Course Title: Participate in negotiations

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2008

Course Code: SOSK5140C

Course Title: Participate in negotiations

School: 650T TAFE Business

Campus: City Campus

Program: C4170 - Certificate IV in Financial Services

Course Contact : Seymour Jacobson

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 1563

Course Contact Email:seymour.jacobson@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Nominal Hours: 20

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

This unit is co-delivered and assessed with:
BAFI5127C Resolve disputes

Course Description

Participate in negotiations covers the skills and knowledge required to take part in negotiations either as an individual or as a member of a team. It includes effective negotiating techniques, planning and preparing for the negotiation and finalising the agreement.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

FNSICGEN402A Participate in negotiations

Element:

Conduct the negotiation

Performance Criteria:

1 Effective presentation skills, speaking, listening and questioning techniques are used to put forward a strong argument to other parties

2 The negotiation is conducted in a professional manner, including showing respect for those with whom the negotiations are conducted

3 Effective techniques are used for dealing with conflict and breaking deadlocks, where required

4 The final position is confirmed, ensuring agreement and understanding by all parties

Element:

Finalise the negotiation

Performance Criteria:

1 The agreement is accurately documented, including timelines for agreements to be implemented, if appropriate

2 The outcome of the negotiation is evaluated and a decision made on whether further action is required

Element:

Plan the negotiation

Performance Criteria:

1 The purpose of the negotiation is clarified, including content and desired outcomes

2 The approach to be taken is based on an analysis of the strength and weakness of the position and the most appropriate negotiating style

3 The consequences of not reaching agreement are identified and other alternatives are determined

4 All information relevant to the negotiation is collected, analysed and organised to support the selected approach


Learning Outcomes


Refer to performance elements and performance criteria.


Details of Learning Activities

In this course students will undertake a range of learning activities, which will include:
An initial introduction to topics and techniques via teacher directed learning, tutorial-based discussion groups, role-plays to explore individual reactions to particular situations, a group project, case-study and tutorial exercises in order to develop competency including underpinning skills and knowledge.

This unit is co-delivered and assessed with:
BAFI5127C Resolve disputes

Elements of the two competencies are overlapping and will be co-delivered in class activities, assessment activities and grading.


Teaching Schedule

Week Beginning Topics Assessment
Week 1: 11 Feb Conflict: definition and resolution methods  
Week 2: 18 Feb Negotiation: definition, purpose, stages  
Week 3: 25 Feb Negotiation: preparation and tactics  
Week 4: 3 Mar Negotiation skills: listening, questioning and persuasive techniques  
Week 5: 10 Mar Negotiation skills: bargaining and finalising  
Week 6: 17 Mar   Simulation of a workplace negotiation
  Mid Semester Break (Student Vacation)
From Thursday 20th to return to class on Thursday 27th March		  
Week 6: 24 Mar   Simulation of a workplace negotiation
Week 7: 31 Mar Evaluate outcome of negotiation  
Week 8: 7 April  On-line research  
Week 9: 14 April Causes of customer complaints and disputes  
Week 10: 21 April Dispute resolution methods and bodies  
Week 11: 28 April Simulation of conflict / dispute resolution  
Week 12: 5 May Complaints procedures / policies.  
Week 13: 12 May Disputes and resolution practices.  
Week 14: 19 May   Verbal presentation
Week 15: 26 May   Verbal presentation
Week 16: 2 June   Written formal business report/test
Week 17: 9 June   Written formal business report/test
Week 18 – 18 June Feedback on assignment & assessment  
Please note that the above schedule is a guide and may change. Students, even if absent, are expected to keep themselves accurately informed of and follow up any changes.


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

Communicate for Business, Access series, McGraw Hill
Rix P., 2006. Selling: Managing Customer Relationships 3ed, McGraw-Hill Australia, North Ryde NSW.

Please note: Communicate for Business is the same text as for Communicate in the Workplace. Rix’s book is the same text as for “Sell financial products and services” unit in the Certificate IV in Financial Services. Extensive course notes and materials will be available of the learning hub online@rmiit.edu.au from the commencement of the course.


References

Print-based resources
Students will be provided with a learner’s guide that will include tutorial discussion questions, short answer questions and problem sets, self-directed exercises, some solutions and core notes for each topic.

Recommended readings
Recommended readings for this course are to be advised.

Additional texts are available for general use from the Business Library on level 5 of Building 108. A computer access laboratory is provided on level 3.


Other Resources

On-line resources
Students will be provided with on-line resources in the learning hub that include lectures and self-directed exercises, on-line feedback exercises and relevant URL’s.


Overview of Assessment

Assessment may incorporate a variety of methods including a group simulation of a workplace negotiation based activity, a group simulation of conflict / dispute resolution, exploring dispute handling procedures in a financial services setting, a verbal presentation, a written formal business report and tests.

You will receive ongoing feedback on your progress in the course. Feedback on assessment will be given in a timely manner. You will be informed about how to improve your performance in the competency/course and what you need to do to be deemed competent or to gain a pass in the assessment.


Assessment Tasks

The assessment will consist of:
• A group simulation of a workplace negotiation.
• A group simulation of conflict/dispute resolution, exploring dispute handling procedures in a financial services setting.
• A verbal presentation introducing, outlining or elaborating on some aspect of the written report prepared below, or on a dispute case study.
• A written formal business report/test will take the form of a closed book test under exam conditions. It will assess the underpinning skills and knowledge of the course and the performance elements indicated in the assessment matrix above.

Assessment weighting for this course takes the following form:
Simulation of a workplace negotiation:     20%
Simulation of conflict/dispute resolution:  15%
Verbal presentation/case study:                 15%
Written formal business report(s)/test:      50%

The final mark is based on all assessment components. To receive a pass for this course a student must achieve a pass in each competency element.


Assessment Matrix

  Simulation negotiation Simulation dispute resolution Simulation dispute resolution Written business report/test
Plan the negotiation X     X
Conduct the negotiation X     X
Finalise the negotiation X     X
Establish that a dispute exists   X X X
Investigate the dispute and determine the action to be taken   X X X
Resolve dispute   X X X
Finalise dispute   X X X

Other Information

Teacher Contact
Out of class communication to all students will occur using the RMIT student email. It is essential that you check your email prior to attending each class.

Consultation times will be made available to you in the first week of classes. Consultations may also be arranged via email.

Self Managed Learning
Students will be required to undertake research and assessment practice outside of regular class times. Exercises are provided to the students to facilitate their learning in a self-paced manner and form part of the overall achievement of the competencies in this course. Students are reminded that they are expected to spend an equal amount of time outside of class, furthering their understanding of the concepts being taught, as they do in class to be deemed competent in this course.

Course Evaluation & Feedback
Feedback on the course itself is welcome at any time to the class teacher, course coordinator or program coordinator. Periodic course evaluation surveys are also conducted.
Students who require general assistance should, in the first instance, approach their class teacher. Secondly, students should contact the Course Coordinator and lastly, the Program Coordinator.

Submission of written work/assessment
All of your written assessment must be lodged by the due date in the format specified for the particular assessment task. Written assessment must have a footer containing: student number, student name, course code, title of assessment and teacher’s name.

Staple your assignment. Please do not place in plastic binders or plastic pockets.

Attach a signed Assignment Cover Sheet to each submission of written work or assessment. Cover Sheets are available near the lifts on Level 13.

You must keep a copy of your assignment/written work, which can be produced if the original is lost or damaged.

Non and Late Submission of Work
If you do not attempt an assessment or meet an assessment deadline and have not been granted Special Consideration, you will not receive a mark for the assessment.
Please note: If you fail an assessment you will be given more that one chance to pass that assessment.

Academic Administration Procedures
Please refer to your student diary or the RMIT web site for all academic procedures.

Course Overview: Access Course Overview