Business Decision Making (11009.3)

Required texts

There is no required textbook for this unit.

This has important implications for how you study. This is a unit that expects you to engage with the lecture materials, the module exercises and to actively participate and prepare for your tutorials. Each of these elements will help you succeed in the assessment. This is not a unit where you should focus on 'learning what the textbook says'

As you work through the Modules, you will see that we have suggested you access, read and consider a range of materials inlcuding a series of websites, short academic and professional articles and other information. 

We do not require you to purchase a textbook. Note, though, that we have made use of certain chapters from textbooks that are available through the library website and especially those books and chapters from these available as e-books.

You can access these e-books for free from the University's library website. https://www.canberra.edu.au/library

You will likely need your student ID number and your University password to access the book. Note also that you are able to download chapters from the e-book should you wish to consult a copy at a later point in time.  

There are a large number of business decision-making and introductory accounting texts targeted towards managers and non-accountants. Some of those textbooks may be useful for your study and development, but we have not prescribed any particular book:

Textbooks that you may find useful:

Kourdi, J. (2003). Business strategy a guide to effective decision making. London: Profile (available online and in print)

Birt, J. et al. (2017) Accounting: Business Reporting for Decision Making. Sixth edition. Milton, QLD: John Wiley & Sons (available online and in print)

Ugarte, R. (2022) Bulletproof Decisions: How Executives Can Get It Right, Every Time. New York: Routledge (available online)

Drascek, M., Mesner-Andolsek, D. and Rejc, A. (2023). Ethical Decision-Making in Management: Perspectives of the Philosopher, the Sociologist and the Manager. New York, NY: Routledge (available online).

Atrill, P., (2021) Accounting: an Introduction Ebook. Edition 8, [Australian version]. Melbourne: Pearson Education Australia (available online). 

Atrill, P., McLaney, E. J., & Harvey, D. (2017). Accounting for non-specialists (7th edition). Melbourne: Pearson Australia (available online). 

Robbins, S., (2014). Decide and Conquer: The Ultimate Guide for Improving Your Decision Making. (2nd ed.). Melbourne: Pearson Education Limited (available online)

Winston, W (2022). Microsoft Excel Data Analysis and Business Modeling (Office 2021 and Microsoft 365). (7th edition). Microsoft Corporation (available online)

There are many other books and articles that you may wish to consult. If you are unsure or need assistance, please reach out to the UC librarians, your tutor or your unit convener. 

Submission of assessment items

Special assessment requirements

To pass the unit, you must:

a) Submit Part 3 of the Case Study and complete the Final Exam (as these are mandatory assessment items); 

b) Score at least 50% across the assessment items in the unit. 

Academic integrity

Students have a responsibility to uphold University standards on ethical scholarship. Good scholarship involves building on the work of others and use of others' work must be acknowledged with proper attribution made. Cheating, plagiarism, and falsification of data are dishonest practices that contravene academic values. Refer to the University's Student Charter for more information.

To enhance understanding of academic integrity, all students are expected to complete the Academic Integrity Module (AIM) at least once during their course of study. You can access this module within UCLearn (Canvas) through the 'Academic Integrity and Avoiding Plagiarism' link in the Study Help site.

Use of Text-Matching Software

The University of Canberra uses text-matching software to help students and staff reduce plagiarism and improve understanding of academic integrity. The software matches submitted text in student assignments against material from various sources: the internet, published books and journals, and previously submitted student texts.

Use of AI is not permitted in this unit

The University's position is that artificial intelligence services must not be used for assessment or assessment preparation by students unless explicitly allowed in the assessment instructions for an assessment task published with the assessment task and/or in the unit outline. That is, an AI service may only be used if:

a) its use is authorised by the unit convener as part of the specified task; and

b) it is used in the way allowed in the assessment instructions and/or unit oultine; and

c) its use is appropriately referenced, meaning that the students must reference the use of AI in their assessment in the same way as they reference other source material. 

The use of AI has not been specified in the assessment instructions for the unit or in the unit outline and thus, AI is not a permissable resource. 

Learner engagement

This unit has been recently redesigned. 

As such, the expectation is that you will organise your schedules in order to succeed in the unit:

There are five types of work that you need to consider in the unit:

a) Lectures. The lecture material is pre-recorded and 'chunked' into short sections. You should watch, consider, take notes and reflect on each video section;

b) Online Module Activities: There are a set of prompt activities online for you to develop your understanding and work on developing relevant skills. Some of these activities require your read and reflect on stimulus material, watch a video or complete an activity or calculation. Some of this will be familiar to you, but we encourage you to set time aside to complete these activities;

c) Tutorials: Tutorials are an opportunity to perfect your knowledge and skills and are essential for your success in the unit. We would expect and encourage you to attend each tutorial. They are 2-hours long and focus on skill and knowledge relevant to the unit, opportunities to reflect on lecture material and also to prepare for assessment work and success. 

d) Further reading and practice: We do not know what you do not know. Thus, you may be expected to read further and complete more study. We have provided links to further materail to support your learning should you want more reinforcement;

e) Assignment preparation: You will need to set aside time for assignment work. Success will come to those who take initiative, reach out to your tutors or the unit convener when you are unsure and be prepared to put in the requisite effort. 

Participation requirements

Please see above, but it is absolutely essential that students attend tutorials.

Required IT skills

Students need to know how to access the University of Canberra's UCLearn (Canvas) system. Students need to know how to use Microsoft Word. We will demonstrate introductory level Microsoft Excel techniques.

Work placement, internships or practicums

None

• Semester 1, 2024, Online, UC - Canberra, Bruce (221587)
• Semester 1, 2024, On-Campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (221206)
• UC College Trimester 3, 2023, On-Campus, UC - University of Canberra College, Bruce (221204)
• Semester 2, 2023, On-Campus, UC - TAFE NSW Northern Sydney, St Leonard's (221213)
• Semester 2, 2023, Online, UC - Canberra, Bruce (221211)
• Semester 2, 2023, On-Campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (221212)