Course Title: Negotiate a contract

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2018

Course Code: BUSM8741C

Course Title: Negotiate a contract

School: 650T Vocational Business Education

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5372 - Diploma of International Business

Course Contact: Suzanne Maugeri

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 1466

Course Contact Email: suzanne.maugeri@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Wayne Beasy      Wayne.beasy@rmit.edu.au

Dave O'Flynn      David.O'flynn@rmit.edu.au

 

Nominal Hours: 40

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to contract transport and distribution services in accordance with relevant regulatory requirements and workplace procedures. This includes negotiating the contract with a contractor, finalising the contract negotiations, and completing all enterprise contract requirements.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

TLIR4003 Negotiate a contract

Element:

1 Negotiate contract specifics with contractor

Performance Criteria:

1.1

Requirements of the contract are clearly documented and agreed to by the relevant parties

1.2

Areas of ambiguity or concern are clarified and resolved

1.3

Negotiations are undertaken with selected contractor for the contracting of required goods/services on a ‘without prejudice’ basis

1.4

Conditions for service and/or supply of goods/services are agreed between the enterprise and the contractor including the determination of key performance indicators

1.5

Alternative contractors are negotiated with if agreement is unable to be reached with preferred contractor

1.6

Contract negotiations are conducted in accordance with established workplace requirements and relevant legislation

Element:

2 Complete contract negotiations

Performance Criteria:

2.1

Contract documentation is drafted in accordance with relevant legislation, workplace procedures and negotiated conditions of service and supply

2.2

Technical support in drafting contracts is accessed as required

2.3

Contract documentation is signed and exchanged between relevant parties

Element:

3 Complete enterprise contract requirements

Performance Criteria:

3.1

Documentation systems are established to ensure traceability of orders and financial transactions

3.2

Workplace systems that require interaction with contractors are identified and actioned

3.3

Quality assurance procedures for supplied goods/services are initiated

3.4

Contract and ancillary documentation is completed and stored as required, in accordance with workplace procedures and regulatory requirements


Learning Outcomes


This course is structured to provide students with the optimum learning experience in order to demonstrate the skills and knowledge required to contract transport and distribution services in accordance with relevant regulatory requirements and workplace procedures.


Details of Learning Activities

A range of learning activities are planned for this course including self-paced and collaborative classroom based activities.

The collaborative classroom based activities will include group discussion, group problem solving activities and opportunities to practice your skills in a simulated/real workplace environment.


We expect you to participate and contribute in all scheduled learning activities.


Teaching Schedule

The nominal hours associated with this are a guide only and represent the total teaching time and student effort required to successfully complete this course.  This may include not only scheduled classes but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Week

Topic

Activities

Assessment

Week 1

5 February 2018

Introduction to course

Reading:
Lecture Notes Week 1 

 

 

Week 2

12 February

Contracts

Reading:
Lecture Notes Week 2

 

Week 3

19 February

Contract law and negotiating business deals #1

Reading:
Lecture Notes Week 3

 

Week 4

26 February

Contract law and negotiating business deals #2

Reading:
Lecture Notes Week 4

 

Week 5

5 March

Introduction to Assessing the Supply Market

Reading:
Lecture Notes Week 5

 

Week 6

12 March

12th March
Labour day

Introduction to developing the Sourcing Strategy

Reading:
Lecture Notes Week 6

  

Week 7

19 March

Introduction to developing the Sourcing Strategy

Reading:
Lecture Notes Week 7

 

Week 8a

26 March

Introduction to Purchasing Negotiation

Reading:
Lecture Notes Week 8

Assessment 1: Group case study

Mid-Semester Break  29 March – 4 April 2018

Week 8b 

5 April

Introduction to Purchasing Negotiation

Reading:
Lecture Notes Week 8

Assessment 1: Group case study

Week 9

9 April 

Introduction to implementation and integration of the Contractual Agreement

Reading:
Lecture Notes Week 9

 

Week 10

16 April

Introduction to implementation and integration of the Contractual Agreement

Reading:
Lecture Notes Week 10

 

Week 11

23 April

Introduction to Supplier Performance Measurement and Improvement

Reading:
Lecture Notes Week 11

 

Week 12

30 April

Introduction to Supplier Performance Measurement and Improvement

Reading:
Lecture Notes Week 12

 

Week 13

7 May

Introduction to maintenance of records and relationships

Reading:
Lecture Notes Week 13

 

Week 14

14 May

Introduction to maintenance of records and relationships

 

Assessment 2: Group report

Week 15

21 May 

Assessment 3 -(Group presentation)

 

Assessment 3:
Group  presentation

Week 16

28 May

Review and Resubmissions

 

 

 

 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources


Overview of Assessment

Assessment Methods

Assessment methods have been designed to measure achievement of the requirements in a flexible manner over a range of assessment tasks, for example:

  • direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence and third party workplace reports of on-the-job performance by the candidate
  • review of final printed documents
  • demonstration of techniques
  • observation of presentations
  • oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of software applications

You are advised that you are likely to be asked to personally demonstrate your assessment work to your teacher to ensure that the relevant competency standards are being met.

Performance Evidence

You will be required to provide evidence of the ability to:

  • Communicate effectively with others when negotiating a contract
  • Read and interpret instructions, procedures, information and regulatory requirements relevant to the negotiation of a contract
  • Prioritise work and coordinate self and others in relation to workplace activities
  • Complete documentation related to the negotiation of a contract
  • Operate electronic communication equipment to required protocol
  • Provide leadership and work collaboratively with others when negotiating a contract
  • Adapt appropriately to cultural differences in the workplace, including modes of behaviour and interactions with others
  • Promptly report and/or rectify any identified problems that may arise when negotiating a contract in accordance with regulatory requirements and workplace procedures
  • Apply precautions and required action to minimise, control or eliminate risks that may exist when negotiating a contract
  • Plan and organise work activities
  • Monitor work activities in terms of planned schedule
  • Modify activities to cater for variations in workplace contexts and environment
  • Work systematically with required attention to detail without injury to self or others, or damage to goods or equipment
  • Select and apply appropriate technology and information systems
  • Adapt to differences in equipment in accordance with standard operating procedures

Performance Knowledge

You must provide evidence of the following knowledge:

  • Regulations, codes of practice and legal requirements relevant to contractual arrangements
  • Relevant OH&S and environmental protection procedures and regulations
  • Workplace procedures for the negotiation of a contract
  • Problems that may occur during the negotiation of a contract and action that can be taken to report or resolve the problems
  • Risks that may exist when negotiating a contract and ways of controlling the risks involved
  • Focus of operation supply arrangements, resources, management and workplace operating systems
  • Applicable aspects of contract law
  • Processes for contract formulation and negotiation
  • Workplace business policies and plans including procedures for maintenance of confidentiality
  • Equipment applications, capacities, and configurations
  • Resource availability including the competencies of individuals in the team/group
  • Relevant contract documentation requirements

Feedback

Feedback will be provided throughout the semester in class and/or online discussions. You are encouraged to ask and answer questions during class time and online sessions so that you can obtain feedback on your understanding of the concepts and issues being discussed. Finally, you can email or arrange an appointment with your teacher to gain more feedback on your progress.

You should take note of all feedback received and use this information to improve your learning outcomes and final performance in the course.


Assessment Tasks

You are required to successfully complete three tasks to be deemed competent in this course.

Assessment Task 1 – Contract Negotiation - Case Study

Date handed out:  Week 1
Date and time due:  Week 8  Sunday 8th April  2018  23:59pm
Group or Individual: Groups of no more than 2 students                        

Purpose:
This assignment will allow you to develop "Contract Negotiations” skills and include the ability to communicate and negotiate effectively with others when sourcing goods and services with suppliers and/or buyers.

Assessment Task 2 – Management Report 

Date handed out:  Week 1
Date and time due: Week 14  Sunday 20th of May 2018  23:59pm
Group or Individual: Groups of no more than 2 students ( Max 3000 Words )                        

Purpose:
This assessment allows you to demonstrate your knowledge and ability to evaluate, review, and calculate the most appropriate modes of transport used for international trade

As the owner of a niche International Importation & Logistics Company, you have been approached by a major retail chain in Australia to import samples of the new Philips NTRX500 Mini Hi-Fi System into Melbourne Australia for a trade show on the 1st of April 2017 at the Exhibition Building based in Carlton.

As such you will prepare a brief/report for management and ensure to additional cover each of the 4 tasks listed below. These should consist of a one page summary outlining what was done and evidence of research carried out to achieve the above mentioned task. (Each task should be no more than 800 words) 

Assessment Task 3 –  Presentation

Date handed out:  Week 1
Date and time due:  Week 15
Group or Individual: Groups of no more than 2 students  

Note: This assignment follows on and is aligned to Assessment 1 case study

Purpose:
This research assessment/presentation will allow you to research and present on critical aspects of contract negotiation and in their management for the supplier and/or buyers.

 

 

 

 


Assessment Matrix

For these  assessment tasks you need to draw upon what you have learned throughout the unit.

 

Assessment Matrix 

The assessment matrix that maps all the assessment is available on CANVAS.

 

Submission Requirements 

You should: 

  • Ensure that you submit assessments on or before the due date. 
  • Always retain a copy of your assessment tasks. (hard copy and soft copy)
  • When you submit work for assessment at RMIT University you need to use the Assessment task document that includes a declaration and statement of authorship.
  • Each page of your assessment should include footer with your name, student number, the title of the assessment, unit code and title and page numbers.

 

Late Submission Procedures

You are required to submit assessment items and/or ensure performance based assessment is completed by the due dates.

If you are prevented from submitting an assessment item on time, by circumstances outside your control, you may apply in advance to your teacher for an extension to the due date of up to seven calendar days.

 

More Informationhttps://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment/extensions-of-time-for-submission-of-assessable-work

 

Where an extension of greater than seven days is needed, you must apply for Special Consideration.  Applications for special consideration must be submitted no later than two working days after the assessment task deadline or scheduled examination.

 

More Information:https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment/special-consideration

 

Resubmissions
If you are found to be unsuccessful in a particular Course Assessment Task (or you do not submit/attend) you will be allowed one resubmission.  Your teacher will provide feedback regarding what you need to do to improve and will set a new deadline for the resubmission. 

If you are still not meeting the assessment requirements you must apply to your Program Manager in writing outlining the steps you will take to demonstrate competence in your course. Your submission will be considered by the Program Team and you will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible.

 

Grading & re-submissions
Successful re-submissions will contribute a CAG only (Competency Achieved Grading) result to your overall grade for the course.

 

Adjustments to Assessment
In certain circumstances students may be eligible for an assessment adjustment. For more information about the circumstances under which the assessment arrangements might be granted please access the following website:

https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment/adjustments-to-assessment

 

Marking Guide (Competency):
You must demonstrate that you have all the required skills/knowledge/elements in the unit of competency you are studying.

 

You will receive feedback on each assessment task that will inform you about your progress and how well you are performing.

 

Marking Guide (Grading)

After achieving competency we then grade your performance in the unit and you will achieve one of the following grades:

 

Final Grades table:

 

CHD

Competent with High Distinction

CDI

Competent with Distinction

CC

Competent with Credit

CAG

Competency Achieved – Graded

CA

Competency Achieved – Not Graded

NYC

Not Yet Competent

DNS

Did Not Submit for assessment

 

Further information regarding the application of the grading criteria will be provided by your teacher.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Information

Academic Integrity

Plagiarism 
Plagiarism is a form of cheating in assessment and may occur in oral, written or visual presentations. It is the presentation of the work, idea or creation of another person, without appropriate referencing, as though it is your own.

The penalties for cheating in assessment are severe, whether the cheating involves plagiarism, fabrication, falsification of data, copyright infringement or some other method. Penalties can include charges of academic misconduct, cancellation of results and exclusion from your course. It is also a disciplinary offence for you to allow your work to be plagiarised by another student.

Referencing 
RMIT Business produce their own referencing guidelines entitled written reports and essays: guidelines for referencing and presentation in RMIT Business which all Business students should use.

RMIT Business referencing guidelines (RTF, 1,286 KB, 52 pages); A supporting Referencing website has been developed for the RMIT Business guidelines.You can find out more about Academic Integrity at RMIT’s Academic Integrity webpage. 

Group Assessment 
A number of your assessments will rely upon group work. This is a critical part of your program as in the workplace you will be regularly required to work in a team environment. Teamwork is also one of the key employability skills for this qualification.

The key to being successful in group work is getting to know your classmates and finding out what they want to achieve. You should seek to find a team which shares your key interests and drivers.

If you are facing issues with your group, the key is to resolve them quickly well before assessments are due. If you need to you can seek support from your teacher.

Course Overview: Access Course Overview