KEY FACTS

This subject introduces students to the theories, models and practices that provide the foundation for understanding and improving the ways we communicate. The subject discusses the major methods of communication such as text, voice, and technology. It explores the characteristics of effective and ineffective communication. Students will be educated in the language and communication skills needed for professional and academic reading, writing, research and presentation skills.

Accounting for Managers seeks to introduce students to a basic understanding of financial accounting and management accounting principles so that they are able to enter the workforce with confidence in their ability to work or to pursue further studies in business and/or accounting.

It introduces students to the world of financial and management accounting emphasising the practical and functional nature of business decisions, and explores the concepts of different business perspectives in terms of financial accounting, cost management accounting including budgeting, and investing in and financing a business.

This subject concentrates on the concepts of computer information systems, with an emphasis on the application of these issues to a business environment. Information Systems is the study of how computers are used in organisations, and the relationship between the hardware, software, data, networks and the people to the processes of inputting and processing data to gain meaningful and useful information to help a business function in a competitive way. This subject aims to introduce students to the concepts of information systems and the role they play in organisations. This includes the role that computers play in information systems and how data is managed to support the various activities of an organisation.

This subject covers a fundamental description of the Australian legal system and an in depth analysis of the legal regulation of businesses and business transactions. Topics covered include: legal rights and duties applicable to business structures such as companies and partnerships, in addition to laws that regulate commerce/business including tort, contract, consumer protection and restrictive trade practices.

In the rapidly changing world of business professions and tertiary study, the ability to use, interpret and analyse data is integral to student and graduate success. Therefore, this subject is designed to give students the knowledge, skills and confidence to apply mathematical concepts to their numerically-based academic subjects as well as to their future professional careers. The course will use active learning within an interactive workshop structure to teach student basic numerical, problem-solving, mathematics notation and data interpretation skills and their applications to business problems. The workshops will be focused entirely on problem-based numerical tasks undertaken by students, with the support and guidance of a facilitator, ensuring that students gain knowledge and confidence through direct application of concepts. Also, in order to provide students with a hands-on appreciation of the applications of mathematic concepts to various disciplines and business problems, guided workshop problem solving will be supplemented with periodic Take Home Exercises which apply what is taught in class to real-world data and numerical information.

This unit will provide students with competency in the key skills required to master learning in a tertiary education environment. These essential skills will empower students to succeed in all the future subjects of their degree and, most importantly, to meet the expectations of their future employers.

Students will learn how to locate, analyse, and select research-based information that is current, valid, logical and applicable. This will then generate an ability to synthesise research findings into a logical exposition supporting an assertion, which is then communicated and defended both orally and in writing.

MAN203 Logistics and Supply Chain Management addresses questions about logistics planning, transport modes selection, vehicle routing, inventory policies, purchasing quantity and timing, and storage selection. The key elements of business logistics covered in this subject include logistics planning and strategy, customer service, procurement, transport, inventory, warehousing, and handling. At the completion of this subject students should understand the importance of logistics and supply chain management in assisting other functional areas of any business organisation, such as marketing, production; and engineering, human resources and finance and accounting; especially for an organisation involved in manufacturing and distribution that are addressing strategic goals.

Marketing research is most often the first step in the marketing process and so a thorough comprehension of (and an ability to apply) marketing research is vital for today’s marketers and marketing managers. MKT202 Marketing Research Essentials provides an introduction to the concepts and skills necessary to successfully undertake research to better understand customers, potential customers and the marketplace. Importantly, MKT202 Marketing Research Essentials, also introduces students to the growth of on-line data collection methods and other aspects of digital marketing research.

This subject focuses on the development of knowledge and skills in the following areas:

• The role of marketing research in the organization
• The importance of problem definition and the different approaches to the research process
• The usefulness of secondary data
• The differences between qualitative and quantitative approaches
• The growing importance of on-line and other digital marketing research
• The range of primary data collection methods
• The requirements and methods of sampling
• Methods of data analysis
• Approaches to communicating the results of marketing research
• The ethics of marketing research

This subject introduces students to a basic understanding of financial accounting concepts. Students can go on to utilise these skills in the workforce at a very basic level or pursue further studies within accounting. It introduces the users of accounting information and the nature of business transactions, emphasizing the practical approach to record-keeping and the preparation of financial statements.

One of the aims of this subject is to introduce students to double entry accounting including GST. This subject is intended to provide students with a basic introduction to financial recording and reporting.

This subject aims to provide students with an understanding of the regulation of financial reporting by Australian entities, an understanding of the conceptual framework for financial accounting and reporting and a background in the requirements of key financial accounting standards which affect financial reporting by Australian business entities. The main aim of the subject is to enable students to identify, understand and apply accounting principles and standards to a variety of practical situations.

This subject provides students with an up-to-date approach to management accounting using contemporary techniques that address the changing issues in a business. It provides an overview of the business environment in relation to costs in an organisation and the management of same, and covers businesses in the production or manufacturing sector, the retail sector and the service sector. It demonstrates the importance of a management accounting information system in all types of organisations, as the information provided by it assists managers in decision making, planning and control.

The main aim of this subject is to introduce students to a solid understanding of the fundamentals of cost and management accounting principles upon which they can build in the future, and to provide them with the tools needed to analyse the impact of choices that are made in the design, implementation and operation of management accounting systems.

The aim of this subject is to introduce students to economic theories, which will be relevant to understanding micro and macroeconomic events throughout their business careers. The subject demonstrates how economic theory can be used to explain and analyse current real-world scenarios. Economic concepts explored in this subject are very pertinent in business environments and include government intervention in markets, public goods, efficiency and equity and trade economics. It also considers theories relevant to macroeconomic policy to do with balance of payments, trade relations and developing economies. The subject is structured to accommodate student interests, as the assessments provide a choice of assignment topics. The subject concludes with a case study relating to the Global Financial Crisis and developing economies, which applies economic theory to addressing real-life questions about the sources of future economic growth and prosperity in a post-GFC world.

This subject is an introduction to investment management in the current context of a financial system rocked by a financial crises and systemic risk. The subject involves a comprehensive study of the valuation of fixed income and equity securities through considering theoretical models and their application to real-life case studies. Students will develop excel spreadsheet modelling skills over the course of the topic and grapple with the practical difficulties in applying finance theory to real-life valuation problems. The subject builds on previous finance subjects and is designed to prepare students for future studies in portfolio and funds management

This subject examines the key ‘operational’ aspects of hospitality and tourism management: namely, the process of procuring, preparing, and serving food and beverages in a commercial environment, the management and provision of accommodation and associated services, and the effective financial management of each of these areas. It explores the operational constraints on hospitality systems, with an emphasis on hygiene management, quality control, and menu planning. It considers the role of management systems and processes and how organisations monitor performance and maintain financial control of the overall process.

This subject concentrates on the management of human resources in the external and internal organisation context. It focuses on the contribution of HRM to competitive advantage via an analysis of HR planning, job design, staffing, reward systems, staff development, and HRM auditing. The relationship between the legal, ethical and industrial relations issues and HRM is also explored.

MAN202 Business Ethics considers business ethics to be concerned with the moral conduct of businesses. In this sense, businesses are seen as entities comprising people and their activities arranged through hierarchical systems of functionally defined positions that are designed to achieve particular goals. Whilst introducing students to theories of ethics, this subject also seeks to engage the student in the practical aspects of business ethics. This is done through lectures, tutorial discussions and case studies. From these it will be seen that rules of proper conduct that are utilized in everyday life do not always resolve business questions, and problems arise when ethical considerations conflict with practical business concerns.

For marketers, understanding how buyers and consumers behave is an integral part of correctly identifying their real needs, and also of understanding how the seller and the buyer can engage effectively. MKT301 Consumer Behaviour examines the behaviour of consumers from both psychological and sociological perspectives, enabling marketing managers to critically analyse their strategies. Buyers of all types go through complex decision-making processes before they commit themselves to a purchase or consume a product or service. Therefore, this subject investigates buyer decision-making processes and the internal and external influences on the purchasing and consumption process.

This subject focuses on the development of knowledge and skills in the following areas:

• Market segmentation: segmenting, targeting and positioning for diverse consumer markets
• Consumer needs and motivation
• Personality and self-concept
• Consumer perception, attitudes, learning and involvement
• Social, family and class influences on consumer behaviour
• The influence of culture, subcultures and cross-cultures on consumer behaviour
• Consumer decision-making
• Consumer influence and the diffusion of innovations
• Public policy and consumer protection

Given the now complex and increasingly dynamic nature of international trade and whilst grounded in strong theoretical and conceptual foundations, MKT303 International Marketing provides contemporary ‘real-world’ examples of both small-to-medium size enterprises (SMEs) and multinational companies (MNCs) and their international marketing efforts. Attention is given also to the scale of international marketing – it considers those entities based locally and engaged in simple exporting and importing on a regional basis as well as companies that are committed to foreign direct investment and those whose reach is global.

• This subject focuses on the development of knowledge and skills in the following areas:
• The external environments and structure of international marketing
• The cultural environments of international marketing
• Understanding customers internationally
  International marketing research and country risk
• Segmenting and positioning internationally
• International market selection and entry strategies
• Developing new goods and services for international markets
• International marketing communication
• Logistics, sourcing and distribution
• Export and import management
• International pricing
• Current trends in international marketing

This subject examines the nature of financial accounting theory, its construction and application to accounting regulation. It examines the conceptual framework of accounting, measurement theory and accounting measurement systems and provides students with an understanding of the regulatory and reporting environment in Australia. In relation to accounting and research this subject explores such areas as positive accounting theory, capital market research and behavioural research. International accounting and harmonisation, challenges or standard setters and emerging issues are explored in the contemporary issues part of the subject.

The main focus of this subject is to provide students with an understanding of the accounting and reporting issues that pertain to the corporate form of entities operating within the Australian accounting framework, using the Australian Accounting Standards. This includes an in-depth study of the requirements of the preparation of financial statements for a group of companies operating under common control and continues on to examine accounting issues relating to foreign operations and other types of investments such as investments in associate companies. Corporate governance concepts and accounting for company liquidation, the issue of shares and debentures, and accounting for foreign currency transactions are also covered in this subject.

This subject builds on the material covered in Management Accounting 1. It explores some contemporary topics and issues in management accounting and provides students with an up to date approach to strategic management accounting. Contemporary techniques are used to address some of the changing issues within the discipline.

At present, management accounting finds itself in a period of change. While some businesses continue to use conventional methods others are increasingly adopting strategically oriented performance measurement and cost analysis methods. This subject considers the skills and competencies that management accountants need to develop to take advantage of the benefits flowing from these new techniques and systems.

A major objective of this subject is to develop the analytical and logical reasoning skills of students so that they can build on the understanding of cost and management accounting that they have already developed. This will provide students with the skills needed to make choices in the design, implementation and operation of management accounting systems. Students will need to have a sound knowledge of basic cost and management accounting techniques and a reasonable level of computer literacy.

This subject will consider the operation and function of derivative markets. The subject defines, in a real-life context, the function of derivative securities such as options, forwards and futures as well as examining swaps. Theories used to price options are explored and applied to real-life case studies and the sensitivity of prices to different factors are measured and calculated. Students are built up to understanding the construction of different hedging and risk management strategies involving derivatives and taught the theory behind these constructs. At the conclusion of the subject students should be able to price options and other derivative securities using live market data and understand strategies used to profit from price movements and to hedge against risks.

This subject focuses on corporate strategy decisions relating to capital budgeting, financing, corporate governance, ethics and mergers and acquisitions. Students will apply theory learned in previous subjects and their own judgement to corporate decision-making in a collaborative context. Students will also apply modelling excel spreadsheet skills to evaluate real-life problems. The assessments will testify to a student’s ability to apply financial concepts, terms and models to company decisions and will come in the form of an individual modelling assignment and a group presentation on a financial analysis brief submitted by a fictional company. Students’ ability to problem solve and present their solution in a professional and easy-to-understand manner to a panel of lecturers and/or industry professionals will determine whether they have gained sufficient skills to commence working in the financial industry or pursue further study.

This subject explores the key ‘operational’ aspects of food and beverage management namely, the process of procuring, preparing, and serving food and beverages in a commercial environment and the effective financial management of each of these areas. Students should develop a comprehensive understanding of the principles and practices of restaurant management from this subject. They should also develop an appreciation of the principles and techniques of food and beverage production from a management perspective. Students will also gain firsthand experience of a food production kitchen and a bar environment. It examines the operational constraints on hospitality systems, with an emphasis on food safety management, quality control, and menu planning. It considers the role of management systems and processes and how organisations monitor performance and maintain control of the overall process.

In this subject, students have the opportunity to explore, at some depth, topics of their own choosing within the areas of ‘Hospitality’ and ‘Tourism’. The subject encourages students to identify issues and innovations that are promoting change in the current business practices of hospitality and tourism activity, to undertake an in-depth systematic examination of the issues, and to report their findings in an effective but rigorous manner.

MAN302 Strategic Business Management is a subject that teaches students the process by which a business manages the formulation and implementation of its strategy. The purpose of this subject is to introduce the concept of strategic management and the framework. The key focus is to introduce strategy with the three major themes:

• dynamic nature of business and industries
• strategy formulation and implementation have an inextricable connection
• strategic leadership.

A business’s performance is directly related to the quality of its strategy and its competency in implementing it.

MAN304 Issues in International Business introduces students to international business and the issues involved in globalisation. It facilitates students’ discussion of the trade and investment environment in which international business occurs and focuses on how national differences in political economy and culture influence global trade. Issues in International Business examines the global monetary system in which international business transactions are conducted, the strategies and structures that businesses adopt to compete in the international marketplace and operational aspects of international business, such as exporting and importing, manufacturing, marketing, human resource management, accounting and financial management.

This Internship subject provides an opportunity for students to build on the real world experience gained in Internship 1 and broaden their understanding of the discipline and the workforce. The students will apply knowledge and skills gained throughout their studies and develop a practical understanding of the industry and profession.