AYN456 Business and Corporations Law


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 Outline: Semester 2 2024, Gardens Point, Internal

Unit code:AYN456
Credit points:12
Equivalent:AYX456, AYQ456
Coordinators:Shakoor Ahmed | s6.ahmed@qut.edu.au
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.

Overview

As many business decisions involve consideration of business and corporate law, postgraduates with an accountancy degree should possess a functional understanding of Australia's legal system. Knowledge of business and company law will equip them with skills for professional practice as well as enhance their capacity to navigate increasingly complex business landscapes. This unit introduces students to Australia's legal environment, developing students' knowledge and understanding of core principles of law while also introducing basic research and analysis skills essential to effective decision in this space.

Learning Outcomes

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

  1. Demonstrate a coherent, extensive, current theoretical and practical content knowledge of Australian business and corporate law, including the ability to describe the relevant sections, cases and principles of Australian business and corporations law.
  2. Employ conceptual frameworks within which to analyse, discuss and resolve problems and issues relating to Australian business and corporations law.
  3. Analyse and explain the dynamic nature of corporate laws which impact on the legal rights and obligations of all key stakeholders in the company.
  4. Use written communication skills to analyse and discuss issues relating to Australian business and corporations law.
  5. Explain data protection principles and identify privacy regulations for data and information

Content

In this unit you will be introduced to:

  • Australia's legal system
  • Tort of negligence
  • Business structure
  • Contracts
  • Company and company management
  • Company dealings with others
  • Corporate governance and management
  • Company directors and officers duties
  • Fundraising and disclosure
  • Insolvency and external administration of a company
  • Winding-up of a company

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 to meet 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 integrated and advanced discipline and professional practice knowledge, including knowledge of relevant research principles and methods.
1.2 Apply technical, technological and technical research skills to organise and interpret discipline knowledge, including theory and practice, to investigate business issues.

Higher Order Thinking Skills (HO)
2.1 Critically investigate real world business issues and problems drawing on analysis, evaluation and synthesis of discipline knowledge, including theory and practice.
2.2 Exercise creativity and intellectual independence and make informed decisions and judgements in planning, designing, and executing strategic and research-based responses to address real world issues and problems.

Professional Communication (PC)
3.1 Use information literacy skills and communicate effectively and professionally in written forms and using media appropriate for diverse purposes, contexts and audiences.
3.2 Use information literacy skills and communicate effectively and professionally in oral forms appropriate for diverse purposes, contexts and audiences.

Teamwork & Self (TS)
4.1 Exercise self-reflection and accountability in applying knowledge and skills for own learning and effective practice.
4.2 Apply teamwork knowledge and skills for effective collaboration across a range of complex activities and contexts.

Social, Ethical & Global Understanding (SE)
5.1 Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices of business in critically analysing and effectively responding to complex business issues.
5.2 Demonstrate and apply knowledge of socially responsible behaviour in analysing and addressing business issues and critically reflect on the responsibilities and impacts of organisations in national and international business contexts.

Learning Approaches

The unit is designed to promote and assess understanding of the core legal concepts and principles introduced along with the required analysis and reasoning skills. Content includes not only overview concepts and knowledge delivery but also application of material covered through problem based scenarios. Weekly sessions will focus on addressing key concepts, and opportunities will be provided for students to develop and demonstrate their competence through active participation.  

This unit is supported by the QUT AYN456 Canvas site which provides the unit outline, workshop material, assessment information and staff contact details: http://Canvas.qut.edu.au. Students are responsible for regularly monitoring Canvas for unit announcements, learning material updates and assessment information.

 

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

Assessment is designed to support and reflect students' progress as against the learning outcomes for this Unit providing both:

  • feedback on your learning as you progress toward the development of knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes (formative assessment); and
  • capacity to demonstrate your learning in order to achieve a final grade (summative assessment).
Students may be required to attend campus or an assessment centre for the purposes of assessment, regardless of the attendance mode for the unit

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Online Case Examination

This assessment will assess student's application of knowledge from Topics 1-5 (inclusive) using case based online questions.

Formative or Summative: Formative and Summative

Business Capabilities (AoL goals): KS (1.1), HO (2.2)

Weight: 20
Length: 40 minutes
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 7
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 3

Assessment: Problem Solving Question

The assessment will explore a real life fact situation involving application of legal principles, identification of governing law and legislation, and balancing of competing commercial dynamics. Students will make a recommendation as to the best way forward in resolving the matter.

Formative or Summative: Summative

Business Capabilities (AoL goals): PC (3.1), SE (5.1)

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Weight: 20
Length: 1000 words - 10% above the word limit is acceptable. Grading will be based upon the text that is within the word limit (or 10% above).
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 8
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 4

Assessment: Examination

The Examination is based on weeks 6-12.

Formative or Summative:  Formative and Summative

Business Capabilities (AoL goals): KS (1.1), HO (2.2), PC (3.1), SE (5.1)

This examination will be an invigilated face-to-face exam undertaken either on campus or at an examination centre.

Weight: 60
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Central Examination Period
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2, 4, 5

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

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.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Resource Materials

Prescribed text(s)

Jeff Fitzpatrick, Christopher Symes, Angelo Veljanovski, David Parker, Business and Corporations Law. (5th Edition) LexisNexis

Recommended text(s)

Chapple, E., Wong, A., Baumfield, R., Copp, R., Cunningham, R., Kamalnath, A., Watson, K. and Harpur, P., 2022 (2nd edition) . Company Law: An Interactive Approach. John Wiley & Sons.

Reference book(s)

Australian Corporations and Securities Legislation CCH or Butterworths (Volume 1).

Lipton , P. & Herzberg, A., Understanding Company Law. LBC Information Services.

Other

Additional references can also be found at the unit's Canvas site: http://Canvas.qut.edu.au

Risk Assessment Statement

There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with lectures or tutorials in this unit. You should, however, familiarise yourself with evacuation procedures operating in the buildings in which you attend classes and take the time to
view the Emergency video.

Standards/Competencies

This unit is designed to support your development of the following standards\competencies.

QUT Business Capabilities (Postgraduate)

HO (2.2): Independent Judgement and Decision-Making

Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, ULO4, Online Case Examination, Examination

KS (1.1): Discipline and Professional Practice Knowledge

Relates to: ULO1, ULO5, Online Case Examination, Examination

KS (1.2): Technical, Technological and Research Skills

Relates to: ULO5

PC (3.1): Professional Communication (Written)

Relates to: ULO4, Problem Solving Question, Examination

SE (5.1): Ethical and Legal Understanding

Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, ULO4, Problem Solving Question, Examination

Course Learning Outcomes

This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.

BS11 Master of Business

  1. Demonstrate and apply integrated and advanced discipline and professional practice knowledge, including knowledge of relevant research principles and methods.
    Relates to: ULO5, Online Case Examination, Examination
  2. Apply technical, technological and technical research skills to organise and interpret discipline knowledge, including theory and practice, to investigate business issues.
    Relates to: ULO5
  3. Exercise creativity and intellectual independence and make informed decisions and judgements in planning, designing, and executing strategic and research-based responses to address real world issues and problems.
    Relates to: Online Case Examination, Examination
  4. Use information literacy skills and communicate effectively and professionally in written forms and using media appropriate for diverse purposes, contexts and audiences.
    Relates to: Problem Solving Question, Examination
  5. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices of business in critically analysing and effectively responding to complex business issues.
    Relates to: Problem Solving Question, Examination

BS39 Graduate Certificate in Business

  1. Demonstrate and apply integrated and advanced discipline knowledge, including knowledge of relevant research principles and methods.
    Relates to: ULO5, Online Case Examination, Examination
  2. Apply technical, technological or technical research skills to organise and interpret discipline knowledge, including theory and practice, to investigate business issues.
    Relates to: ULO5
  3. Exercise creativity and intellectual independence and make informed decisions and judgements in planning research-based responses to address real world issues and problems.
    Relates to: Online Case Examination, Examination
  4. Use information literacy skills and communicate effectively in written forms and using appropriate media for diverse audiences.
    Relates to: Problem Solving Question, Examination
  5. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical or legal principles and practices of business in responding to complex business issues.
    Relates to: Problem Solving Question, Examination

BS63 Bachelor of Business (Honours)

  1. Demonstrate and apply integrated and advanced discipline and professional practice knowledge, including advanced knowledge of research, research principles and methods and how knowledge is created and evolves within the field.
    Relates to: ULO5, Online Case Examination, Examination
  2. Use technological and technical skills to apply theoretical knowledge, work critically with complex information, problems and theories, and to design and apply research and research methods.
    Relates to: ULO5
  3. Exercise creativity and intellectual independence to systematically plan, design and execute research and formulate conclusions and recommendations that challenge and contribute to current knowledge in a discipline.
    Relates to: Online Case Examination, Examination
  4. Demonstrate written communication skills to structure and present complex thinking, including research results to a variety of audiences in relation to discipline knowledge and research.
    Relates to: Problem Solving Question, Examination
  5. Apply knowledge of the ethical dimensions of research to identify and address the potential risks of undertaking a research project.
    Relates to: Problem Solving Question, Examination

BS79 Graduate Diploma in Business

  1. Demonstrate and apply integrated and advanced discipline and professional practice knowledge, including knowledge of relevant research principles and methods.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO5, Online Case Examination, Examination
  2. Apply technical, technological and technical research skills to organise and interpret discipline knowledge, including theory and practice, to investigate business issues.
    Relates to: ULO5
  3. Exercise creativity and intellectual independence and make informed decisions and judgements in planning, designing, and executing strategic and research-based responses to address real world issues and problems.
    Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, ULO4, Online Case Examination, Examination
  4. Use information literacy skills and communicate effectively and professionally in written forms and using media appropriate for diverse purposes, contexts and audiences.
    Relates to: ULO4, Problem Solving Question, Examination
  5. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices of business in critically analysing and effectively responding to complex business issues.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, ULO4, Problem Solving Question, Examination