Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Convenor
Lavina Lee
Contact via By email
Room 352A, 25 Wally’s Walk Building B, Faculty of Arts Precinct, Macquarie University
TBC
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Credit points |
Credit points
10
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MPICT or MCPICT or GradDipPICT or GradDipCPICT or PGCertPICT or MPICTMIntSecSt or MCPICTMIntSecSt or MIntSecStud or GradDipIntSecStud or MSecStrategicStud or MCyberSec or MSecStrategicStudMCrim or MSecStrategicStudMIntell or MSecStrategicStudMCyberSec or MSecStrategicStudMCTerrorism
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit addresses the challenges of formulating, assessing and engaging with strategy in historical and contemporary geopolitical contexts. It exposes students to classical and contemporary approaches to strategic thought, and teaches students how to write policy briefs where they will engage with strategic problems in relation to real-world policy contexts. Content will include the fundamentals of strategy; the challenges of strategy formulation under conditions of uncertainty; the influence of bureaucratic considerations and domestic political pressures; the role of information and strategic narratives; the making of strategy in conventional and unconventional scenarios; and the dynamics of military intervention. Students will further address these issues by identifying and exploring them in cases and assessing their implications for contemporary challenges. All enrolment queries should be directed to Open Universities Australia (OUA): see www.open.edu.au |
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
---|---|---|---|
Active Engagement | 20% | No | Ongoing |
Online Quizzes | 20% | No | Weeks 4, 7, 10 and 12 |
Policy Memo | 20% | No | 2024-09-18 |
Research Essay | 40% | No | 2024-10-30 |
Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 20%
Active engagement by students will increase the unit's value as an exercise in critical thinking, analysis, and communication. Students will demonstrate it by contributing to online activities.
Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: Weeks 4, 7, 10 and 12
Weighting: 20%
You will complete a number of quizzes throughout the unit. Each quiz will be conducted online via the unit’s iLearn space. The quizzes are designed to test your knowledge and understanding of core course material.
Assessment Type 1: Professional writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: 2024-09-18
Weighting: 20%
The policy memo is a written brief addressed to a high-level policy-maker who is considering the use of force in a particular situation to advance the government’s interests. The memo will identify and analyze the strategic factors that should inform the policy-maker’s decision, and recommend a particular course of action.
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 36 hours
Due: 2024-10-30
Weighting: 40%
The completion of a Research Essay allows students to develop core disciplinary knowledge, enhance research skills, show effective written communication skills, and demonstrate originality and critical thinking. The essay should flow logically from the introduction to the evidence in the main body to the conclusion. It should reflect wide reading across a diverse body of academic literature, and should demonstrate critical analysis and objectivity.
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
TEXTBOOK
We will be using the following book as a textbook for this unit:
Hal Brands (ed.), The New Makers of Modern Strategy, Princeton University Press 2023.
It is available for purchase online in both in-print editions and an e-book. There will also be a copy of the e-book in the library.
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 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 mark of‚ 0 (zero) 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 issue.
This late penalty will apply to non-timed sensitive assessment (incl essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc). Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic
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 deviates from the limit by more than 10%, then penalties will apply. These penalties are 5% of the awarded mark for every 100 words deviation from 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 Final Grade Appeal procedure as part of the Assessment policy in cases where students feel their work was graded inappropriately: https://policies.mq.edu.au/document/view.php?id=277
In accordance with the Grade Appeal procedure, 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.
RULES ON USE OF GENERATIIVE AI
In this course students are permitted to use Generative AI (e.g., ChatGPT) to complete the policy memo and research essay assessment tasks to:
Students are not permitted to use Generative AI to:
Any of these actions will constitute and be treated as a breach of academic integrity.
Class Schedule PICT8050/PICX 8050 Strategic Thinking
Semester Week |
Lecture Date |
Topic |
Assessment |
Week 1 |
22 July |
Introduction |
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Week 2 |
29 July |
The Fundamentals of Strategy |
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Week 3 |
5 August |
Clausewitz: Violence, Chance and Politics |
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Week 4 |
12 August |
Strategies of Decisive War, Attrition and Total War |
Quiz 1: covering weeks 1,2 and 3. Thursday 15 August |
Week 5 |
19 August |
Strategy and WWII: Coalition Warfare and Geopolitical Revolution |
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Week 6 |
26 August |
Strategy and WWII: Asia and the Pacific |
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Week 7 |
2 September |
Nuclear Strategy |
Quiz 2: covering weeks 4, 5 and 6. Thursday 5 September. |
Week 8 |
9 September |
No classes: Reading Week |
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Mid-Semester Recess |
Monday 16 September to Sunday 29 September |
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Policy Memo Due: Wednesday 18 September |
Week 9 |
30 September |
Asymmetric Strategy and Irregular War |
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Week 10 |
7 October |
Chinese and US Grand Strategy in Peacetime |
Quiz 3: covering weeks 7, 9 and 10. Thursday 10 October. |
Week 11 |
14 October |
Winning without fighting: Political Warfare |
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Week 12 |
21 October |
Managing Great Power Competition: Strategies of Smaller States |
Quiz 4: covering weeks 11 and 12. Thursday 24 October. |
Week 13 |
28 October |
No classes |
Research Essay due: Wednesday 30 October. |
Exam Period |
Monday 4 November to Friday 22 November |
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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.
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 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
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.
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
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.
Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:
Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.
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 2024.03 of the Handbook