal and governance principles to critically evaluate and respond to complex business decisions and practices.
Relates to: ULO2, Business Snapshot, Company Performance Report, Final exam - Apply socially responsible and sustainability-focused thinking to analyse business issues and reflect on the broader impact of organisations in national and global contexts.
Relates to: ULO2, Final exam
BS13 Master of Professional Accounting
- Demonstrate and apply advanced, integrated discipline and professional practice knowledge, including relevant research principles and methods, to address complex and evolving accounting challenges.
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam - Leverage digital technologies, data-driven tools, technical and research skills to organise and interpret discipline and professional practice knowledge to investigate digitally enhanced accounting environments.
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report - Critically investigate complex, real-world accounting problems by analysing, evaluating, and synthesising discipline and professional practice knowledge.
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam - Exercise creativity and intellectual independence and make evidence-based decisions and judgements in planning, designing, and executing strategic responses to address real world accounting challenges.
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report - Use information and digital literacy skills to communicate effectively and professionally in written forms, using appropriate technologies and media for diverse purposes, audiences, and accounting contexts.
Relates to: ULO4, Company Performance Report - Demonstrate ethical reasoning and apply legal and governance principles to critically evaluate and respond to complex accounting decisions and practices.
Relates to: ULO2, Business Snapshot, Company Performance Report, Final exam - Apply socially responsible and sustainability-focused thinking to analyse accounting issues and reflect on the broader impact of organisations in national and global contexts.
Relates to: ULO2, Final exam
BS36 Graduate Certificate in Digital Business and Innovation
- Apply advanced interdisciplinary knowledge, including relevant research principles and methods to understand and respond to professional challenges.
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam - Apply technical, digital, and research skills to organise, interpret, and evaluate discipline knowledge and practice to investigate business issues in digitally enhanced environments.
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report - Critically investigate real-world business issues and challenges using analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of interdisciplinary knowledge, including theory and practice.
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam - Exercise innovative thinking and intellectual independence to make informed decisions and judgements in planning evidence-based responses to complex and evolving business contexts.
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report - Use information literacy skills to communicate effectively in written forms and through appropriate digital media, tailored to diverse professional and organisational audiences.
Relates to: ULO4, Company Performance Report - Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices of business in responding to complex business issues.
Relates to: ULO2, Business Snapshot, Company Performance Report, Final exam
BS67 Graduate Diploma in Business (Accounting)
- Apply advanced interdisciplinary knowledge, including relevant research principles and methods to understand and respond to accounting.
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam - Apply technical, digital, and research skills to organise, interpret, and evaluate accountingknowledge and practice to investigate business issues in digitally enhanced environments.
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report - Critically investigate real-world accounting issues and challenges using analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of interdisciplinary knowledge, including theory and practice.
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam - Exercise innovative thinking and intellectual independence to make informed decisions and judgements in planning evidence-based responses to complex and evolving accounting contexts.
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report - Use information literacy skills to communicate effectively in written forms and through appropriate digital media, tailored to diverse professional and organisational audiences.
Relates to: ULO4, Company Performance Report - Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices of business in responding to complex accounting issues.
Relates to: ULO2, Business Snapshot, Company Performance Report, Final exam - Apply socially responsible and sustainability-focused thinking to analyse accounting issues and reflect on the broader impact of organisations in national and global contexts.
Relates to: ULO2, Final exam
BS68 Graduate Diploma in Business
- Apply advanced interdisciplinary knowledge, including relevant research principles and methods to understand and respond to professional challenges.
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam - Apply technical, digital, and research skills to organise, interpret, and evaluate discipline knowledge and practice to investigate business issues in digitally enhanced environments.
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report - Critically investigate real-world business issues and challenges using analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of interdisciplinary knowledge, including theory and practice.
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam - Exercise innovative thinking and intellectual independence to make informed decisions and judgements in planning evidence-based responses to complex and evolving business contexts.
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report - Use information literacy skills to communicate effectively in written forms and through appropriate digital media, tailored to diverse professional and organisational audiences.
Relates to: ULO4, Company Performance Report - Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices of business in responding to complex business issues.
Relates to: ULO2, Business Snapshot, Company Performance Report, Final exam - Apply socially responsible and sustainability-focused thinking to analyse business issues and reflect on the broader impact of organisations in national and global contexts.
Relates to: ULO2, Final exam
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2027, Online
| Unit code: | BSN451 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Anti-requisite: | AYN443 or AYN416 or EFN420 or EFN422 |
Overview
This multidisciplinary core unit will prepare you for today’s digital economy, where data is the new currency. Data can be collected, exchanged, used to create value, and drive economic activity. As such, the ability to collect, clean, analyse, interpret and report financial and non-financial data using digital tools and GenAI has fast become an essential skill of the modern business professional. Organisations across all sectors are actively seeking graduates with the ability to identify business opportunities and risks through both numerical and narrative analysis. These skills are increasingly relied upon to inform better decision making, drive business strategy, identify market trends, decipher consumer behaviour, optimise operations, and ultimately improve the social, environmental, and financial performance of businesses.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Analyse the role of accurate and reliable data in effective business decision-making across different organisational structures and stakeholder contexts. [KS 1.1, HO 2.1]
- Apply ethical and responsible judgement in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of quantitative and qualitative data across financial, social, and environmental contexts. [SE 5.1, 5.2]
- Leverage digital and analytical tools to collect, record, analyse and critically evaluate quantitative and qualitative data to generate evidence-based business insights. [KS 1.2, HO 2.2]
- Generate and professionally communicate defensible, evidence-based strategies, decisions, and solutions that address complex business challenges for diverse audiences. [PC 3.1]Relates to: PG Business Capabilities 2027: PC (3.1)
Content
This unit will introduce you to the fundamental principles and techniques used to create, analyse, evaluate, and communicate business information in the real world. You will explore core business concepts, including business structures, the form and flow of transactions, how organisations record and report their performance, and how to interpret this financial and nonfinancial information to aid stakeholder decision-making and improve business outcomes. You will develop the digital skills necessary to assess and ensure data quality, design statistical processes (estimation and hypothesis testing) and apply research methodologies (quantitative and qualitative) to analyse data across the core disciplines in business: Management, HR, Marketing, Global Business, Finance and Accounting. You will learn quantitative methods such as probability distributions, measures of central tendency, financial statement and correlation analysis, and linear regression, alongside qualitative approaches including content, thematic, narrative, grounded theory and discourse analysis in business reports.
By engaging with both numerical and narrative business information, you will develop a well-rounded perspective on how financial and non-financial data informs business decisions, supports accountability, and reflects broader social and environmental concerns. It will prepare you to not only collect, record and interpret data but also to apply a critical lens for evaluating how that data is communicated and understood in business contexts, including the ethical use of GenAI.
QUT Business Capabilities (Postgraduate)
The content and assessment in this unit are aligned to a selection of the following set of QUT Business Capabilities, also known as Assurance of Learning Goals (AoLs). Developing these capabilities will assist you in meeting the desired graduate outcomes set at QUT and equip you with the knowledge and skills to succeed in your chosen career.
Knowledge & Technical Skills (KS)
1.1 Demonstrate and apply advanced, integrated discipline and professional practice knowledge, including relevant research principles and methods, to address complex and evolving business challenges.
1.2 Leverage digital technologies, data-driven tools, technical and research skills to organise and interpret discipline and professional practice knowledge to investigate digitally enhanced business environments.
Higher Order Thinking Skills (HO)
2.1 Critically investigate complex, real-world business problems by analysing, evaluating, and synthesising discipline and professional practice knowledge.
2.2 Exercise creativity and intellectual independence and make evidence-based decisions and judgements in planning, designing, and executing strategic responses to address real-world business challenges.
Professional Communication (PC)
3.1 Use information and digital literacy skills to communicate effectively and professionally in written forms, using appropriate technologies and media for diverse purposes, audiences, and business contexts.
3.2 Use information and digital literacy skills to communicate effectively and professionally in oral forms, using appropriate technologies and media for diverse purposes, audiences, and business contexts.
Teamwork & Self (TS)
4.1 Exercise self-reflection and accountability in applying knowledge and skills to support continuous learning, adaptability and effective professional growth.
4.2 Apply collaborative capabilities to work effectively in diverse teams and across complex, interdisciplinary business environments.
Social, Ethical & Global Understanding (SE)
5.1 Demonstrate ethical reasoning and apply legal and governance principles to critically evaluate and respond to complex business decisions and practices.
5.2 Apply socially responsible and sustainability-focused thinking to analyse business issues and reflect on the broader impact of organisations in national and global contexts.
Learning Approaches
This unit will be interactive and applied, using real-world examples and hands-on activities to bring business information and research methods to life. Weekly classes will facilitate instruction alongside discussions, practical exercises and opportunities to reflect on how data informs strategy and decision-making across business disciplines. This approach will support the development of your graduate attributes, including critical thinking, evidence-based decision-making, and effective communication in diverse business contexts.
To enrich your learning experience, you will engage with guest contributors from diverse business fields. These experts will share how data is used in their professions to support decision-making, strategy, and communication.
As part of the unit’s digital strategy, you will be introduced to data analysis tools commonly used in business practice. These technologies will support your ability to interpret and communicate insights effectively, preparing you to work confidently in digitally enabled environments.
To ground your experience in authentic, professional contexts, you will also examine sustainability issues and explore diverse cultural perspectives in business research and decision-making. These themes are embedded throughout the unit to help you develop ethically responsible approaches to business research practice.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester, which may include:
- Informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback in class, personal consultation
- Formal: in writing, such as checklists (e.g. criteria sheets), written commentary
- Direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation
- Indirect: to the whole class
Assessment
Overview
The assessment aims to support your achievement of the learning outcomes for this unit. It has been designed to allow you to both:
- receive feedback on your learning as you progress toward the development of knowledge, understanding, skills, and attitudes (formative assessment); and
- demonstrate your learning in order to achieve a final grade (summative assessment).
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Business Snapshot
In your role as a junior data analyst, you have been asked to prepare a business snapshot of an ASX200-listed company. This snapshot will be informed by a series of in-class activities that will explore your selected company’s structure, key stakeholders, and current financial position and performance. You will also engage with and reflect on the responsible and ethical use of Generative AI tools to complete this task.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.
This assessment item recommends your attendance at your scheduled tutorial/session.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Formative and Summative: Formative and Summative
Business Capabilities (AoL goals): KS (1.1), HO (2.1), SE (5.1)
Assessment: Company Performance Report
Building on your business snapshot, your next task is to comprehensively evaluate the social, environmental, and financial performance of your ASX200-listed company. To do this you will use Morningstar DatAnalysis Premium to obtain quantitative and qualitative data. You will then analyse this data using the techniques you have learned in this unit.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Formative and Summative: Formative and Summative
Business Capabilities (AoL goals): KS (1.2), HO (2.2), PC (3.1), SE (5.1)
Assessment: Final exam
This examination will assess your understanding of the topics covered throughout semester, including your ability to apply this understanding across financial, social, and environmental contexts.
The use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is prohibited during this assessment.
This invigilated examination requires attendance on campus or at an assessment centre, regardless of your attendance mode for the unit.
This assessment item is a Verified Identity Assessment. Requirements are provided on the Unit Canvas site.
The late submission period does not apply, and no assignment extensions are available.
Formative and Summative: Summative
Business Capabilities (AoL goals): KS (1.1), HO (2.1), SE (5.1, 5.2)
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
Information about the resources will be provided on the unit Canvas site.
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no out-of-the ordinary risks associated with learning and teaching activities in this unit.
Standards/Competencies
This unit is designed to support your development of the following standards\competencies.
QUT Business Capabilities (Postgraduate) 2027
HO (2.1): Critical Analysis
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam
HO (2.2): Independent Judgement and Decision-Making
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report
KS (1.1): Discipline Knowledge
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam
KS (1.2): Technical and Technological Skills
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report
PC (3.1): Professional Communication (Written)
Relates to: ULO4, Company Performance Report
SE (5.1): Ethical and Legal Understanding
Relates to: ULO2, Business Snapshot, Company Performance Report, Final exam
SE (5.2): Global Social Responsibility
Relates to: ULO2, Final exam
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.BS12 Master of Business
- Demonstrate and apply advanced, integrated discipline and professional practice knowledge, including relevant research principles and methods, to address complex and evolving business challenges.
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam - Leverage digital technologies, data-driven tools, technical and research skills to organise, interpret and extend discipline and professional practice knowledge in digitally enhanced business environments.
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report - Critically investigate complex, real-world business problems by analysing, evaluating, and synthesising discipline and professional practice knowledge.
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam - Exercise creativity and intellectual independence and make evidence-based decisions and judgements in planning, designing, and executing strategic responses to address real world business challenges.
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report - Use information and digital literacy skills to communicate effectively and professionally in written forms, using appropriate technologies and media for diverse purposes, audiences, and business contexts
Relates to: ULO4, Company Performance Report - Demonstrate ethical reasoning and apply legal and governance principles to critically evaluate and respond to complex business decisions and practices.
Relates to: ULO2, Business Snapshot, Company Performance Report, Final exam - Apply socially responsible and sustainability-focused thinking to analyse business issues and reflect on the broader impact of organisations in national and global contexts.
Relates to: ULO2, Final exam
BS13 Master of Professional Accounting
- Demonstrate and apply advanced, integrated discipline and professional practice knowledge, including relevant research principles and methods, to address complex and evolving accounting challenges.
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam - Leverage digital technologies, data-driven tools, technical and research skills to organise and interpret discipline and professional practice knowledge to investigate digitally enhanced accounting environments.
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report - Critically investigate complex, real-world accounting problems by analysing, evaluating, and synthesising discipline and professional practice knowledge.
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam - Exercise creativity and intellectual independence and make evidence-based decisions and judgements in planning, designing, and executing strategic responses to address real world accounting challenges.
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report - Use information and digital literacy skills to communicate effectively and professionally in written forms, using appropriate technologies and media for diverse purposes, audiences, and accounting contexts.
Relates to: ULO4, Company Performance Report - Demonstrate ethical reasoning and apply legal and governance principles to critically evaluate and respond to complex accounting decisions and practices.
Relates to: ULO2, Business Snapshot, Company Performance Report, Final exam - Apply socially responsible and sustainability-focused thinking to analyse accounting issues and reflect on the broader impact of organisations in national and global contexts.
Relates to: ULO2, Final exam
BS36 Graduate Certificate in Digital Business and Innovation
- Apply advanced interdisciplinary knowledge, including relevant research principles and methods to understand and respond to professional challenges.
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam - Apply technical, digital, and research skills to organise, interpret, and evaluate discipline knowledge and practice to investigate business issues in digitally enhanced environments.
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report - Critically investigate real-world business issues and challenges using analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of interdisciplinary knowledge, including theory and practice.
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam - Exercise innovative thinking and intellectual independence to make informed decisions and judgements in planning evidence-based responses to complex and evolving business contexts.
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report - Use information literacy skills to communicate effectively in written forms and through appropriate digital media, tailored to diverse professional and organisational audiences.
Relates to: ULO4, Company Performance Report - Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices of business in responding to complex business issues.
Relates to: ULO2, Business Snapshot, Company Performance Report, Final exam
BS67 Graduate Diploma in Business (Accounting)
- Apply advanced interdisciplinary knowledge, including relevant research principles and methods to understand and respond to accounting.
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam - Apply technical, digital, and research skills to organise, interpret, and evaluate accountingknowledge and practice to investigate business issues in digitally enhanced environments.
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report - Critically investigate real-world accounting issues and challenges using analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of interdisciplinary knowledge, including theory and practice.
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam - Exercise innovative thinking and intellectual independence to make informed decisions and judgements in planning evidence-based responses to complex and evolving accounting contexts.
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report - Use information literacy skills to communicate effectively in written forms and through appropriate digital media, tailored to diverse professional and organisational audiences.
Relates to: ULO4, Company Performance Report - Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices of business in responding to complex accounting issues.
Relates to: ULO2, Business Snapshot, Company Performance Report, Final exam - Apply socially responsible and sustainability-focused thinking to analyse accounting issues and reflect on the broader impact of organisations in national and global contexts.
Relates to: ULO2, Final exam
BS68 Graduate Diploma in Business
- Apply advanced interdisciplinary knowledge, including relevant research principles and methods to understand and respond to professional challenges.
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam - Apply technical, digital, and research skills to organise, interpret, and evaluate discipline knowledge and practice to investigate business issues in digitally enhanced environments.
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report - Critically investigate real-world business issues and challenges using analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of interdisciplinary knowledge, including theory and practice.
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam - Exercise innovative thinking and intellectual independence to make informed decisions and judgements in planning evidence-based responses to complex and evolving business contexts.
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report - Use information literacy skills to communicate effectively in written forms and through appropriate digital media, tailored to diverse professional and organisational audiences.
Relates to: ULO4, Company Performance Report - Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices of business in responding to complex business issues.
Relates to: ULO2, Business Snapshot, Company Performance Report, Final exam - Apply socially responsible and sustainability-focused thinking to analyse business issues and reflect on the broader impact of organisations in national and global contexts.
Relates to: ULO2, Final exam
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2027, Gardens Point, Internal
| Unit code: | BSN451 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Anti-requisite: | AYN443 or AYN416 or EFN420 or EFN422 |
Overview
This multidisciplinary core unit will prepare you for today’s digital economy, where data is the new currency. Data can be collected, exchanged, used to create value, and drive economic activity. As such, the ability to collect, clean, analyse, interpret and report financial and non-financial data using digital tools and GenAI has fast become an essential skill of the modern business professional. Organisations across all sectors are actively seeking graduates with the ability to identify business opportunities and risks through both numerical and narrative analysis. These skills are increasingly relied upon to inform better decision making, drive business strategy, identify market trends, decipher consumer behaviour, optimise operations, and ultimately improve the social, environmental, and financial performance of businesses.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Analyse the role of accurate and reliable data in effective business decision-making across different organisational structures and stakeholder contexts. [KS 1.1, HO 2.1]
- Apply ethical and responsible judgement in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of quantitative and qualitative data across financial, social, and environmental contexts. [SE 5.1, 5.2]
- Leverage digital and analytical tools to collect, record, analyse and critically evaluate quantitative and qualitative data to generate evidence-based business insights. [KS 1.2, HO 2.2]
- Generate and professionally communicate defensible, evidence-based strategies, decisions, and solutions that address complex business challenges for diverse audiences. [PC 3.1]Relates to: PG Business Capabilities 2027: PC (3.1)
Content
This unit will introduce you to the fundamental principles and techniques used to create, analyse, evaluate, and communicate business information in the real world. You will explore core business concepts, including business structures, the form and flow of transactions, how organisations record and report their performance, and how to interpret this financial and nonfinancial information to aid stakeholder decision-making and improve business outcomes. You will develop the digital skills necessary to assess and ensure data quality, design statistical processes (estimation and hypothesis testing) and apply research methodologies (quantitative and qualitative) to analyse data across the core disciplines in business: Management, HR, Marketing, Global Business, Finance and Accounting. You will learn quantitative methods such as probability distributions, measures of central tendency, financial statement and correlation analysis, and linear regression, alongside qualitative approaches including content, thematic, narrative, grounded theory and discourse analysis in business reports.
By engaging with both numerical and narrative business information, you will develop a well-rounded perspective on how financial and non-financial data informs business decisions, supports accountability, and reflects broader social and environmental concerns. It will prepare you to not only collect, record and interpret data but also to apply a critical lens for evaluating how that data is communicated and understood in business contexts, including the ethical use of GenAI.
QUT Business Capabilities (Postgraduate)
The content and assessment in this unit are aligned to a selection of the following set of QUT Business Capabilities, also known as Assurance of Learning Goals (AoLs). Developing these capabilities will assist you in meeting the desired graduate outcomes set at QUT and equip you with the knowledge and skills to succeed in your chosen career.
Knowledge & Technical Skills (KS)
1.1 Demonstrate and apply advanced, integrated discipline and professional practice knowledge, including relevant research principles and methods, to address complex and evolving business challenges.
1.2 Leverage digital technologies, data-driven tools, technical and research skills to organise and interpret discipline and professional practice knowledge to investigate digitally enhanced business environments.
Higher Order Thinking Skills (HO)
2.1 Critically investigate complex, real-world business problems by analysing, evaluating, and synthesising discipline and professional practice knowledge.
2.2 Exercise creativity and intellectual independence and make evidence-based decisions and judgements in planning, designing, and executing strategic responses to address real-world business challenges.
Professional Communication (PC)
3.1 Use information and digital literacy skills to communicate effectively and professionally in written forms, using appropriate technologies and media for diverse purposes, audiences, and business contexts.
3.2 Use information and digital literacy skills to communicate effectively and professionally in oral forms, using appropriate technologies and media for diverse purposes, audiences, and business contexts.
Teamwork & Self (TS)
4.1 Exercise self-reflection and accountability in applying knowledge and skills to support continuous learning, adaptability and effective professional growth.
4.2 Apply collaborative capabilities to work effectively in diverse teams and across complex, interdisciplinary business environments.
Social, Ethical & Global Understanding (SE)
5.1 Demonstrate ethical reasoning and apply legal and governance principles to critically evaluate and respond to complex business decisions and practices.
5.2 Apply socially responsible and sustainability-focused thinking to analyse business issues and reflect on the broader impact of organisations in national and global contexts.
Learning Approaches
This unit will be interactive and applied, using real-world examples and hands-on activities to bring business information and research methods to life. Weekly classes will facilitate instruction alongside discussions, practical exercises and opportunities to reflect on how data informs strategy and decision-making across business disciplines. This approach will support the development of your graduate attributes, including critical thinking, evidence-based decision-making, and effective communication in diverse business contexts.
To enrich your learning experience, you will engage with guest contributors from diverse business fields. These experts will share how data is used in their professions to support decision-making, strategy, and communication.
As part of the unit’s digital strategy, you will be introduced to data analysis tools commonly used in business practice. These technologies will support your ability to interpret and communicate insights effectively, preparing you to work confidently in digitally enabled environments.
To ground your experience in authentic, professional contexts, you will also examine sustainability issues and explore diverse cultural perspectives in business research and decision-making. These themes are embedded throughout the unit to help you develop ethically responsible approaches to business research practice.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester, which may include:
- Informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback in class, personal consultation
- Formal: in writing, such as checklists (e.g. criteria sheets), written commentary
- Direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation
- Indirect: to the whole class
Assessment
Overview
The assessment aims to support your achievement of the learning outcomes for this unit. It has been designed to allow you to both:
- receive feedback on your learning as you progress toward the development of knowledge, understanding, skills, and attitudes (formative assessment); and
- demonstrate your learning in order to achieve a final grade (summative assessment).
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Business Snapshot
In your role as a junior data analyst, you have been asked to prepare a business snapshot of an ASX200-listed company. This snapshot will be informed by a series of in-class activities that will explore your selected company’s structure, key stakeholders, and current financial position and performance. You will also engage with and reflect on the responsible and ethical use of Generative AI tools to complete this task.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.
This assessment item recommends your attendance at your scheduled tutorial/session.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Formative and Summative: Formative and Summative
Business Capabilities (AoL goals): KS (1.1), HO (2.1), SE (5.1)
Assessment: Company Performance Report
Building on your business snapshot, your next task is to comprehensively evaluate the social, environmental, and financial performance of your ASX200-listed company. To do this you will use Morningstar DatAnalysis Premium to obtain quantitative and qualitative data. You will then analyse this data using the techniques you have learned in this unit.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Formative and Summative: Formative and Summative
Business Capabilities (AoL goals): KS (1.2), HO (2.2), PC (3.1), SE (5.1)
Assessment: Final exam
This examination will assess your understanding of the topics covered throughout semester, including your ability to apply this understanding across financial, social, and environmental contexts.
The use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is prohibited during this assessment.
This invigilated examination requires attendance on campus or at an assessment centre, regardless of your attendance mode for the unit.
This assessment item is a Verified Identity Assessment. Requirements are provided on the Unit Canvas site.
The late submission period does not apply, and no assignment extensions are available.
Formative and Summative: Summative
Business Capabilities (AoL goals): KS (1.1), HO (2.1), SE (5.1, 5.2)
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
Information about the resources will be provided on the unit Canvas site.
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no out-of-the ordinary risks associated with learning and teaching activities in this unit.
Standards/Competencies
This unit is designed to support your development of the following standards\competencies.
QUT Business Capabilities (Postgraduate) 2027
HO (2.1): Critical Analysis
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam
HO (2.2): Independent Judgement and Decision-Making
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report
KS (1.1): Discipline Knowledge
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam
KS (1.2): Technical and Technological Skills
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report
PC (3.1): Professional Communication (Written)
Relates to: ULO4, Company Performance Report
SE (5.1): Ethical and Legal Understanding
Relates to: ULO2, Business Snapshot, Company Performance Report, Final exam
SE (5.2): Global Social Responsibility
Relates to: ULO2, Final exam
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.BS12 Master of Business
- Demonstrate and apply advanced, integrated discipline and professional practice knowledge, including relevant research principles and methods, to address complex and evolving business challenges.
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam - Leverage digital technologies, data-driven tools, technical and research skills to organise, interpret and extend discipline and professional practice knowledge in digitally enhanced business environments.
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report - Critically investigate complex, real-world business problems by analysing, evaluating, and synthesising discipline and professional practice knowledge.
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam - Exercise creativity and intellectual independence and make evidence-based decisions and judgements in planning, designing, and executing strategic responses to address real world business challenges.
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report - Use information and digital literacy skills to communicate effectively and professionally in written forms, using appropriate technologies and media for diverse purposes, audiences, and business contexts
Relates to: ULO4, Company Performance Report - Demonstrate ethical reasoning and apply legal and governance principles to critically evaluate and respond to complex business decisions and practices.
Relates to: ULO2, Business Snapshot, Company Performance Report, Final exam - Apply socially responsible and sustainability-focused thinking to analyse business issues and reflect on the broader impact of organisations in national and global contexts.
Relates to: ULO2, Final exam
BS13 Master of Professional Accounting
- Demonstrate and apply advanced, integrated discipline and professional practice knowledge, including relevant research principles and methods, to address complex and evolving accounting challenges.
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam - Leverage digital technologies, data-driven tools, technical and research skills to organise and interpret discipline and professional practice knowledge to investigate digitally enhanced accounting environments.
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report - Critically investigate complex, real-world accounting problems by analysing, evaluating, and synthesising discipline and professional practice knowledge.
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam - Exercise creativity and intellectual independence and make evidence-based decisions and judgements in planning, designing, and executing strategic responses to address real world accounting challenges.
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report - Use information and digital literacy skills to communicate effectively and professionally in written forms, using appropriate technologies and media for diverse purposes, audiences, and accounting contexts.
Relates to: ULO4, Company Performance Report - Demonstrate ethical reasoning and apply legal and governance principles to critically evaluate and respond to complex accounting decisions and practices.
Relates to: ULO2, Business Snapshot, Company Performance Report, Final exam - Apply socially responsible and sustainability-focused thinking to analyse accounting issues and reflect on the broader impact of organisations in national and global contexts.
Relates to: ULO2, Final exam
BS36 Graduate Certificate in Digital Business and Innovation
- Apply advanced interdisciplinary knowledge, including relevant research principles and methods to understand and respond to professional challenges.
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam - Apply technical, digital, and research skills to organise, interpret, and evaluate discipline knowledge and practice to investigate business issues in digitally enhanced environments.
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report - Critically investigate real-world business issues and challenges using analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of interdisciplinary knowledge, including theory and practice.
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam - Exercise innovative thinking and intellectual independence to make informed decisions and judgements in planning evidence-based responses to complex and evolving business contexts.
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report - Use information literacy skills to communicate effectively in written forms and through appropriate digital media, tailored to diverse professional and organisational audiences.
Relates to: ULO4, Company Performance Report - Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices of business in responding to complex business issues.
Relates to: ULO2, Business Snapshot, Company Performance Report, Final exam
BS67 Graduate Diploma in Business (Accounting)
- Apply advanced interdisciplinary knowledge, including relevant research principles and methods to understand and respond to accounting.
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam - Apply technical, digital, and research skills to organise, interpret, and evaluate accountingknowledge and practice to investigate business issues in digitally enhanced environments.
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report - Critically investigate real-world accounting issues and challenges using analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of interdisciplinary knowledge, including theory and practice.
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam - Exercise innovative thinking and intellectual independence to make informed decisions and judgements in planning evidence-based responses to complex and evolving accounting contexts.
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report - Use information literacy skills to communicate effectively in written forms and through appropriate digital media, tailored to diverse professional and organisational audiences.
Relates to: ULO4, Company Performance Report - Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices of business in responding to complex accounting issues.
Relates to: ULO2, Business Snapshot, Company Performance Report, Final exam - Apply socially responsible and sustainability-focused thinking to analyse accounting issues and reflect on the broader impact of organisations in national and global contexts.
Relates to: ULO2, Final exam
BS68 Graduate Diploma in Business
- Apply advanced interdisciplinary knowledge, including relevant research principles and methods to understand and respond to professional challenges.
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam - Apply technical, digital, and research skills to organise, interpret, and evaluate discipline knowledge and practice to investigate business issues in digitally enhanced environments.
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report - Critically investigate real-world business issues and challenges using analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of interdisciplinary knowledge, including theory and practice.
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam - Exercise innovative thinking and intellectual independence to make informed decisions and judgements in planning evidence-based responses to complex and evolving business contexts.
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report - Use information literacy skills to communicate effectively in written forms and through appropriate digital media, tailored to diverse professional and organisational audiences.
Relates to: ULO4, Company Performance Report - Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices of business in responding to complex business issues.
Relates to: ULO2, Business Snapshot, Company Performance Report, Final exam - Apply socially responsible and sustainability-focused thinking to analyse business issues and reflect on the broader impact of organisations in national and global contexts.
Relates to: ULO2, Final exam
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2027, Online
| Unit code: | BSN451 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Anti-requisite: | AYN443 or AYN416 or EFN420 or EFN422 |
Overview
This multidisciplinary core unit will prepare you for today’s digital economy, where data is the new currency. Data can be collected, exchanged, used to create value, and drive economic activity. As such, the ability to collect, clean, analyse, interpret and report financial and non-financial data using digital tools and GenAI has fast become an essential skill of the modern business professional. Organisations across all sectors are actively seeking graduates with the ability to identify business opportunities and risks through both numerical and narrative analysis. These skills are increasingly relied upon to inform better decision making, drive business strategy, identify market trends, decipher consumer behaviour, optimise operations, and ultimately improve the social, environmental, and financial performance of businesses.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Analyse the role of accurate and reliable data in effective business decision-making across different organisational structures and stakeholder contexts. [KS 1.1, HO 2.1]
- Apply ethical and responsible judgement in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of quantitative and qualitative data across financial, social, and environmental contexts. [SE 5.1, 5.2]
- Leverage digital and analytical tools to collect, record, analyse and critically evaluate quantitative and qualitative data to generate evidence-based business insights. [KS 1.2, HO 2.2]
- Generate and professionally communicate defensible, evidence-based strategies, decisions, and solutions that address complex business challenges for diverse audiences. [PC 3.1]Relates to: PG Business Capabilities 2027: PC (3.1)
Content
This unit will introduce you to the fundamental principles and techniques used to create, analyse, evaluate, and communicate business information in the real world. You will explore core business concepts, including business structures, the form and flow of transactions, how organisations record and report their performance, and how to interpret this financial and nonfinancial information to aid stakeholder decision-making and improve business outcomes. You will develop the digital skills necessary to assess and ensure data quality, design statistical processes (estimation and hypothesis testing) and apply research methodologies (quantitative and qualitative) to analyse data across the core disciplines in business: Management, HR, Marketing, Global Business, Finance and Accounting. You will learn quantitative methods such as probability distributions, measures of central tendency, financial statement and correlation analysis, and linear regression, alongside qualitative approaches including content, thematic, narrative, grounded theory and discourse analysis in business reports.
By engaging with both numerical and narrative business information, you will develop a well-rounded perspective on how financial and non-financial data informs business decisions, supports accountability, and reflects broader social and environmental concerns. It will prepare you to not only collect, record and interpret data but also to apply a critical lens for evaluating how that data is communicated and understood in business contexts, including the ethical use of GenAI.
QUT Business Capabilities (Postgraduate)
The content and assessment in this unit are aligned to a selection of the following set of QUT Business Capabilities, also known as Assurance of Learning Goals (AoLs). Developing these capabilities will assist you in meeting the desired graduate outcomes set at QUT and equip you with the knowledge and skills to succeed in your chosen career.
Knowledge & Technical Skills (KS)
1.1 Demonstrate and apply advanced, integrated discipline and professional practice knowledge, including relevant research principles and methods, to address complex and evolving business challenges.
1.2 Leverage digital technologies, data-driven tools, technical and research skills to organise and interpret discipline and professional practice knowledge to investigate digitally enhanced business environments.
Higher Order Thinking Skills (HO)
2.1 Critically investigate complex, real-world business problems by analysing, evaluating, and synthesising discipline and professional practice knowledge.
2.2 Exercise creativity and intellectual independence and make evidence-based decisions and judgements in planning, designing, and executing strategic responses to address real-world business challenges.
Professional Communication (PC)
3.1 Use information and digital literacy skills to communicate effectively and professionally in written forms, using appropriate technologies and media for diverse purposes, audiences, and business contexts.
3.2 Use information and digital literacy skills to communicate effectively and professionally in oral forms, using appropriate technologies and media for diverse purposes, audiences, and business contexts.
Teamwork & Self (TS)
4.1 Exercise self-reflection and accountability in applying knowledge and skills to support continuous learning, adaptability and effective professional growth.
4.2 Apply collaborative capabilities to work effectively in diverse teams and across complex, interdisciplinary business environments.
Social, Ethical & Global Understanding (SE)
5.1 Demonstrate ethical reasoning and apply legal and governance principles to critically evaluate and respond to complex business decisions and practices.
5.2 Apply socially responsible and sustainability-focused thinking to analyse business issues and reflect on the broader impact of organisations in national and global contexts.
Learning Approaches
This unit will be interactive and applied, using real-world examples and hands-on activities to bring business information and research methods to life. Weekly classes will facilitate instruction alongside discussions, practical exercises and opportunities to reflect on how data informs strategy and decision-making across business disciplines. This approach will support the development of your graduate attributes, including critical thinking, evidence-based decision-making, and effective communication in diverse business contexts.
To enrich your learning experience, you will engage with guest contributors from diverse business fields. These experts will share how data is used in their professions to support decision-making, strategy, and communication.
As part of the unit’s digital strategy, you will be introduced to data analysis tools commonly used in business practice. These technologies will support your ability to interpret and communicate insights effectively, preparing you to work confidently in digitally enabled environments.
To ground your experience in authentic, professional contexts, you will also examine sustainability issues and explore diverse cultural perspectives in business research and decision-making. These themes are embedded throughout the unit to help you develop ethically responsible approaches to business research practice.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester, which may include:
- Informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback in class, personal consultation
- Formal: in writing, such as checklists (e.g. criteria sheets), written commentary
- Direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation
- Indirect: to the whole class
Assessment
Overview
The assessment aims to support your achievement of the learning outcomes for this unit. It has been designed to allow you to both:
- receive feedback on your learning as you progress toward the development of knowledge, understanding, skills, and attitudes (formative assessment); and
- demonstrate your learning in order to achieve a final grade (summative assessment).
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Business Snapshot
In your role as a junior data analyst, you have been asked to prepare a business snapshot of an ASX200-listed company. This snapshot will be informed by a series of in-class activities that will explore your selected company’s structure, key stakeholders, and current financial position and performance. You will also engage with and reflect on the responsible and ethical use of Generative AI tools to complete this task.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.
This assessment item recommends your attendance at your scheduled tutorial/session.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Formative and Summative: Formative and Summative
Business Capabilities (AoL goals): KS (1.1), HO (2.1), SE (5.1)
Assessment: Company Performance Report
Building on your business snapshot, your next task is to comprehensively evaluate the social, environmental, and financial performance of your ASX200-listed company. To do this you will use Morningstar DatAnalysis Premium to obtain quantitative and qualitative data. You will then analyse this data using the techniques you have learned in this unit.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Formative and Summative: Formative and Summative
Business Capabilities (AoL goals): KS (1.2), HO (2.2), PC (3.1), SE (5.1)
Assessment: Final exam
This examination will assess your understanding of the topics covered throughout semester, including your ability to apply this understanding across financial, social, and environmental contexts.
The use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is prohibited during this assessment.
This invigilated examination requires attendance on campus or at an assessment centre, regardless of your attendance mode for the unit.
This assessment item is a Verified Identity Assessment. Requirements are provided on the Unit Canvas site.
The late submission period does not apply, and no assignment extensions are available.
Formative and Summative: Summative
Business Capabilities (AoL goals): KS (1.1), HO (2.1), SE (5.1, 5.2)
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
Information about the resources will be provided on the unit Canvas site.
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no out-of-the ordinary risks associated with learning and teaching activities in this unit.
Standards/Competencies
This unit is designed to support your development of the following standards\competencies.
QUT Business Capabilities (Postgraduate) 2027
HO (2.1): Critical Analysis
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam
HO (2.2): Independent Judgement and Decision-Making
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report
KS (1.1): Discipline Knowledge
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam
KS (1.2): Technical and Technological Skills
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report
PC (3.1): Professional Communication (Written)
Relates to: ULO4, Company Performance Report
SE (5.1): Ethical and Legal Understanding
Relates to: ULO2, Business Snapshot, Company Performance Report, Final exam
SE (5.2): Global Social Responsibility
Relates to: ULO2, Final exam
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.BS12 Master of Business
- Demonstrate and apply advanced, integrated discipline and professional practice knowledge, including relevant research principles and methods, to address complex and evolving business challenges.
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam - Leverage digital technologies, data-driven tools, technical and research skills to organise, interpret and extend discipline and professional practice knowledge in digitally enhanced business environments.
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report - Critically investigate complex, real-world business problems by analysing, evaluating, and synthesising discipline and professional practice knowledge.
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam - Exercise creativity and intellectual independence and make evidence-based decisions and judgements in planning, designing, and executing strategic responses to address real world business challenges.
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report - Use information and digital literacy skills to communicate effectively and professionally in written forms, using appropriate technologies and media for diverse purposes, audiences, and business contexts
Relates to: ULO4, Company Performance Report - Demonstrate ethical reasoning and apply legal and governance principles to critically evaluate and respond to complex business decisions and practices.
Relates to: ULO2, Business Snapshot, Company Performance Report, Final exam - Apply socially responsible and sustainability-focused thinking to analyse business issues and reflect on the broader impact of organisations in national and global contexts.
Relates to: ULO2, Final exam
BS13 Master of Professional Accounting
- Demonstrate and apply advanced, integrated discipline and professional practice knowledge, including relevant research principles and methods, to address complex and evolving accounting challenges.
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam - Leverage digital technologies, data-driven tools, technical and research skills to organise and interpret discipline and professional practice knowledge to investigate digitally enhanced accounting environments.
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report - Critically investigate complex, real-world accounting problems by analysing, evaluating, and synthesising discipline and professional practice knowledge.
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam - Exercise creativity and intellectual independence and make evidence-based decisions and judgements in planning, designing, and executing strategic responses to address real world accounting challenges.
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report - Use information and digital literacy skills to communicate effectively and professionally in written forms, using appropriate technologies and media for diverse purposes, audiences, and accounting contexts.
Relates to: ULO4, Company Performance Report - Demonstrate ethical reasoning and apply legal and governance principles to critically evaluate and respond to complex accounting decisions and practices.
Relates to: ULO2, Business Snapshot, Company Performance Report, Final exam - Apply socially responsible and sustainability-focused thinking to analyse accounting issues and reflect on the broader impact of organisations in national and global contexts.
Relates to: ULO2, Final exam
BS36 Graduate Certificate in Digital Business and Innovation
- Apply advanced interdisciplinary knowledge, including relevant research principles and methods to understand and respond to professional challenges.
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam - Apply technical, digital, and research skills to organise, interpret, and evaluate discipline knowledge and practice to investigate business issues in digitally enhanced environments.
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report - Critically investigate real-world business issues and challenges using analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of interdisciplinary knowledge, including theory and practice.
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam - Exercise innovative thinking and intellectual independence to make informed decisions and judgements in planning evidence-based responses to complex and evolving business contexts.
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report - Use information literacy skills to communicate effectively in written forms and through appropriate digital media, tailored to diverse professional and organisational audiences.
Relates to: ULO4, Company Performance Report - Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices of business in responding to complex business issues.
Relates to: ULO2, Business Snapshot, Company Performance Report, Final exam
BS67 Graduate Diploma in Business (Accounting)
- Apply advanced interdisciplinary knowledge, including relevant research principles and methods to understand and respond to accounting.
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam - Apply technical, digital, and research skills to organise, interpret, and evaluate accountingknowledge and practice to investigate business issues in digitally enhanced environments.
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report - Critically investigate real-world accounting issues and challenges using analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of interdisciplinary knowledge, including theory and practice.
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam - Exercise innovative thinking and intellectual independence to make informed decisions and judgements in planning evidence-based responses to complex and evolving accounting contexts.
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report - Use information literacy skills to communicate effectively in written forms and through appropriate digital media, tailored to diverse professional and organisational audiences.
Relates to: ULO4, Company Performance Report - Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices of business in responding to complex accounting issues.
Relates to: ULO2, Business Snapshot, Company Performance Report, Final exam - Apply socially responsible and sustainability-focused thinking to analyse accounting issues and reflect on the broader impact of organisations in national and global contexts.
Relates to: ULO2, Final exam
BS68 Graduate Diploma in Business
- Apply advanced interdisciplinary knowledge, including relevant research principles and methods to understand and respond to professional challenges.
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam - Apply technical, digital, and research skills to organise, interpret, and evaluate discipline knowledge and practice to investigate business issues in digitally enhanced environments.
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report - Critically investigate real-world business issues and challenges using analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of interdisciplinary knowledge, including theory and practice.
Relates to: ULO1, Business Snapshot, Final exam - Exercise innovative thinking and intellectual independence to make informed decisions and judgements in planning evidence-based responses to complex and evolving business contexts.
Relates to: ULO3, Company Performance Report - Use information literacy skills to communicate effectively in written forms and through appropriate digital media, tailored to diverse professional and organisational audiences.
Relates to: ULO4, Company Performance Report - Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices of business in responding to complex business issues.
Relates to: ULO2, Business Snapshot, Company Performance Report, Final exam - Apply socially responsible and sustainability-focused thinking to analyse business issues and reflect on the broader impact of organisations in national and global contexts.
Relates to: ULO2, Final exam