BUSMBA 750 : Navigating the Business Environment
Business and Economics
2022 Quarter Four (1228) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
This course evaluates the business environment from legal, economic, political and social perspectives, at both the national and international levels. It helps to develop skills to identify and influence significant business constraints and opportunities, and to use this critical understanding in strategic decision-making.
The course is co-taught since it draws on several different disciplines. The first half draws on the legal discipline, examining the unique legal and political framework within which business operates in NZ. We explore the structure of government, how law and policy are made, and how business can get involved in shaping future policy and law-making. This part of the course also seeks to highlight some key areas of the law affecting business. The second half focuses on the economic and political perspectives. It discusses the important role of psychology in understanding how the business environment works.
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 2: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 3: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 4: | Communication and Engagement |
| Capability 5: | Independence and Integrity |
| Capability 6: | Social and Environmental Responsibilities |
Learning Outcomes
- Explain the significance of New Zealand’s unique legal and political framework, with particular reference to the influence of tikanga Māori and the Treaty of Waitangi on law and business in New Zealand. (Capability 2, 4.1, 4.3 and 6)
- Explore key aspects of contract, consumer, competition and employment law affecting businesses operating in the New Zealand market (Capability 2, 3, 4.1 and 4.3)
- Appreciate and articulate how business, government and the global economy interact in order to enable you to enjoy a competitive advantage as a manager or business owner. (Capability 1 and 4.1)
- Make more informed managerial decisions by having a better understanding of the genesis of booms and busts. (Capability 1 and 2)
- Make use of a more coherent framework for analysing how economic policy is set by the public sector to influence macroeconomic phenomena. (Capability 1, 3 and 5.2)
- Make ethical business decisions and understand how corporate responsibility affects the extent to which people support capitalism and their trust in the business community. (Capability 1, 5.1, 5.2 and 6)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment 1 | 15% | Individual Coursework |
| Assignment 2 | 30% | Individual Coursework |
| Assignment 3 | 9% | Individual Coursework |
| Assignment 4 | 36% | Individual Coursework |
| Discussions | 10% | Group & Individual Coursework |
| 5 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |||||
| Assignment 1 | ||||||||||
| Assignment 2 | ||||||||||
| Assignment 3 | ||||||||||
| Assignment 4 | ||||||||||
| Discussions | ||||||||||
Workload Expectations
This course is a 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.
For this course, you can expect 6 hours per week of reading and thinking about the content. Over the 10 week course there will be also be 40 hours of lectures and 50 hours of work in total working on assignments and/or test preparation.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is required at scheduled activities including lectures and workshops to receive credit for the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including labs and workshops will not be available as recordings.
The course is not expected to include live online events.
The activities for the course are scheduled as block delivery.
Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Student Feedback
At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.
Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.
Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.