| Effective Term: | 2026/05 |
| Institute / School : | Institute of Innovation, Science & Sustainability |
| Unit Title: | Future of Business |
| Unit ID: | BUMGT3108 |
| Credit Points: | 15.00 |
| Prerequisite(s): | (At least 240 credit points from program ) (At least 240 credit points from program ) (At least 240 credit points from program BH5 or BI5 or BK5 or BU5) |
| Co-requisite(s): | Nil |
| Exclusion(s): | Nil |
| ASCED: | 080301 |
| Other Change: | |
| Brief description of the Unit |
This unit enables students to develop knowledge and skills on research approaches, through the exploration of a range of critical developments impacting the future of business. Students will study the emerging social, economic, environmental and technological factors creating opportunities and challenges for businesses. Students will also be introduced to fundamental research concepts and apply these to develop a research plan to investigate a specific research topic relevant to one or more of the emerging trends impacting businesses and other organisations. |
| Grade Scheme: | Graded (HD, D, C, P, MF, F, XF) |
| Work Experience Indicator: |
| No work experience |
| Placement Component: | |
| Supplementary Assessment:Yes |
| Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment |
| Course Level: |
| Level of Unit in Course | AQF Level(s) of Course | | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | | Introductory | | | | | | | | Intermediate | | | | | | | | Advanced | | |  | | | |
|
| Learning Outcomes: |
| Knowledge: |
| K1. | Identify and describe current and emerging critical challenges and opportunities for business |
|
| K2. | Analyse emerging social, economic, environmental and technological trends in terms of the challenges and opportunities they present to business management, marketing, accounting and/or economics and finance sectors |
|
| K3. | Describe the role of research in supporting sustainable approaches to business, and to the Sustainable Development Goals |
|
| K4. | Demonstrate basic understanding of qualitative and quantitative research approaches |
|
| K5. | Identify and select the appropriate research approach to undertake a future research project in business |
|
| K6. | Explore and interpret the ethics and norms that guide business (including management, marketing, accounting and economics and finance) practice - professionalism, innovation, and sustainability |
|
| Skills: |
| S1. | Develop research skills to identify, interpret and evaluate academic literature relevant to a specific future business research topic/theme |
|
| S2. | Develop critical thinking and analysis skills |
|
| S3. | Identify gaps in literature and opportunities for research projects to address these gaps |
|
| Application of knowledge and skills: |
| A1. | Draft a literature review that investigates and summarises published material on a specific topic/concept relevant to future business challenges and opportunities |
|
| A2. | Develop a research proposal |
|
| A3. | Present a research proposal in an oral presentation |
|
| Unit Content: |
Topics may include:
1. Research components will include:
- Introduction to research
- Developing research aims, objectives and questions
- Conducting and presenting a literature review
- Introduction to qualitative and quantitative research
- Developing and presenting a research proposal
2. Research themes may be explored through the investigation of a range of future of business-focussed themes, which may include:
- Critical drivers: SDGs and sustainable business
- Critical drivers: Fourth Industrial Revolution
- Climate change and transitions to net zero GHG emissions
- Carbon trading
- Carbon accounting and reporting
- Ethical investment
- Understanding customers and user experience
- Ethical marketing and greenwashing
- Sustainable supply chain management
- Sustainable business practices: Circular economy
- Employees and the future of work
- Future scenarios and strategy
- Other themes may be explored in consultation with discipline areas (Management, Marketing, Accounting, Economics and Finance) |
| Graduate Attributes: |
| Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FEDTASKS (Transferable Attributes Skills and Knowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are be embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and Co-operative Learning opportunities. One or more FEDTASK, transferable Attributes, Skills or Knowledge must be evident in the specified learning outcomes and assessment for each FedUni Unit, and all must be directly assessed in each Course.
|
| FED TASK and descriptor | Development and acquisition of FEDTASKS in the Unit | | Level | FEDTASK 1
Interpersonal | Students will demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate, inter-act and work with others both individually and in groups. Students will be required to display skills in-person and/or online in: • Using effective verbal and non-verbal communication • Listening for meaning and influencing via active listening • Showing empathy for others • Negotiating and demonstrating conflict resolution skills • Working respectfully in cross-cultural and diverse teams. | Level 3 - Student works independently with limited guidance or works within self-determined guidelines appropriate to context | FEDTASK 2
Leadership | Students will demonstrate the ability to apply professional skills and behaviours in leading others. Students will be required to display skills in: • Creating a collegial environment • Showing self -awareness and the ability to self-reflect • Inspiring and convincing others • Making informed decisions • Displaying initiative | Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines | FEDTASK 3
Critical Thinking and Creativity | Students will demonstrate an ability to work in complexity and ambiguity using the imagination to create new ideas. Students will be required to display skills in: • Reflecting critically • Evaluating ideas, concepts and information • Considering alternative perspectives to refine ideas • Challenging conventional thinking to clarify concepts • Forming creative solutions in problem solving. | Level 3 - Student works independently with limited guidance or works within self-determined guidelines appropriate to context | FEDTASK 4
Digital Literacy | Students will demonstrate the ability to work fluently across a range of tools, platforms and applications to achieve a range of tasks. Students will be required to display skills in: • Finding, evaluating, managing, curating, organising and sharing digital information • Collating, managing, accessing and using digital data securely • Receiving and responding to messages in a range of digital media • Contributing actively to digital teams and working groups • Participating in and benefiting from digital learning opportunities. | Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines | FEDTASK 5
Sustainable and Ethical Mindset | Students will demonstrate the ability to consider and assess the consequences and impact of ideas and actions in enacting ethical and sustainable decisions. Students will be required to display skills in: • Making informed judgments that consider the impact of devising solutions in global economic environmental and societal contexts • Committing to social responsibility as a professional and a citizen • Evaluating ethical, socially responsible and/or sustainable challenges and generating and articulating responses • Embracing lifelong, life-wide and life-deep learning to be open to diverse others • Implementing required actions to foster sustainability in their professional and personal life. | Level 3 - Student works independently with limited guidance or works within self-determined guidelines appropriate to context |
|
| | Learning Outcomes Assessed | Assessment Tasks | Assessment Type | Weighting | | 1. | K1, K2, K3, S1, S2, S3, A1 | Research, identify, evaluate and summarise literature relevant to a specific business research topic/theme related to the future of business | Written report | 20%-40% | | 2. | K4, K5, K6, S2, S3, A2 | Research Proposal | Written Report | 40%-60% | | 3. | K4, K5, K6, S3, A1, A3 | Presentation of research proposal | Oral presentation and presentation slides | 20%-40% |
|