BSB151 Business Law and Governance


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: Summer 2023, Gardens Point, Internal

Unit code:BSB151
Credit points:12
Equivalent:BSD111, BSB111
Anti-requisite:AYB120, LLB101, LLB202, LWB136, LWB145
Coordinators:Rouhshi Low | r.low@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

This foundational unit aims to help students understand that in business, choosing the "right" thing to do involves a range of quite different conceptualizations of what is "right". By using Ethics, the Law and Governance principles to determine what is right, we emphasize the need for tomorrow's business leaders to understand different ways people judge what is "right" and introduce critical business concepts such as governance, fiduciary duties, agency law, contract and negligence (duty of care). Through use classical ethical frameworks as well as statute and case law, students will develop the ability to justify what is the right thing to do in a number of different business scenarios. In so doing the unit also addresses specific legal issues germane to all fields of business and professional contexts while developing problem solving skills relevant to contemporary business.

Learning Outcomes

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

  1. Describe the essential features of the legal system in Australia
  2. Explain the nature of moral issues in business and apply key moral theories to a range of business issues;
  3. Apply legal knowledge and reasoning skills to analyse and respond to problems across a range of topics in business law;
  4. Explain the duty of care principle and governance systems

Content

In this unit you will be introduced to:

  • Ethical and legal thinking
    • The nature of ethics
    • Ethical frameworks
    • Australia's legal system
    • Ethical and legal thinking
  • Conducting business with others
    • Contract law
      • Simple Apparent Contracts
      • Terms and Remedies
    • Negligence
      • Duty of care
      • Breach of duty of care
      • Causation
  • Working with others
    • Delegation, Agency Law and Vicarious Liability
    • Business structures and the Corporation
    • Corporate Governance
    • Directors and Officers Duties

 The generic capabilities this unit develops are:

  • discipline knowledge;
  • critical thinking and judgement skills;
  • written communication; and
  • legal and ethical knowledge and skills.


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

Teaching and learning strategies are designed to encourage you to fulfil the unit's aims and learning outcomes, as discussed above. The delivery of this unit is based around:

  • weekly 1 hour lectures over the semester
  • weekly 2 hour application workshops where students will be required to work through a number of problems.

The unit is designed to promote and assess your understanding of the concepts covered and not just your ability to rote learn and recite them. You will be required to demonstrate an understanding of the legal principles and apply these in order to resolve legal problems.

This unit is supported by the QUT BSB151 Canvas site that provides access to information such as the unit outline, workshop material, assessment information and staff contact details. It is the students' responsibility to check Canvas on a regular basis for any announcements regarding the unit.

 

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 that may be summary to the cohort in general
  • Direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation
  • Indirect: to the whole class via Canvas

Assessment

Overview

General Assessment Information
This unit involves completion of a case study, a portfolio (involving five quizzes and five reading tasks) during semester and a final examination (as scheduled by central examinations). Details of each assessment item, including permitted materials and expectations will be provided during lectures and workshops and on Canvas under the relevant assessment folder. It is the students responsibility to regularly check Canvas for updates. In order to pass this unit, students need to achieve 50% or higher overall.

The assessment aims to support your achievement of the learning outcomes for this Unit. It has been designed in order 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).

Feedback to students:
Formative assessment in the form of quiz questions, worked examples and discussion questions are provided in the weekly lectures and workshops. This allows students to gauge their aptitude for the unit. Students should discuss any concerns regarding progress with the BSB151 coordinator.

Case study marks will be uploaded to Canvas through Turnitin.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Case Study

Written response to a scenario where students are asked to apply various theories and laws, to analyse and resolve the issues raised and to reflect on the social and ethical responsibilities of individuals and businesses.

Formative or Summative: Formative and Summative

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

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

Weight: 30
Length: 1,500 words (maximum). 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 4
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2

Assessment: Portfolio of online quizzes and reading assignments

Summative quizzes containing multiple choice questions and reading exercise covering topics 4-10. Best results for 4 (out of possible 10) activities including at least one reading assessment and one quiz will be worth 20%. Formative quizzes covered in lectures and workshops to assist with preparation for the summative quizzes will also occur across these weeks.

Formative or Summative: Formative and Summative

Business Capabilities (AoL goals): SE (5.1)

Weight: 20
Length: 30 minutes working time for quizzes; Deadlines for reading assessment
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Weekly
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 4

Assessment: Final Exam

The exam will address communication skills, knowledge and problem-solving abilities in relation to topics 5-12

Formative or Summative: Summative

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

Students may be required to attend campus or an assessment centre for the purposes of assessment, regardless of the attendance mode for the unit.

Weight: 50
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Central Examination Period
Related Unit learning outcomes: 3, 4

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)

TBC

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 (Undergraduate)

HO (2.2): Independent Judgement and Decision-Making

Relates to: ULO3, Final Exam

PC (3.1): Professional Communication (Written)

Relates to: ULO4, Case Study, Final Exam

SE (5.1): Ethical and Legal Understanding

Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, ULO4, Case Study, Portfolio of online quizzes and reading assignments, Final Exam

Course Learning Outcomes

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

BS05 Bachelor of Business

  1. 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: ULO3, Final Exam
  2. Use information literacy skills, and communicate effectively and professionally in written forms and using media appropriate for diverse purposes and contexts.
    Relates to: ULO4, Case Study, Final Exam
  3. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices in analysing and responding to business issues.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, ULO4, Case Study, Portfolio of online quizzes and reading assignments, Final Exam

BS06 Bachelor of Business

  1. 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: Final Exam
  2. Use information literacy skills, and communicate effectively and professionally in written forms and using media appropriate for diverse purposes and contexts.
    Relates to: ULO3, ULO4, Case Study, Final Exam
  3. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices in analysing and responding to business issues.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, ULO4, Case Study, Portfolio of online quizzes and reading assignments, Final Exam

BS08 Bachelor of Business - International

  1. 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: ULO3, Final Exam
  2. Use information literacy skills, and communicate effectively and professionally in written forms and using media appropriate for diverse purposes and contexts.
    Relates to: ULO4, Case Study, Final Exam
  3. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices in analysing and responding to business issues.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, ULO4, Case Study, Portfolio of online quizzes and reading assignments, Final Exam