GSQ012 Capstone
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: | GSQ012 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | 84cp of completed study. |
| Antirequisite(s): | GSN590 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
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| CSP student contribution | $2,174 |
| Pre-2021 CSP student contribution | $1,703 The pre-2021 commonwealth supported place (CSP) contribution amount only applies to students enrolled in a course prior to 2021. To learn more, visit our Understanding your fees page. |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $4,992 |
Unit Outline: Session 4 2026, QUT Online, Online
| Unit code: | GSQ012 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | 84 credit points of completed studies in the course. |
| Anti-requisite: | GSN590 |
| Coordinator: | Catherine Batch | c.batch@qut.edu.au |
Overview
This unit has been included in the online MBA program to provide students with the opportunity to apply learning to a real-world project. It teaches students to draw together and integrate learning from across the entire program and assists students to synthesise approaches, frameworks and theory in a manner that provides practical ways to apply them to an industry project. Students are mentored by industry professionals to support them in their project, bridging academic theory and practical application.
Advanced knowledge, research skills, and research project work have been embedded into the design of GSQ012 through a strong emphasis on applied, inquiry-based learning. The unit scaffolds the development of advanced research skills—such as literature review, data analysis, and project design—culminating in a substantial research-informed Capstone project that demonstrates their capacity to translate knowledge into practice.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Integrate and apply advanced multi-disciplinary theory, frameworks, skills and techniques to address a problem or an opportunity to inform and influence your own effectiveness and innovative practice. KS 1.1, HO 2.1, SL 4.1
- Develop an appropriate research methodology for a nominated project taking into account ethical considerations. KS 1.1, SEC 5.1
- Apply knowledge of ethical principles to conduct ethical business research, analyse data collected and synthesise findings from research for inclusion in the final report. HO 2.1, SEC 5.1
- Create a comprehensive executive-level report designed to deliver recommendations and significant value for an organisation. HO 2.1, HO 2.2, PC 3.1
- Use advanced technology and technical knowledge and skills to design and deliver a highly persuasive executive level or Project Sponsor presentation to secure a specified outcome. KS 1.2, PC 3.2
Content
Topics to be studied include:
- Application and integration of theory, frameworks and techniques from units across the prior phases of the online MBA program
- Delivering a persuasive presentation targeting the specific executive-level audience in the context of the desired project
- Applied business research methods
- Conducting business research
- The application of ethics and research in the context of project design
- Creating a professional research report for a specific business problem or opportunity
- Reflective practice and its usage to improve leadership capabilities.
Course Learning Outcomes (Postgraduate - Executive)
The Graduate School of Business has established the Assurance of Learning (AoL) Goals to meet contemporary industry needs and standards. Achieving these learning outcomes will assist you to meet the desired graduate outcomes set at QUT - aligned with other internationally renowned business schools. Students will develop the following Business capabilities relevant to a contemporary global and sustainable business environment:
Knowledge and Technological Skills (KS)
1.1 Demonstrate and apply integrated and advanced theoretical and practical knowledge (including systems thinking approaches, multidisciplinary frameworks, and knowledge of research principles and methods) that incorporate recent development in business disciplines, professional practice, and digital innovation.
1.2 Apply advanced technical and technological knowledge and skills from a range of business disciplines to critically reflect on, evaluate and contribute to developments that enhance innovative, sustainable, effective, and transformational business performance in local, national, global, and virtual business environments.
Higher Order Thinking (HO)
2.1 Provide evidence of effective analysis, interpretation, evaluation and synthesis of complex data, theories, ideas, issues, situations, and trends across multiple contexts and demonstrate knowledge of how research and inquiry can be used to interpret, contribute to and create theoretical and practical knowledge.
2.2 Provide evidence of higher order thinking including creativity, judgement, cognitive flexibility and critical reflection in designing, planning and implementing transdisciplinary digital strategies and solutions for effective performance in complex digital business environments.
Professional Communication (PC)
3.1 Demonstrate advanced use of language and argumentation in written communication, including digital communication, to frame strategic and influential responses to engage, persuade, negotiate, collaborate, lead, and transform in diverse and complex contexts (both physical and digital) and for diverse audiences.
3.2 Demonstrate advanced use of language and argumentation in oral communication, including digital communication, to frame strategic and influential responses to engage, persuade, negotiate, collaborate and lead across diverse and complex contexts (both physical and digital) and for diverse audiences.
Self and Leadership (SL)
4.1 Demonstrate adaptive personal leadership and accountability, including self-awareness, reflective practice, and foresight in adapting and applying knowledge and skills to inform and influence effective, responsible, innovative and agile practice in contemporary complex digital environments.
4.2 Lead, manage and foster the development of collaborative teams that value and leverage the diverse knowledge and skills of others to contribute to the development of adaptable, transformative, and sustainable courses of action in complex contemporary environments.
Social, Ethical and Cultural Understanding (SEC)
5.1 Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices of business, to contribute to responsible organisational governance and citizenship in local, national, global, and virtual business environments.
5.2 Apply knowledge and skills to demonstrate, interpret and critically reflect on, appropriate culturally, socially and ecologically inclusive and responsible decisions and actions across complex, diverse social and cultural contexts.
Learning Approaches
In this fully online unit, you will be engaged in a combination of synchronous (live) scheduled classes and asynchronous (self-paced) learning. Synchronous classes will focus on addressing key concepts and provide you with the opportunity develop and demonstrate your competence through active participation as well as through self-assessed problems and model answer feedback. Additionally, these classes provide an opportunity for collaboration with your peers, and a forum for asking questions and checking your understanding of the learning materials.
You are also expected to work independently through carefully prepared curated resources in the form of asynchronous modules. These activities in these modules may include:
- Online discussions
- Readings
- Learning activities
- Digital practices for creating professional resources.
You are responsible for your academic progression through this unit. Unit staff will provide a learning environment designed to maximise your learning experience. To realise your full potential, it is strongly recommended that you actively participate in all the learning activities offered in this unit. You should expect to spend on average 15 hours per week, attending scheduled classes, working through asynchronous modules, preparing for and completing assessment tasks as well as in independent study to consolidate your learning.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Students will receive a variety of feedback throughout this unit.
Informally, feedback will be given verbally in class through webinar discussions and during the debriefing of learning activities.
Direct feedback will be available to those students who request a private or group consultation session with the lecturer.
Industry mentors will provide feedback and expert advice throughout the project.
Formal feedback will be received on both formative and summative assessment tasks through a Criterion Reference Assessment sheet, which will also include written feedback on the assessment task. The Criterion Reference Assessment Sheet will be available in the unit Canvas site at the commencement of the unit. Students will receive feedback on their formative assessment task prior to their summative assessment task being submitted.
Assessment
Overview
Gen AI tools may be used ethically and responsibly. Students may use generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools to prepare for, generate and refine content for this assessment task. AI-generated content may be inaccurate, unreliable, or biased. It is each student's responsibility to critically evaluate any information used.Students must clearly acknowledge and appropriately reference any AI-generated content following the guidance in Cite | Write
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Progress Report Plan Presentation
You are required to research a real-world issue and then design and deliver a presentation based upon the Plan for your project, which will define and scope the work-based project, empirical literature background, and an appropriate research methodology. The work-based project needs to be an actual 'real world' project that is supported by an executive sponsor. The project can be either one identified by you, or provided to you by your employer or a sponsoring organisation.
Postgraduate Executive (AoL goals): KS 1.1, 1.2, HO 2.1, PC 3.2, SL 4.1, SEC 5.1
If a group member is approved for an academic concession under QUT’s Student Academic Concessions Policy, the concession applies only to that student. The unit coordinator will determine appropriate adjustments to ensure fair assessment for all group members.
Assessment: Project Report
You are required to develop a comprehensive final report. The report is to address an identified problem or opportunity in the context of an organisation, specifically related to small-scale, high-impact projects and improvements. The problem or opportunity will be revealed by the research you conduct on the organisation. It is expected that report presented is a high quality professional document and the data collected should be presented visually in the form of graphs, tables or diagrams as appropriate for the type of data presented.
Postgraduate Executive (AoL goals): KS 1.1, HO 2.1, 2.), PC 3.1, SL 4.1, SEC 5.1
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
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
Resources to support your learning including contemporary industry and academic journal articles, podcasts, and videos will be provided.
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with lectures or tutorials in this unit.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.GQ51 Master of Business Administration
- Demonstrate and apply integrated and advanced theoretical and practical knowledge (including systems thinking approaches, multidisciplinary frameworks, and knowledge of research principles and methods) that incorporate recent development in business disciplines, professional practice, and digital innovation.
Relates to: Progress Report Plan Presentation, Project Report - Apply advanced technical and technological knowledge and skills from a range of business disciplines to critically reflect on, evaluate and contribute to developments that enhance innovative, sustainable, effective, and transformational business performance in local, national, global, and virtual business environments.
Relates to: Progress Report Plan Presentation - Provide evidence of effective analysis, interpretation, evaluation and synthesis of complex data, theories, ideas, issues, situations, and trends across multiple contexts and demonstrate knowledge of how research and inquiry can be used to interpret, contribute to and create theoretical and practical knowledge.
Relates to: Progress Report Plan Presentation, Project Report - Provide evidence of higher order thinking including creativity, judgement, cognitive flexibility and critical reflection in designing, planning and implementing transdisciplinary digital strategies and solutions for effective performance in complex digital business environments.
Relates to: Project Report - Demonstrate advanced use of language and argumentation in written communication, including digital communication, to frame strategic and influential responses to engage, persuade, negotiate, collaborate, lead, and transform in diverse and complex contexts (both physical and digital) and for diverse audiences.
Relates to: Project Report - Demonstrate advanced use of language and argumentation in oral communication, including digital communication, to frame strategic and influential responses to engage, persuade, negotiate, collaborate and lead across diverse and complex contexts (both physical and digital) and for diverse audiences.
Relates to: Progress Report Plan Presentation - Demonstrate adaptive personal leadership and accountability, including self-awareness, reflective practice, and foresight in adapting and applying knowledge and skills to inform and influence effective, responsible, innovative, and agile practice in contemporary complex digital environments.
Relates to: Progress Report Plan Presentation, Project Report - Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices of business, to contribute to responsible organisational governance and citizenship in local, national, global, and virtual business environments.
Relates to: Progress Report Plan Presentation, Project Report