AMB373 Issues, Stakeholders and Reputation


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 1 2024, Gardens Point, Internal

Unit code:AMB373
Credit points:12
Pre-requisite:96 credit points must be completed prior to enrolling in this unit
Equivalent:AMX373
Coordinator:Kim Johnston | kim.johnston@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

Issues, Stakeholders and Reputation (AMB373) focuses on public relations practice in an organisational setting. A key responsibility of this role is to anticipate and respond to issues that influence stakeholder relationships and organisational reputations. AMB373 provides foundational skills and public relations theoretical knowledge of the issues management process, including monitoring and tracking public opinion, analysis and developing appropriate organisational responses.

Learning Outcomes

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

  1. Analyse the role of public relations and public opinion influence as it relates to a corporate setting.
  2. Analyse and evaluate the influences on decision-making in corporate communication.
  3. Synthesise the theoretical links between strategic issues of an organisation, stakeholder relationships, and reputation and apply these in planning.
  4. Evaluate current issues in corporate communication and apply ethical, social and intercultural perspectives to practice judgements.
  5. Communicate effectively to different audiences using a range of genres.

Content

This unit introduces students to the practice of public relations in a corporate setting examining areas including:

  • internal processes for issues management
  • issues and crisis management
  • corporate reputation
  • relationship management
  • organisational change
  • corporate social responsibility and ethical decision making; and evaluating practice.


QUT Business Capabilities (Undergraduate)

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 and Technological Skills (KS)
1.1 Demonstrate and apply integrated discipline (including technical) knowledge across the broad field of business with depth in one or more core business disciplines
1.2 Apply technical and technological skills appropriate and effective for real world business purposes and contexts.

Higher Order Thinking (HO)
2.1 Investigate real world business issues and situations through the effective analysis, evaluation and synthesis of theory and practice
2.2 Exercise independent judgment and initiative in adapting and applying knowledge and skills for effective planning, problem solving and decision making in diverse contexts.

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

Teamwork and Self (TS)
4.1 Exercise self-reflection, responsibility and accountability in relation to own learning and professional practice.
4.2 Apply teamwork knowledge and skills for effective collaboration across diverse purposes and contexts

Social, Ethical and Global Understanding (SE)
5.1 Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices in analysing and responding to business issues
5.2 Demonstrate and apply knowledge of socially responsible behaviour in analysing and addressing business issues in national and international business contexts.

Learning Approaches

A number of learning approaches are applied in this unit to support student learning. The theory behind key concepts will be explored and illustrated in class through real world examples of issues management in practice. In assessment, students will track and analyse a live organisational issue to identify and understand key management challenges around reputation and stakeholder impacts. Independent student learning is nurtured through cases and exercises, with opportunities to apply creative and critical thinking to current practice methods. 

This unit uses a text matching tool that assists students to develop the academic skills required to correctly use and cite reference material, as well as to check citations and determine possible instances of plagiarism.

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

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: Research Report

From an organisational perspective, you will collect 10 current news media articles within the specified time frame and critically analyse these to understand the reputation and stakeholder relationship implications for the organisation. Students will be allocated the assessment topic and must follow the specified content areas outlined in the AMB373 assessment guide.

Formative or Summative: Formative and Summative

Business Capabilities (AoL goals): KS (1.1), HO (2.1), PC (3.1)

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

Weight: 40
Length: 2000 words
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 7
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 3, 4

Assessment: Issue Brief and Briefing

You will prepare an issue brief addressed to the organisation's board of management and record a 3 minute video briefing reporting on your issue analysis and implications to your organisation's board of management. Please refer to the AMB373 Assessment Guide for further information on structure, content, and marking criteria.

Formative or Summative: Formative and Summative

Business Capabilities (AoL goals): KS (1.1), HO (2.1, 2.2), PC (3.1, 3.2), SE (5.2)

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

Weight: 60
Length: 2000 word issue report, 3 minute presentation
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 13
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 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

Recommended text(s)

Jaques, T (2014) Issues and crisis management: Exploring issues, crises, risk and reputation. Victoria.,Oxford University Press

Other

Additional unit readings readings may be posted during semester on the unit's QUT Readings.

Students should be reading and listening to current affairs and news reports in traditional, industry and social media channels.

Relevant academic journals include Asia Pacific Public Relations Journal, Journal of Public Relations Research, Journal of Communication Management, Management Communication Quarterly, Public Relations Review

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 (Undergraduate)

HO (2.1): Critical Analysis

Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, ULO4, Research Report, Issue Brief and Briefing

HO (2.2): Independent Judgement and Decision-Making

Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO4, Issue Brief and Briefing

KS (1.1): Discipline Knowledge

Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, ULO5, Research Report, Issue Brief and Briefing

PC (3.1): Professional Communication (Written)

Relates to: ULO3, ULO5, Research Report, Issue Brief and Briefing

PC (3.2): Professional Communication (Oral)

Relates to: ULO5, Issue Brief and Briefing

SE (5.2): Global Social Responsibility

Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO4, Issue Brief and Briefing

Course Learning Outcomes

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

BS05 Bachelor of Business

  1. Demonstrate and apply integrated discipline (including technical) knowledge across the broad field of business with depth in one or more core business disciplines.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, ULO5, Research Report, Issue Brief and Briefing
  2. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of socially responsible behaviour in analysing and addressing business issues in national and international business contexts.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO4, Issue Brief and Briefing
  3. Investigate real world business issues and situations through the effective analysis, evaluation and synthesis of theory and practice.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, ULO4, Research Report, Issue Brief and Briefing
  4. Exercise independent judgement and initiative in adapting and applying knowledge and skills for effective planning, problem solving and decision making in diverse contexts.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO4, Issue Brief and Briefing
  5. Use information literacy skills, and communicate effectively and professionally in written forms and using media appropriate for diverse purposes and contexts.
    Relates to: ULO3, ULO5, Research Report, Issue Brief and Briefing
  6. Use information literacy skills, and communicate effectively and professionally in oral forms, appropriate for diverse purposes and contexts.
    Relates to: ULO5, Issue Brief and Briefing

BS06 Bachelor of Business

  1. Demonstrate and apply integrated discipline (including technical) knowledge across the broad field of business with depth in one or more core business disciplines.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, ULO5, Research Report, Issue Brief and Briefing
  2. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of socially responsible behaviour in analysing and addressing business issues in national and international business contexts.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO4, Issue Brief and Briefing
  3. Investigate real world business issues and situations through the effective analysis, evaluation and synthesis of theory and practice.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, ULO4, Research Report, Issue Brief and Briefing
  4. Exercise independent judgement and initiative in adapting and applying knowledge and skills for effective planning, problem solving and decision making in diverse contexts.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO4, Issue Brief and Briefing
  5. Use information literacy skills, and communicate effectively and professionally in written forms and using media appropriate for diverse purposes and contexts.
    Relates to: ULO3, ULO5, Research Report, Issue Brief and Briefing
  6. Use information literacy skills, and communicate effectively and professionally in oral forms, appropriate for diverse purposes and contexts.
    Relates to: ULO5, Issue Brief and Briefing

BS08 Bachelor of Business - International

  1. Demonstrate and apply integrated discipline (including technical) knowledge across the broad field of business with depth in one or more core business disciplines.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, ULO5, Research Report, Issue Brief and Briefing
  2. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of socially responsible behaviour in analysing and addressing business issues in national and international business contexts.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO4, Issue Brief and Briefing
  3. Investigate real world business issues and situations through the effective analysis, evaluation and synthesis of theory and practice.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, ULO4, Research Report, Issue Brief and Briefing
  4. Exercise independent judgement and initiative in adapting and applying knowledge and skills for effective planning, problem solving and decision making in diverse contexts.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO4, Issue Brief and Briefing
  5. Use information literacy skills, and communicate effectively and professionally in written forms and using media appropriate for diverse purposes and contexts.
    Relates to: ULO3, ULO5, Research Report, Issue Brief and Briefing
  6. Use information literacy skills, and communicate effectively and professionally in oral forms, appropriate for diverse purposes and contexts.
    Relates to: ULO5, Issue Brief and Briefing

KC40 Bachelor of Communication

  1. Demonstrate capacity to understand and critique the historical, cultural, technological, and regulatory implications of digital media, entertainment, communication, and news industries.
    Relates to: ULO3, Research Report, Issue Brief and Briefing
  2. Demonstrate capacity to engage with and apply specialised knowledge of one or more areas of digital media, entertainment, communication, and news industries, including the relationship between disciplinary theory, research methodologies, and professional practice.
    Relates to: ULO3, Research Report, Issue Brief and Briefing
  3. Demonstrate effective communication skills with the ability to adapt strategies across different media and professional settings and for diverse audiences.
    Relates to: ULO5, Issue Brief and Briefing
  4. Critically analyse, evaluate and synthesise complex forms of information and evidence to inform decision-making, problem solving and argumentation.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO4, Research Report, Issue Brief and Briefing
  5. Critically interrogate the economic and cultural power of digital media, communication, entertainment, and news to make ethical, sustainable, and inclusive contributions to diverse workplaces, communities, and audiences.
    Relates to: ULO4, Research Report
  6. Create authentic and professional-quality communication outputs that reflect an application of academic content, critical thinking skills, and social awareness.
    Relates to: ULO5, Issue Brief and Briefing