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GMBA8034 – Manage the Risks

2026 – Coursera term 3, Online-flexible

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Allyson Cox
allyson.cox@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 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 11:59pm(Sydney time). 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 Groupwork/Individual Short Extension AI Approach
Risk Presentation 35% No Monday 25/5/2026 @11:59pm Individual No Open
Improving risk governance 50% No Monday 15/6/2026 @11:59pm Individual No Open
Discussion Forum Contribution: Debate and Dialogue 15% No Monday 15/6/2026 @11:59pm Individual No Open

Risk Presentation

Assessment Type 1: Presentation task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 8 hours
Due: Monday 25/5/2026 @11:59pm
Weighting: 35%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Open

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: Professional task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 14 hours
Due: Monday 15/6/2026 @11:59pm
Weighting: 50%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Open

Length: 1,500 words, excluding references

Format: Analytical individual report containing your analysis and recommendations for a risk governance.

Task: This assignment will provide an opportunity for you to apply your learnings from 'Manage the Risks' to a real-world organisation to analyse the governance and risk management maturity of an organisation and recommend improvements for an organisation’s 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: Presentation task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 2 hours
Due: Monday 15/6/2026 @11:59pm
Weighting: 15%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Open

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
  • Academic Success 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.

3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.

Delivery and Resources

Please see Coursera for all delivery and resource details

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/

Academic Success

Academic Success 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.

Unit information based on version 2026.03 of the Handbook