Students

GMBA8034 – Manage the Risks

2023 – Coursera term 4, Online-scheduled-weekday

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Elizabeth Sheedy
elizabeth.sheedy@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
5
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to GMBA or GradCertGlobalBusPrac
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

The purpose of risk management is the creation and protection of value. It improves performance, encourages innovation and supports the achievement of objectives. Risk management refers to activities that direct and control an organisation in terms of risk, including the identification, analysis, treatment, monitoring and communication of risk. This unit addresses all these elements but has a particular focus on how to influence stakeholders and communication practices to help overcome the biases and blind spots that frequently impede effective risk management. The risk framework is applied to a range of risks (e.g. financial, operational, conduct, strategic) and contexts. It also addresses the systems of risk governance in an organisation to ensure that risk management is effective, with a special focus on the role of the board.

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: Apply a risk management framework to a range of risks and business contexts
  • ULO2: Analyse governance structures for ensuring that an organisation meets its objectives
  • ULO3: Effectively communicate complex risk management ideas, information and recommendations to a business audience

General Assessment Information

Late submissions of assessments 

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern. 

For any late submissions of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, students need to submit an application for Special Consideration.

Special Consideration

To request an extension on the due date/time for a timed or non-timed assessment task, you must submit a Special Consideration application. An application for Special Consideration does not guarantee approval.

The approved extension date for a student becomes the new due date for that student. The late submission penalties above then apply as of the new due date.

Word limits

Anything beyond a stated assessment word limit (other than your reference list) may not be marked. Seek any further clarification from the unit convenor.

 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Risk Presentation 35% No 16/7/23
Improving risk governance 50% No 6/8/23
Discussion Forum Contribution: Debate and Dialogue 15% No Weeks 1, 3, 6

Risk Presentation

Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 8 hours
Due: 16/7/23
Weighting: 35%

 

Length: 3 - 5 min. presentation Format: Powerpoint and script. Task: In this presentation, you will communicate risk effectively incorporating risk analysis and visualisation.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply a risk management framework to a range of risks and business contexts
  • Effectively communicate complex risk management ideas, information and recommendations to a business audience

Improving risk governance

Assessment Type 1: Project
Indicative Time on Task 2: 14 hours
Due: 6/8/23
Weighting: 50%

 

Length: 2,000 words, excluding references

Format: Analytical group report containing your group's analysis and recommendations for a risk governance intervention

Task: This assignment will provide an opportunity for you to work as a group to apply your learnings from Manage the Risks to a real-world organisation to

  1. analyse the governance and risk management maturity of an organisation,
  2. recommend improvements for an organisation’s risk governance and
  3. influence others in an organisation for better risk governance.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply a risk management framework to a range of risks and business contexts
  • Effectively communicate complex risk management ideas, information and recommendations to a business audience

Discussion Forum Contribution: Debate and Dialogue

Assessment Type 1: Debate
Indicative Time on Task 2: 2 hours
Due: Weeks 1, 3, 6
Weighting: 15%

 

Risk governance professional engagement. 750 words total. In this professional engagement task, you will debate, discuss, and deconstruct the concepts, ideas, and cases explored in the course on a weekly basis in the identified discussion forums.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply a risk management framework to a range of risks and business contexts
  • Analyse governance structures for ensuring that an organisation meets its objectives
  • Effectively communicate complex risk management ideas, information and recommendations to a business audience

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

Please refer to the unit content on Coursera.

Required Textbook

You will need a copy of this book to successfully complete the unit. It's accessible electronically through the library (Leganto), or if you're in the Sydney area, there are hard copies available in the university library (North Ryde campus only). 

It's also available for purchase in either ebook, hardcover or paperback. You can purchase it from the publisher at the link below. If you purchase the paperback version you can get 20% off and free shipping by using the code SAV20. Alternatively, you can try Amazon or other book retailers. 

Sheedy (2021) Risk Governance: Biases, Blindspots and Bonuses, Routledge

Unit Schedule

Please refer to the timetable information in eStudent or the GMBA website for Live Event session timings. Please note: The teaching schedule is subject to change. Please refer to your Coursera unit for a detailed Live Event schedule.

Live Events will take place via Zoom each week starting in Week 1 and ending in Week 6. The links to the events are available via Live Events in the Coursera unit.

You will need to use your Macquarie University student Zoom account to access the Live Events.

Attending the Live Event each week is an opportunity to engage with the unit content, your Unit Convenor, and classmates. Students are strongly advised to attend the Live Events. Recordings of the live events will be made available within 24 hours of the event and can be accessed via the Coursera unit content.

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

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

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

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

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

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

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 2023.02 of the Handbook