Students

MQBS8000 – Contemporary Business Issues

2025 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor/ Senior Lecturer
Pardis Mohajerani
pardis.mohajerani@mq.edu.au
Contact via Email
Room 238, 4 Eastern Road
Thursdays 4:30pm-5:30pm, online or F2F
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MCom or MBusAnalytics and 40cp at 8000 level
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This is a course-wide capstone unit that is intended to be taken by students in their final session of study. The unit is designed to broaden students' understanding of the importance of strategic business matters in the areas of an organisation's planning, operations, leadership, ethics and broader sustainability, economic and global developments. Through the unit's real world experience opportunities and engagement in business challenges requiring cross-disciplinary insights and knowledge, students are not only required to develop their reflective and integrative thinking but also engage in the development of their future-focused, strategic thinking. Students are exposed to contemporaneous business intelligence devised to give them the opportunity to consider practical implications of business issues and challenges and to investigate strategic business matters within the context of a business environment. Students work in self-managing teams to prepare group reports, complete practice-based tasks and conduct a session long research-based project.

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: Integrate knowledge and skills from alternative discipline-specific perspectives to address complex, global business issues.
  • ULO2: Discuss the relationship between sustainability, value creation and governance within a business context and articulate an informed ethical position.
  • ULO3: Critically analyse recent and developing business issues, formulate creative and strategic solutions and defend propositions.
  • ULO4: Demonstrate professional written, verbal and interpersonal competencies on personal, social and practical issues in a team environment.

General Assessment Information

Late Assessment Submission Penalty (written 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 apply for Special Consideration.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Professional practice: Critical Analysis of Business Scenarios 35% No 11/04/2025
Professional practice: Innovative Solution for Achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) 45% No 16/05/2025
Skills development: Reflection on Your Learning Journey 20% No 06/06/2025

Professional practice: Critical Analysis of Business Scenarios

Assessment Type 1: Reflective Writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: 11/04/2025
Weighting: 35%

 

The purpose of this assessment is to gain real-world experience by critically analysing business issues, formulating strategic solutions, and articulating an informed ethical position.   You will analyse and reflect on a nominated multimedia case study or simulation, focusing on sustainability, value creation, and governance within a business context.   Skills in focus: - Critical Thinking and Problem Solving - Written Communication - Application of Discipline Knowledge - Work Readiness - Ethical Thinking - Reflection   Deliverable: Written report [max: 1500 words] Individual assessment

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Discuss the relationship between sustainability, value creation and governance within a business context and articulate an informed ethical position.
  • Critically analyse recent and developing business issues, formulate creative and strategic solutions and defend propositions.

Professional practice: Innovative Solution for Achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs)

Assessment Type 1: Project
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: 16/05/2025
Weighting: 45%

 

The purpose of this assessment is for you to gain hands-on experience in collaboration, innovation, and presenting solutions to global challenges.   You will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team to develop an innovative product, program, or initiative that helps an organisation contribute to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).   Skills in focus: - Critical Thinking and Problem Solving - Written and Verbal Communication - Application of Discipline Knowledge - Teamwork - Work Readiness - Ethical Thinking   Deliverable: Group Report [max 3000 words, 25%, assessed as a group] and Group Video Presentation [4 minutes per member, 20%, assessed individually]   Individual and Group assessment

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Integrate knowledge and skills from alternative discipline-specific perspectives to address complex, global business issues.
  • Discuss the relationship between sustainability, value creation and governance within a business context and articulate an informed ethical position.
  • Demonstrate professional written, verbal and interpersonal competencies on personal, social and practical issues in a team environment.

Skills development: Reflection on Your Learning Journey

Assessment Type 1: Reflective Writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: 06/06/2025
Weighting: 20%

 

The purpose of this assessment is for you to reflect on your learning experiences to better understand your growth and development.   You will write a reflection on key learning moments, their impact on your academic and professional, and how you can use them in the future. You will focus on what you've learned in your discipline, the core skills you've developed, and how you've applied sustainability, ethical thinking, and teamwork.   Skills in Focus: - Critical Thinking - Written Communication - Application of Discipline Knowledge - Reflection - Work Readiness   Deliverable: Reflection [max 1,000 words] Individual assessment

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Integrate knowledge and skills from alternative discipline-specific perspectives to address complex, global business issues.
  • Demonstrate professional written, verbal and interpersonal competencies on personal, social and practical issues in a team environment.

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

DELIVERY FORMAT

  • The unit is delivered in the form of weekly seminars.
  • Starting from Week 1, there will be a 3-hour face-to-face seminar each week.
  • The delivery will be mixed with lectures and group activities around your assessments, particularly the group project.Students are expected to be active and engaged learners, contributing fully to class activities and discussions.
  • Details of teaching times and locations are available at https://publish.mq.edu.au/

 

RESOURCES

  • There is no required textbook for this unit. Readings, multi-media cases, simulations and self-directed modules are uploaded on iLearn.

 

TEACHING AND LEARNING STRATEGY

  • Students must familiarise themselves with the unit’s iLearn site.
  • Students should access the unit’s iLearn site regularly (minimum twice a week) and check for announcements, updates and posts.
  • Students are expected to participate in classes, be prepared to discuss and particpate in class activities in each week.
  • Students are expected to arrive on time and not to leave until the class ends.

 

TECHNOLOGY USED & REQUIRED

  • The course will make use of iLearn and email for communication with the teaching staff and between students.
  • Students will need access to a reliable Internet service to complete this unit.
  • Software required: e.g., Word processing, PowerPoint, video/media player, Adobe Acrobat Reader.
  • Use of a PC, laptop and smart devices is required to complete tasks on iLearn, to access iLearn for course materials and to read the textbook.

 

SATISFACTORY COMPLETION OF UNIT

Students are required to accumulate at least 50% of the total marks possible in order to satisfactorily pass this unit.

Unit Schedule

Please refer to iLearn for more detailed information about Unit Schedule.

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 connect.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 the Service Connect Portal, 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.

Changes from Previous Offering

Assessment tasks have been revised to ensure clarity, alignment with learning outcomes, and enhancement of the student learning experience.

Unit information based on version 2025.06 of the Handbook