Course Title: Plan and manage conferences
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2013
Course Code: BUSM6241C
Course Title: Plan and manage conferences
School: 650T TAFE Business
Campus: City Campus
Program: C5221 - Diploma of Business Administration
Course Contact : Sylvia Baroutis
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 5469
Course Contact Email:sylvia.baroutis@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Nominal Hours: 30
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 describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to plan, promote and coordinate conferences,ensuring follow up procedures are incorporated.
No licensing, legislative regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
BSBADM503B Plan and manage conferences |
Element: |
1. Plan conference |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 Confirm purpose, required outcomes and style of conference with conference convenor(s). 1.2 Confirm conference facilities requirements, budget and preparation timeline with conference convenor(s) 1.3 Identify speakers/presenters and/or prepare a call for papers in accordance with conference purpose and style 1.4 Draft conference program in line with stated purpose and balance choice of program elements to allow outcomes to be achieved 1.5 Select, invite and brief speakers in accordance with conference program 1.6 Identify participant target group and project numbers in consultation with conference organisers 1.7 Plan conference administration requirements and tasks, processes and resources to ensure efficient management of conference data and resources |
Element: |
2. Promote conference |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 Establish a promotion strategy that reaches required number of target participants 2.2 Prepare publicity material in accordance with the promotion strategy and budget allocation(s) and despatch within designated timelines |
Element: |
3. Organise conference |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 Make conference arrangements in accordance with booking lead times and budget allocation(s) 3.2 Record acceptances, receipt fees and confirm participants within designated timelines 3.3 Identify and cater for participants' specific needs 3.4 Confirm program details and prepare confernce papers in accordance with speakers' requirements and conference timeline 3.5 Despatch pre-confernce information to participants within designated timelines |
Element: |
4. Coordinate conference proceedings |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1 Check conference facilities to confirm they meet agreed requirements 4.2 Register participants in accordance with planned registration procedures 4.3 Communicate to participants any late changes to the published program 4.4 Make contingency arrangements to ensure the smooth running of the conference 4.5 Ensure speakers' schedules are managed and their conference requirements met throughout the conference 4.6 Manage administration requirements during conference in accordance with conference plan/schedule |
Element: |
5. Follow up conference proceedings |
Performance Criteria: |
5.1 Record, report and/or follow-up conference outcomes in accordance with organisational requirements 5.2 Prepare conference papers for publication and distribution within designated timelines 5.3 Post-conference correspondence is prepared and despatched within designated timelines 5.4 Finalise receipts and payments and acquit conference funds in accordance with organisational procedures and audit requirements |
Learning Outcomes
Details of Learning Activities
Learners will host a conference with a theme and with a link to a social action project. The project is to raise awareness and fundraise for the Australian Literacy & Numeracy Foundation. Working with the stakeholder, WorldSkills Australia, students will bring theory alive into practice and produce a real life conference that is planned and managed in small subcommittees. The learner is accountable for their own planning actions and weekly participation is required so that a successful conference transpires. Some learning activities will include a self-directed learning approach. Self-directed learning refers to organised teacher-directed learning activities that you will undertake independently, either as individuals or with other students. Tell your teacher if you are unable to attend class as this will affect the successful outcome of this course. This may include workplace research, library assignments, field work and work placements.
Teaching Schedule
| Week | Week Commencing | Content | Assessments |
|
1
|
11 February 2013 |
Course induction Course delivery and assessment details Course support documents Online learning environment including Blackboard Grading Plagiarism/use of Turnitin Appeals/Extensions Feedback/Privacy Submission requirements/Feedback Where to get support Student responsibilities Recognition of Prior Learning/Credit Transfer |
Assessment: Task 1 Subcommittee Report Task 2: Individual Report Task 3: Peer Evaluation Grading sheet as teacher record for continuous feedback of student performance. |
| 2 |
18 February 2013 |
TOPIC: The first steps- PowerPoint Planning: Form into conference sub-committees Conference theme and communication strategy for target audience Set goals, objectives and define tasks Schedule subcommittees and planning meetings Elements: 1.1, 1.4, 1.6 |
Introducing the Stakeholders. |
| 3 |
25 February 2013 |
TOPIC: Organisation and Timing - PowerPoint Planning: Determine conference purpose. What is a social action project/triple bottom line? Team goals, individual roles. Chapter 13: Building effective work teams Elements: 1.2, 1.6, 1.7, 4.1 |
|
| 4 | 4 March 2013 |
TOPIC: Venue requirements - PowerPoint Planning: Event promotion, prepare mail outs, planning tools established (MS Project for Gantt charts) PROMOTE EVENT TO BUSINESS TAFE SCHOOL STAFF Chapter 15: Providing formal and informal performance reviews and feedback Elements: 1.3, 1.5, 1.7, 2.2 |
|
| 5 | 11 March 2013 |
Planning: MINI EVENT: Create awareness for your conference with a staff team building activity at the RMIT BUsiness TAFE School, level 5. Keeping records Staffing and volunteer management. Prepare invitations. Create budget. Chapter 18: Solving problems and making decisions Elements: 1.3, 1.5 |
|
| 6 |
18 March 2013 |
TOPIC: Managing for sustainability (read chapter 23) Planning, organising, coordinating: Distribute marketing collateral and prepare response plan. Filing documents: checklists and file notes, contact sheets, budget spreadsheet, run sheet Elements: 2.2, 3.1, 4.1, 4.2, 5.2 |
|
| 7 |
25 March 2013 |
Planning,organising, coordinating Promoting: Spectator management Importance of RSVP’s and registration processes Elements: 1.4, 2.1, 2.2 Chapter 22: Identifying and managing risks |
|
| 7 | 28 March - 3 April 2013 | MID-SEMESTER BREAK (includes 1 April Easter Monday Public Holiday, 2 April Easter Tuesday RMIT holiday 4 April classes resume). | |
| 8 |
8 April 2013 |
Practical Placement
|
|
| 9 |
15 April 2013 | Practical Placement |
|
| 10 |
22 April 2013 |
Conference rehearsal/OHS risk assessment Elements: 2.2, 3.2, 3.4, 3.5, 5.2 |
|
| 11 |
29 April 2013 |
CONFERENCE Coordinate conference proceedings Confirmations using checklists Contingency planning Worldskills 2012 Certificates of appreciation given to students. All elements |
Teacher observation and feedback. |
| 12 |
6 May 2013 |
Post conference promotion and follow up: Confirmations and acquittal of funds Qualitative and quantitative assessment - measuring and evaluating the event impact |
|
| 13 |
13 May 2013 | Collate data and record your learning experience by writing your individual report. |
|
| 14 |
20 May 2013 |
Follow up conference Write invidudual report, collate related working documents and scan and upload to the Dropbox. Elements: 3.3, 3.4, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 5.1 |
TASK 2 Individual report |
| 15 |
27 May 2013 |
Follow up conference Liaise in subcommittee to write subcommittee report. Collate related documents for the Document Controller/Conference Manager. Elements: 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4 |
Teacher observation TASK 3: Team member peer evaluation form TASK 1 Sub-committee report |
| 16 |
3 June 2013 |
Follow up conference and review. Teacher final feedback on "Grading Sheet". Elements: 1.7, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4 |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
Refer to Learning Hub for text, handouts and Toolbox |
|
Management Theory and Practice, 4th Edition, Kris Cole, Pearson. |
9781442503120 |
References
Other Resources
Refer to myRMIT for assessments.
Critical Aspects:
Evidence of the following is essential:
1. Undertaking appropriate preparations and investigations to identify conference requirements.
2. Preparing required communications.
3. Addressing contingency situations as they arise.
Overview of Assessment
Students must demonstrate an understanding of all elements of a particular unit of competency to be deemed competent. Students are advised that they will be asked to personally demonstrate their assessment work to their teacher to ensure that the relevant competency standards are being met.
Assessment methods have been designed to measure achievements of each competency. Assessments may incorporate a variety of methods: direct questioning combined with a review of portfolios of evidence, review of authenticated documents from the training environment and demonstration of techniques.
In addition to the assessments, formative feedback is provided to the students throughout the duration of the course.
Assessment Tasks
There are three tasks you must successfully complete to be deemed competent in this unit.
Refer to the marking criteria guides on myRMIT.
Brief:
You will run a real conference in Week 11. In summary:
1. You will fundraise as a team
2. You will host a business related conference that has relevance and significance for your audience. You will respond to the brief from the Stakeholder: WorldSkills and others to be identified.
3. Your subcommittees will be in competition with each other to fundraise for the ALNF. This will be your "citizenship" and "social action project" that connects your business actions to a social cause. Work with the document "Community Fundraising Proposal and Guidelines" and apply it to your conference. More information about the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation (ALNF) www.alnf.org describes only one in five children in remote Indigeneous communities can read and write. Find ways to promote your conference to relevant audiences.
4. Make your conference accountable by linking your actions with resource usage. You will attempt to make the planning stages and the event carbon neutral as your business sustainability approach. This will take some research and applied thinking.
5. In a nutshell, you will be responsible for planning, promoting, organising, coordinating and following up the conference. The stakeholders of the Conference is Worldskills Australia. WorldSkills Australia aims to develop and nurture the skills of Australia’s youth. Our purpose is to promote and build a skills culture by inspiring young people, celebrating skills excellence and providing them with an opportunity to showcase their trade and skill talent. This goal is achieved through competitions held on a regional, national and international level. Worldskills will reward the student with a certificate of achievement for their teambuilding and fundraising efforts.
You will form into subcommittees to manage the affairs of the conference. All subcommittees have a fundraising goal to achieve:
1. Venue and OH&S
2. Speakers and protocol
3. Promotions/Publicity/Sponsorship
4. Budget/Coordination
5. Catering/Special needs
Conference Manager/Document Controller
This person is responsible for the Sub-committee report/portfolio of documents. It is a co-ordinator role. This person is elected at a full general meeting to take on the role of Conference Manager/Document controller to keep the conference proceedings on track. This person will have the qualities of efficiency, a can-do attitude and be organised with excellent interpersonal, leadership, liaison skills (particularly between each sub-committee) and document production skills. This person will have an eye for details and will ensure that weekly documents created by the committees, such as minutes, checklists and meeting documents are stored securely with back-up for hard and soft copies. This person will not be a member of a sub-committee.
The specific responsibilities of each sub-committee will be discussed in class. The scheduled group meetings will act as a communication channel between the coordinating activities of the subcommittees. This is an integral part of achieving a successful outcome for the conference.
Masters of Ceremony
Two students will be elected at a full general meeting to take on the role of Master of Ceremony.
Sub-committee Meetings
Each week within class time, sub committee meetings will run to keep the conference proceedings moving. Nominations for Chair and Minute Taker will be scheduled for the semester. It is the Chair and Minute Taker’s joint responsibility to prepare the minutes of each meeting and the meeting documents. In order to make decisions about actions tabled at the weekly class meetings, sub-committee meetings will be held. A copy of the sub-committee reports and relevant documents such as checklists and to-do-lists are to be attached to the minutes of the weekly class meetings and submitted to the teacher.
Each sub-committee will invite a number of visitors to the Conference and the promotions subcommittee send the invitations. It is proposed to target Careers Advisors from Secondary Colleges in Victoria and students, teachers and administrators in the Business Administration program and within the RMIT Business TAFE School.
Each sub-committee will have a specific role to play in the Conference proceedings and will need to liaise closely with other sub-committees to ensure that efficient coordination and organisation of the conference takes place.
Note that in all group work it is expected that student participation is equal and evident.
TASK 1 Subcommittee Report – Due Week 15
This report is streamlined and professional in appearance. It is a quality business folio with production to the highest standards. It will be consistent in font, design, use of templates, feature colour and style. All portfolio documents must be word processed and presented in a formal and professional manner with appropriate sections. Refer to RMIT Business Report/Writing Style guides on myRMIT. The evidence to be produced for the conference activity is a portfolio of documents is created weekly in class and stored securely by the sub-committee in hard and soft copies. This portfolio must identify all aspects of the conference preparation and organisation for each subcommittee and cover all allocated topics.
Each subcommittee is responsible to collate their own portfolio of documents including: Job Description, Gantt Charts produced in MS Project, To Do Lists, Check Lists and all other relevant documents related to their subcommittee. For templates refer to the admin section of the Toolbox located on myRMIT.
The Conference Manager/Document Controller is responsible for collating documents relating to the overall conference: Job Description, Gantt Chart, To Do List etc and collecting completed portfolio of documents from each subcommittee.
A full copy of the portfolio is to be presented bound and must include:
• Title page
• Table of contents with page numbering
• All agenda’s and minutes of subcommittee meetings
• All weekly reports from subcommittees
• All documents created during semester including subcommittee Gantt charts.
• All letters of enquiry and confirmation according to sub-committee area and other supporting evidence eg. invitations, flyers, registration forms, nametags, emails, quotes, enquiry and confirmation letters, record of telephone conversations, etc.
TASK 2 Individual Report – Due Week 14
This is where you get to showcase your work as an individual. You will produce an evaluation report in which you will describe in detail how the conference was planned, promoted, organised and coordinated and what you would do differently next time. Include:
1. Introduction – approx. 300 words
1.1. What the report is about
2. Topics – approx. 300 words per topic
2.1. Conference Planning
2.2. Conference Promotion
2.3. Conference Organising
2.4. Conference Proceedings
2.5. Post Conference
3. Evaluation – approx. 250 words
3.1. Observation of conference - include a qualitative and quantitative description
4. Appendices
4.1. Include all those documents that you produced during the semester. Sign them individually and collate note documents must include checklists.
5. Conclusion
5.1. Personal reflection of learning – approx. 500 words (what went well, not so well, what would you do differently next time ... )
The report should be presented in a formal format according to RMIT guidelines for the Presentation of Written Work. Refer to Blackboard for the marking criteria sheet and details of the project requirements.
TASK 3 Peer assessment - Week 15
This peer assessment will be undertaken by all students. This is where you get to have a say, anonymously, and rank your sub-committee colleagues according to how much effort they have spent on the conference planning/preparation etc. Each member will assess their sub-committee peers in relation to: their attendance at weekly and sub-committee meetings, constructive participation and effort in weekly and sub-committee meetings and the members’ ability and willingness to work in a team. Refer to the document on myRMIT.
Submission Requirements
Assessment tasks need to be submitted in class or electronically.
You should:
• Ensure that you submit assessments on or before the due date. If your performance in the assessment is affected by unexpected circumstances, you should consider applying for Special Consideration. Information on the process and application forms is available on myRMIT and links described in your Student Diary.
• 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 a cover sheet that includes a declaration and statement of authorship. You must complete, sign and submit a cover sheet with all work you submit for assessment, whether individual or group work. On the cover sheet you declare that the work you are presenting for assessment is your own work. An assignment cover sheet for submission of work for assessment is available on myRMIT.
• 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.
Marking Guide (competency):
Vocational Education and Training (VET) is based on current industry needs and the focus on preparing you for the workplace. Because VET courses are informed by practical application of knowledge and skills, they are based on a system known as ‘competency based training’ (CBT). So when you are assessed in VET it is about whether you are competent to do the job, as well as having a firm grasp on the knowledge and skills required to do that job, as opposed to traditional curriculum based education settings that are often based on knowledge retention.
You need to demonstrate you are competent in each element of the unit of competency you are studying.
You will receive feedback on each assessment task that will inform you whether you are competent or not and how well you are performing. Once competent in all elements of the unit you receive a competency grading.
Please refer to the FINAL GRADES table below.
Marking Guide (Grading)
After achieving competency your performance throughout the semester is graded. This is based on continuous observation and feedback from the teacher to the student. It relies on the level of your performance which is formally recognised against industry standards and employability skills.
The grading is according to the following criteria:
1. Level of independence, initiative, enterprise and performance of the work task – you must demonstrate initiative in the identification of a conference theme and purpose. You will work with the stakeholders to deliver a conference that is relevant and businesslike. You will meet the administration requirements and tasks, processes and resources planned to ensure efficient management of conference date and resources. You will be aware of legislative requirements and apply them where appropriate. You will be creative and provide innovative solutions to complex issues, choose appropriate systems to meet organisational needs and design and develop documentation and related processes. You will respond to new and changing circumstances to ensure accurate and timely outcomes.
2. Demonstrated breadth of underpinning knowledge and a willingness to continue learning – you will self-reflect on the conference, of how stakeholders and audience special needs were catered for. You will apply a carbon neutral approach to the conference. You will plan and identify your learning needs and monitor and evaluate your training requirements. You will meet deadlines. In particular you will show enthusiasms for continued learning.
3. Techniques and processes, technology skills and problemsolving – you will use complex functions of various computer software to design and develop templates, charts, standard documents and user manuals. You will use electronic communication and produce written correspondence and reports using technology to manage organisational information. You will use problemsolving techniques learned in the semester as it relates to team management. You will have checklists, to-do lists, use MSProject or similar to track your work and actions required to make a successful conference.
4. Work organisation, planning and self management – You will compose specific written plans, set goals, prioritise goals and schedule strategies and delegate tasks in order to get the task done in a timely manner. You will allocate resources to ensure organisational requirements are met, collect, collate and analyse information using workplace business systems, develop contingency plans and strategise to meet stakeholder needs, manage all meetings and the conference effectively through excellent time management and organisational skills. You will follow legislative and regulatory requirements to ensure the safety and security of the conference and for delegate information. You will demonstrate to your teacher that you are informed about the event and participating with a level of interest required of an event organiser.
5. Communication, people networking, language and interpersonal skills and teamwork – You will communicate in a business manner, when managing organisational systems and processes ensure usability and compliance by the team. You will relate well to a wide range of audiences in interpersonal exchanges requiring excellent negotiation and writing skills. Your documents will be complete, formatted, free of spelling and grammar errors, topics will be suitably addressed and content will be professionally presented. You will use teamwork principles to run your subcommittee. You will understand the expectations of each teamworker: competence, loyalty, trustworthiness, honesty, responsibility, industry.
GRADE TABLE:
CHD Competent with High Distinction
CDI Competent with Distinction
CC Competent with Credit
CAG Competency Achieved – 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.
Assessment Matrix
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Required knowledge:
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Assessment |
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Key provisions of relevant legislation from all forms of government, standards and codes that may affect aspects of business operations such as:
Organisational policies and procedures relating to the tasks required. Required skills:
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Tasks 1-3 Individual Report Group Report Peer Observation
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Elements and Performance Criteria (see above for performance criteria) 1. Plan conference (1.1 - 1.6) 2. Promote conference (2.1 - 2.2) 3. Organise conference (3.1 - 3.5) 4. Coordinate conference proceedings (4.1 - 4.6) 5. Follow up conference proceedings (5.1 - 5.4) |
Tasks 1-3 Individual Report Group Report Peer Observation
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Course Overview: Access Course Overview