Course Title: Lead effective workplace relationships

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2021

Course Code: EMPL5990C

Course Title: Lead effective workplace relationships

School: 650T Vocational Business Education

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5390 - Diploma of Accounting

Course Contact: Doug Gourlay

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 5944

Course Contact Email: doug.gourlay@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Upasana Mahajan

Course Coordinator

Email: upasana.mahajan@rmit.edu 
Location: 80.05.30

Nominal Hours: 50

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 skills, knowledge and outcomes required to use leadership to promote team cohesion. It includes motivating, mentoring, coaching and developing the team and forming the bridge between the management of the organisation and team members.

The unit applies to team leaders, supervisors and new or emerging managers where leadership plays a role in developing and maintaining effective workplace relationships. It applies in any industry or community context. At this level work will normally be carried out within routine and non-routine methods and procedures, which require planning, evaluation, leadership and guidance of others.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

BSBLDR413 Lead effective workplace relationships

Element:

1. Prepare to lead workplace relationships

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Identify work team objectives according to organisational strategy 1.2 Collect and analyse information for the achievement of work task 1.3 Share ideas and information with relevant internal and external stakeholders according to work task 1.4 Develop strategy for completion of work task in collaboration with work team

Element:

2. Lead workplace relationships

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Identify and implement methods to facilitate collaboration to complete work task 2.2 Support colleagues experiencing difficulties fulfilling work requirements 2.3 Manage conflict constructively within the organisation's processes and parameters of own role 2.4 Communicate work progress to relevant internal and external stakeholders

Element:

3. Review leadership

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Seek feedback on relationship management for work task from relevant stakeholders 3.2 Analyse feedback on relationship management 3.3 Evaluate personal performance in leading workplace relationships 3.4 Identify areas of improvement for leading workplace relationships future work tasks


Learning Outcomes



Details of Learning Activities

This unit will be delivered as a cluster with the unit FNSINC503 Identify situations requiring complex ethical decision making.

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

A Practice Firm (simulated work environment) will be set up where students will be employed in a virtual office. The students will be asked to work in this practice firm every week and perform normal activities as they might in an accounting and bookkeeping office. It will give a real working life experience.

The self-paced activities will be delivered through various technology platforms and include your contribution to wikis and discussion threads, reflective journals, quizzes and interactive sessions.

The collaborative classroom based activities will include group discussions, 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

This course is typically delivered in a blended mode. This unit will be delivered as a cluster with the unit FNSINC503 Identify situations requiring complex ethical decision making.

The weekly activities are as below:


Week

Topic / Learning Materials to be covered

Assessment due

1

Reading: Pre Class content -Links provided in the weekly module

Activity: NO - Class.

Exploring course schedules and discussion in your time

Quiz 1 - Introduction to Ethics



2

Workplace Behaviours that Instil Trust and Mutual Respect

  • Why good relationships matter
  • Critical Business Relationships
  • Business responsibilities are key to good relationships
  • Ethical Responsibilities Often Extend Beyond Legal Requirements
  • What is Ethics?
  • The role of ethics in workplace relationships
  • Why Ethics Matter
  • How do I know if my decisions are Ethical?

The Essence of Ethical Dilemmas.

  • Approaches to ethical dilemmas – Consequential, Categorical
  • A clash of Values - Justice vs. Mercy
  • A clash of values - Kindness vs. Honesty
  • Ethical principles -  Moral Generalist and Moral Particularist

Class activity
Case studies in the accounting/bookkeeping world


3

Impact of remuneration and incentives

  • Ethical case studies (Cricket Australia , Enron, Volkswagen)
  • Class activity - Present examples of organisations demonstrating a lack of ethics
  • The slippery slope of unethical behaviour.
  • Ethics questionnaire
  • The effects of Culture on ethical behaviour

Class activity
Case studies in the accounting/bookkeeping world

Assessment Task 1 & 2 released

Allocate student groups and schedule for Classroom presentations and Peer Reviews across weeks 11-15

All students to attend this week

4

Personal Values and their role in ethical decision making

  • Personal values and their role in business
  • Class Activity - Identifying personal values
  • Making Sense of Their Core Values
  • Values questionnaire
  • What is moral conflict
  • Dealing With Moral Conflict

Class activity
Case studies in the accounting/bookkeeping world


5

Social, Ethical and Business standards

  • Financial Industry Compliance and Codes of Conduct
  • Class activity – Questions
  • Students present examples of non-compliance they researched


6

Current approaches to Whistleblowing

  • Whistleblowing
  • ASIC’s 5 criteria for whistleblowing
  • 4 strategies for dealing with unethical behaviour

Class activity
Case studies in the accounting/bookkeeping world


7

Signs of Ethical Collapse

  • Legal vs. Illegal
  • Ethical vs. Unethical
  • Behaviour that is unlawful in public in Victoria Australia
  • The Death of Corporate Greed?

Class activity
Questions and reflection


8

The Conflict of Moral Responsibility

  • Frameworks for ethical decision making
  • Why people don’t get involved
  • Class discussion

Class activity
Presentation of key learnings from CPA published articles


9

Solving Ethical Business Dilemmas

  • Sticking to their ‘ethical’ guns (values)
  • An ethical approach to bad behaviour

Class activity
Students present key learnings from CPA published articles

In-Class Presentations of Report

The groups will cross observe other groups and ask questions and take notes for the Assessment 2.

Assessment Task 1 – Report Due

10

Organisational culture and group behaviour

  • What is organizational culture?
  • The World’s Most Ethical Companies
  • Organisational approaches to instilling ethical behaviour

In-Class presentations continue

The groups will cross observe other groups and ask questions and take notes for the Assessment 2.

Assessment Task 1 –Report Due

11

Assessment working time


12

In Class Presentation and Peer Review Assessment

  • Teams 3 and 4 work on their assessment (Presentation and Peer Review) - all other students attend to observe and participate in the presentations

Assessment task 2 – Peer Review Due

13

In Class Presentation and Peer Review Assessment

  • Teams 5 and 6 work on their assessment (Presentation and Peer Review) - all other students attend to observe and participate in the presentations

Work on Role Plays in class

14

In Class Discussions and Peer Review Assessment

  • Teams 7 and 8 work on their assessment (Presentation and Peer Review) - all other students attend to observe and participate in the presentations

Assessment task 3 – Due

All students must be present -IN-Class Role plays

15

In Class Role Play and Assessment 3

  • All teams attend to observe and participate in the presentations

Assessment task 3 – Due

All students must be present -IN-Class Role plays

16

Re-sits (if any) in class



Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References

Lead Effective Workplace Relationships

978-1-76073-065-9


Other Resources

Online learning materials can be accessed by going into the RMIT web sites Online Learning Hub.

The online learning materials listed include: 

  • Course outlines
  • Power point Presentations
  • Supporting Reading material
  • Industry relevant articles
  • Activities.


Overview of Assessment

Performance Evidence

The candidate must demonstrate the ability to complete the tasks outlined in the elements, performance criteria and foundation skills of this unit, including evidence of the ability to:

  • lead effective workplace relationships on at least four occasions with different individuals or groups.

In the course of the above, the candidate must:

  • access and analyse information required to achieve planned outcomes
  • collaborate with work team to develop and implement a work task strategy
  • apply techniques for resolving problems and conflicts, and dealing with poor performance according to organisational and legislative requirements
  • monitor and communicate work progress to relevant internal and external stakeholders
  • seek and review feedback to improve workplace leadership.

Knowledge Evidence

The candidate must be able to demonstrate knowledge to complete the tasks outlined in the elements, performance criteria and foundation skills of this unit, including knowledge of:

  • considerations for communicating information including audience cultural and social diversity
  • consultation processes including internal and external sources of consultees
  • impacts of relationships, cultural and social environment, in supporting or hindering the achievement of planned outcomes
  • techniques for developing positive work relationships and building trust and confidence in a team, including:
  • interpersonal styles
  • communications
  • consultation
  • cultural and social sensitivity
  • networking
  • impact of legislation and organisational policies on workplace relationships
  • techniques for communicating information and ideas to a range of stakeholders
  • common methods to resolve workplace conflict
  • common methods to manage poor work performance
  • common methods to monitor, analyse and improve work relationships.

Assessment Conditions

Skills in this unit must be demonstrated in a workplace or simulated environment where the conditions are typical of those in a working environment in this industry.

This includes access to:

  • legislation, regulations, standards and codes relevant to performance evidence
  • workplace documentation and resources
  • interaction with others.


Assessors of this unit must satisfy the requirements for assessors in applicable vocational education and training legislation, frameworks and/or standards.


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 this course. 


Assessment Tasks

The course will have 3 assessments in total. The details of each assessment is as follows:


Assessment 1 (Weeks 9 and 10)

It will be a case study.  This assessment is due in weeks 10 of the semester with 3 - 4 groups presenting in class each week. Presentations will be carried in class during week 9 - 10.

The purpose of the assessment is to give you the opportunity to critically investigate, evaluate and critique a case study involving the accountancy and/or bookkeeping industry, where there have been instances of unethical and/or unlawful organisational behaviour

The assessment provides an opportunity for you to engage in verbal exchanges, using language and concepts appropriate to your audience and adopting active listening and critical questioning techniques.


Assessment 2 (Week 12)

It will be a presentation based on the case study completed in assessment 1. It is called PEER REVIEW.  

Through the process of peer review, the purpose of the assessment is to critically investigate, evaluate and critique a case study presented by fellow students who have analysed instances of unethical and/or unlawful organisational behavior. (Assessment Task 1)

You should rigorously assess the facts, the opinions, the recommendations and the strategies presented and develop a range of thought provoking and challenging questions and points of view to further elicit an understanding of current workplace behaviors and the protective standards and legislation available to ensure an organisational culture that embraces ethical and lawful practices


Assessment 3 (Weeks 14 and 15)

This Assessment is designed to help you reflect on your individual and team performance during the completion of the Group Assessment Tasks 1 and 2. 

In this assessment task you will firstly answer a range of short answer questions and then apply your knowledge to take part in a series of different role-play scenarios. You will be presented with three (3) situations in which you will need to demonstrate your skills to be able to lead effective workplace relationships in the workplace.  

The Assessment contains two parts: 

Part A: Short Answer Questions  

Part B: Role Play Scenarios 


To be successful, you will have to complete all the assessments successfully.



Assessment Matrix

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

All assessments will utilise a competency-based model and will be deemed as either Satisfactory or Not Yet Satisfactory. 

Other Information

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 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 each assessment task is available on Canvas.
  • 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.   For example, Julie Macpherson, 324567, Task 2, OHS2345C Ensure safe workplace, Page 1 of 10.

 

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 Information:  http://www.rmit.edu.au/students/assessment/extension

Form to use:  http://mams.rmit.edu.au/seca86tti4g4z.pdf

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: http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=g43abm17hc9w (unresolved)

Form to use: http://mams.rmit.edu.au/8a5dgcaqvaes1.pdf

Resubmissions (VET Programs):

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

Re-submissions do not contribute 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:

More Information: http://rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=7usdbki1fjf31

 

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.

Course Overview: Access Course Overview