Students

PICX8951 – Simulation in Security and Strategy

2021 – Session 2, Fully online/virtual

Session 2 Learning and Teaching Update

The decision has been made to conduct study online for the remainder of Session 2 for all units WITHOUT mandatory on-campus learning activities. Exams for Session 2 will also be online where possible to do so.

This is due to the extension of the lockdown orders and to provide certainty around arrangements for the remainder of Session 2. We hope to return to campus beyond Session 2 as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so.

Some classes/teaching activities cannot be moved online and must be taught on campus. You should already know if you are in one of these classes/teaching activities and your unit convenor will provide you with more information via iLearn. If you want to confirm, see the list of units with mandatory on-campus classes/teaching activities.

Visit the MQ COVID-19 information page for more detail.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Fred Smith
Yves-Heng Lim
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MSecStrategicStud
Corequisites Corequisites
60cp at 8000 level or above including (PICX8012 or PICX812) and (PICX8050 or PICX850) and (PICX8060 or PICX860) and (PICX8061 or PICX861) and (PICX8921 or PICX921)
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit provides students with an opportunity to apply the knowledge acquired during their program of study to a real world crisis. After being exposed to theoretical concepts of scenario-building, role-playing and decision-making, students will experience the challenges of solving problems and finding solutions to real world crises during a dynamic simulation. They will be part of a team that includes students with different skill sets and knowledge, including strategists, intelligence analysts, criminologists, counter terrorism experts, and cyber security analysts. Students enrolled in Simulation in Security and Strategy will perform the role of the strategist. Their mission will be to formulate policy-oriented solutions by applying their theoretical knowledge and practical skills, for instance game theory. As part of a team, students will learn how to develop ministerial briefing papers during a crisis situation and how to make policy recommendations.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

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

  • ULO1: Demonstrate understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of simulation & role playing as an educational and professional tool
  • ULO2: Demonstrate understanding of decision-making, bargaining situations and group dynamics in a political-strategic context.
  • ULO3: Apply classical and modern strategic analysis to complex and evolving real-world situations.
  • ULO4: Communicate disciplinary knowledge to professional audiences.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Main Simulation 30% No 22 Oct - 31 Oct
Ministerial Brief 30% No 3 Oct.
Two Small simulations 20% No Week 4 and week 7
Quizzes 20% No 14-15 Aug and 11-12 Sept

Main Simulation

Assessment Type 1: Simulation/role play
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: 22 Oct - 31 Oct
Weighting: 30%

Each student team will be presented with a war gaming scenario. Each team will be required to provide policy recommendations to the control group (convenors) as the situation unfolds over a number of simulation moves or turns.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate understanding of decision-making, bargaining situations and group dynamics in a political-strategic context.
  • Apply classical and modern strategic analysis to complex and evolving real-world situations.
  • Communicate disciplinary knowledge to professional audiences.

Ministerial Brief

Assessment Type 1: Professional writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 51 hours
Due: 3 Oct.
Weighting: 30%

Working as part of a team tasked with writing a ministerial brief/memo on a security and criminology-related scenario, write a 'strategic assessment'; and contribute to the executive summary and recommendations in that assessment.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply classical and modern strategic analysis to complex and evolving real-world situations.
  • Communicate disciplinary knowledge to professional audiences.

Two Small simulations

Assessment Type 1: Simulation/role play
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Week 4 and week 7
Weighting: 20%

Two small simulations to be conducted in the first half of the semester.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of simulation & role playing as an educational and professional tool
  • Demonstrate understanding of decision-making, bargaining situations and group dynamics in a political-strategic context.

Quizzes

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: 14-15 Aug and 11-12 Sept
Weighting: 20%

Two quizzes covering subject matter week 1-7.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of simulation & role playing as an educational and professional tool
  • Demonstrate understanding of decision-making, bargaining situations and group dynamics in a political-strategic context.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

UNIT REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS 

  • You should spend an average of 12 hours per week on this unit. This includes listening to lectures prior to seminar or tutorial, reading weekly required materials as detailed in iLearn, participating in Ilearn discussion forums and preparing assessments. 

  • Internal students are expected to attend all seminar or tutorial sessions, and external students are expected to make significant contributions to on-line activities. 

  • In most cases students are required to attempt and submit all major assessment tasks in order to pass the unit. 

  

REQUIRED READINGS 

  • The citations for all the required readings for this unit are available to enrolled students through the unit iLearn site, and at Macquarie University's library site.  Electronic copies of required readings may be accessed through the library or will be made available by other means. 

  

TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED 

  • Computer and internet access are essential for this unit. Basic computer skills and skills in word processing are also a requirement. 

  • This unit has an online presence. Login is via: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/ 

  • Students are required to have regular access to a computer and the internet. Mobile devices alone are not sufficient. 

  • Information about IT used at Macquarie University is available at  http://students.mq.edu.au/it_services/ 

  

SUBMITTING ASSESSMENT TASKS 

  • All text-based assessment tasks are to be submitted, marked and returned electronically.  This will only happen through the unit iLearn site.  

  • Assessment tasks must be submitted as a MS word document by the due date. 

  • Most assessment tasks will be subject to a 'TurnitIn' review as an automatic part of the submission process. 

  • The granting of extensions is subject to the university’s Special Consideration Policy. Extensions will not be granted by unit conveners or tutors, but must be lodged through Special Consideration: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration 

  

  

LATE SUBMISSION OF ASSESSMENT TASKS 

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – 10 marks out of 100 credit will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted seven days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments - e.g. quizzes, online tests. 

  

WORD LIMITS FOR ASSESSMENT TASKS 

  • Stated word limits include footnotes and footnoted references, but not bibliography, or title page. 

  • Word limits can generally deviate by 10% either over or under the stated figure. 

  • If the number of words exceeds the limit by more than 10%, then penalties will apply. These penalties are 5% of the awarded mark for every 100 words over the word limit. If a paper is 300 words over, for instance, it will lose 3 x 5% = 15% of the total mark awarded for the assignment. This percentage is taken off the total mark, i.e. if a paper was graded at a credit (65%) and was 300 words over, it would be reduced by 15 marks to a pass (50%). 

  • The application of this penalty is at the discretion of the course convener. 

  

REASSESSMENT OF ASSIGNMENTS DURING THE SEMESTER 

  • Macquarie University operates a Grade Appeal Policy in cases where students feel their work was graded inappropriately: http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html 

  • In accordance with the Grade Appeal Policy, individual works are not subject to regrading. 

  

STAFF AVAILABILITY 

  • Department staff will endeavour to answer student enquiries in a timely manner. However, emails or iLearn messages will not usually be answered over the weekend or public holiday period. 

  • Students are encouraged to read the Unit Guide and look at instructions posted on the iLearn site before sending email requests to staff. 

 

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.


Unit information based on version 2021.01R of the Handbook