BSB250 Business Citizenship


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 2025, Gardens Point, Internal

Unit code:BSB250
Credit points:12
Pre-requisite:72cp of completed studies
Anti-requisite:BSB151
Coordinator:Gavin Nicholson | g.nicholson@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 unit acts as a bridge to the introductory aspects of business education to the more complex issues involved in operating a business ethically and effectively. It explores how corporate citizenship requires a company to respond to a set of inter-related expectations arising at the individual, national and global levels. Students will extend their understanding of ethics developed in foundational units by reflecting on their personal approaches to ethical dilemmas. At the national level, the unit explores core principles of the legal framework within which corporations operate, including key rights and responsibilities. From a global view, students will explore different perspectives on corporate social responsibility and grapple with the difficulty of balancing conflicting expectations of stakeholders through application of the UN sustainability development goals. As a result, students will develop a greater appreciation for the tradeoffs inherent in complex decision-making.

Learning Outcomes

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

  1. Apply legal knowledge and reasoning skills to analyse and respond to problems across a range of topics in business law. [KS 1.1, HO 2.1]
  2. Identify and analyse how different contexts, and Indigenous and other perspectives, worldviews and values shape decisions and interpretations of issues. [SE 5.1, SE 5.2]
  3. Articulate personal and professional values and reflect on their contribution to making moral decisions, acting ethically and effective leadership. [TS 4.1, SE 5.1]
  4. Evaluate and judge the extent to which business practices contribute to collective wellbeing and sustainable and socially responsible outcomes. [HO 2.2, SE 5.2]
  5. Exercise critical information literacy by selecting appropriate evidence, synthesising content, formulating persuasive arguments, and creatively communicating complex ideas. [HO 2.1]

Content

This unit will extend business knowledge and skills developed in earlier units to more complex, global business problems, and introduce you to:

  • frameworks for understanding complex business issues, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals
  • multi-stakeholder and Indigenous perspectives on business
  • citizenship and ethics at the individual, national and global level
  • approaches for selecting appropriate evidence, synthesising content, formulating responses, and creatively communicating complex ideas.

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

In this unit, you will learn by engaging in problem- and case-based activities designed to assist you to develop key skills that are relevant to all business careers. You will investigate how socially responsible business can create positive change, explore multi-stakeholder (including Indigenous) perspectives on business, and learn about frameworks to understand and analyse personal values and contemporary business problems via content delivered online and in class. In tutorials, you will use this knowledge to inform your responses to real business challenges associated with the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and apply a range of tools and techniques to analyse and evaluate potential responses. You will be expected to attend and contribute regularly to tutorials, and work through content and self-directed formative learning activities presented on the unit Canvas site before and after class to supplement your learning.

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 tasks in this unit provide you with opportunities to explore your personal and ethical values and priorities, and indigenous and global perspectives on business, while extending your ability to analyse and produce solutions to complex business problems.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Portfolio

You will complete a series of readings each with a focus on an issue in business law. For each reading you will need to provide responses to questions demonstrating your ability to identify and anaylse how different contexts, perspectives, worldviews and values shape decisions and interpretations of issues.

Formative or Summative: Formative and summative

Business Capabilities (AoL goals): KS (1.1), HO (2.1), SE (5.1), SE (5.2)

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

Weight: 30
Length: 1,500 words
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Weeks 3-12
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2

Assessment: Ethical Self-Assessment

Reflect on your personal and professional values and identify biases and assumptions that may affect your decision-making. Document and present these in a coherent personal code of ethics against which you will assess your current skills and dispositions. Develop a plan to further develop these in a professional context.

Formative or Summative: Formative and summative

Business Capabilities (AoL goals): TS (4.1), SE (5.1)

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

Weight: 20
Length: 1,000 words
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 8
Related Unit learning outcomes: 3

Assessment: Exam

Using frameworks presented in this unit you will be required to respond to scenarios and questions in which you analyse and evaluate how business practices contribute to collective wellbeing and sustainable and socially responsible outcomes.

Formative or Summative: Summative

Business Capabilities (AoL goals): KS (1.1), HO (2.1, 2.2), SE (5.1, 5.2)

Weight: 50
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): During central examination period
Central exam duration: 3:10 - Including 10 minute perusal
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 4, 5

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

Weekly resources will be made available on the unit Canvas site.

Risk Assessment Statement

There are no out-of-the ordinary risks associated with 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, ULO5, Portfolio, Exam

HO (2.2): Independent Judgement and Decision-Making

Relates to: ULO4, Exam

KS (1.1): Discipline Knowledge

Relates to: ULO1, Portfolio, Exam

SE (5.1): Ethical and Legal Understanding

Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Portfolio, Ethical Self-Assessment, Exam

SE (5.2): Global Social Responsibility

Relates to: ULO2, ULO4, Portfolio, Exam

TS (4.1): Self-Reflection and Accountability

Relates to: ULO3, Ethical Self-Assessment

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, Portfolio, Exam
  2. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of socially responsible behaviour in analysing and addressing business issues in national and international business contexts.
    Relates to: ULO2, ULO4, Portfolio, Exam
  3. Investigate real world business issues and situations through the effective analysis, evaluation and synthesis of theory and practice.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO5, Portfolio, Exam
  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: ULO4, Exam
  5. Exercise self-reflection, responsibility and accountability in relation to own learning and professional practice.
    Relates to: ULO3, Ethical Self-Assessment
  6. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices in analysing and responding to business issues.
    Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Portfolio, Ethical Self-Assessment, Exam

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: Exam
  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, Portfolio, Exam
  3. Apply technical and technological skills appropriate and effective for real world business purposes and contexts.
    Relates to: ULO1
  4. Investigate real world business issues and situations through the effective analysis, evaluation and synthesis of theory and practice.
    Relates to: ULO5, Exam
  5. 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: ULO4, Portfolio, Exam
  6. Exercise self-reflection, responsibility and accountability in relation to own learning and professional practice.
    Relates to: ULO3, Ethical Self-Assessment
  7. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices in analysing and responding to business issues.
    Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, ULO4, Portfolio, Ethical Self-Assessment, Exam

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, Portfolio, Exam
  2. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of socially responsible behaviour in analysing and addressing business issues in national and international business contexts.
    Relates to: ULO2, ULO4, Portfolio, Exam
  3. Investigate real world business issues and situations through the effective analysis, evaluation and synthesis of theory and practice.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO5, Portfolio, Exam
  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: ULO4, Exam
  5. Exercise self-reflection, responsibility and accountability in relation to own learning and professional practice.
    Relates to: ULO3, Ethical Self-Assessment
  6. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices in analysing and responding to business issues.
    Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Portfolio, Ethical Self-Assessment, Exam