Course Title: Ensure team effectiveness

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2008

Course Code: BUSM6139C

Course Title: Ensure team effectiveness

School: 650T TAFE Business

Campus: City Campus

Program: C6070 - Advanced Diploma of Business (Legal Practice)

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

Course Leader

Name: Vivien Wong
Phone: 9925 5494
Email: v.wong@rmit.edu.au

Teachers

Zlatko Muhvic
Ph: 9925 5441
Email: Zlatko. Muhvic@rmit.edu.au

Mechelle Moore
Ph: 9925 1351
Email: mechelle.moore@rmit.edu.au

Margaret Stewart
Ph:9925 5493
Email: margaret.stewart@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 60

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 specifies the outcomes required by frontline managers to facilitate all aspects of team work within the organisation. It involves taking a leadership role in the development of team plans, leading and facilitating team work and actively engaging with the management of the organisation.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

BSBFLM512A Ensure team effectiveness

Element:

1. Establish team performance plan.

Performance Criteria:

Team members are consulted to establish team purpose, roles, responsibilities and accountabilities in accordance with organisational goals, plans and objectives

Performance plans are developed in consultation with team members, to establish expected outcomes, outputs, key performance indicators and goals for work team

Team members are supported in meeting expected performance outcomes

Element:

2. Develop and facilitate team cohesion.

Performance Criteria:

Strategies are developed to ensure team members have input into planning, decision making and operational aspects of work team

Policies and procedures are developed to ensure team members take responsibility for own work and assist others to undertake required roles and responsibilities

Feedback is provided to team members to encourage, value and reward individual and team efforts and contributions

Processes are developed to ensure that issues, concerns and problems identified by team members are recognised and addressed

Element:

3. Facilitate team work.

Performance Criteria:

Team members and individuals are encouraged to participate in and take responsibility for team activities, including communication processes

The team is supported in identifying and resolving work performance problems

Own contribution to work team serves as a role model for others and enhances the organisation's image to all stakeholders

Element:

4. Liaise with stakeholders.

Performance Criteria:

Open communication processes with all stakeholders are established and maintained

Information from line manager/management is communicated to the team

Unresolved issues, concerns and problems raised by team members are communicated to, and followed up with, line manager/management and other relevant stakeholders

Unresolved issues, concerns and problems raised by internal or external stakeholders are evaluated, and necessary corrective action taken


Learning Outcomes


Please refer to the elements of competency above.


Details of Learning Activities

Students are required to attend all classes to complete activities and in class assessments. For the duration of the semester each student will work in a team. Students will be assessed on their contribution to the team and their participation in class activities. The class activities provide an opportunity to develop skills and apply theory to real life situations. The learning activities students will take a role in are:
• Case studies
• Project work
• Collaborative classroom activities
• Team activities
• Peer interaction
• Games and simulations
• Reflection and discussion
• Reading the text book
• Accessing materials on line


Teaching Schedule

WeekBeginning  
Topics Resources Competencies

 
Week 1
11 Feb

  Course Overview



 Introduction to Organisations & Management
Text: Dickie
Cornerstones of Management

Ch 1- Dickie
The opportunities of management
 BSBFLM512A/01
 
Week 2
18 Feb


 Learning Styles & Theory
Study Skills RMIT Learning Skills Unit
Learning Lab
Online Learning Hub
 Dickie – Appendix II
 
 Week 3
25 Feb
 Group & Team Theory  Ch 11-Dickie
Managing in groups
 BSBFLM512A/02
BSBFLM512A/03
 Week 4
3 Mar
 Planning & Goal Setting  Ch 4- Dickie
Planning
 BSBFLM512A/01
BSBFLM512A/02
 
Week 5
10 Mar

 Online Communication,
Feedback and Presentation Skills
 Ch 10- Dickie
Managerial communication
 BSBFLM512A/02
BSBFLM512A/03
BSBFLM512A/04
 
Week 6
17 Mar

 Leadership & Power  Ch 6- Dickie
Leading
Ch 2
The evolution of management
Ch 16
 BSBFLM512A/03
BSBFLM512A/04
   Mid Semester Break (Student Vacation)
From and including Thursday 20 to return Thursday 27 March

   
 
Week 7
31 Mar

 Assessment Task 1
In Class Test
Mandatory Attendance
Assessment Task 2 & 3 Distributed

   BSBFLM512A/01
BSBFLM512A/02
BSBFLM512A/03
BSBFLM512A/04
 Week 8
7 April

 Project Management & Meetings
Team Meetings
 Ch 19 - de Janasz
Project management
 BSBFLM512A/01
BSBFLM512A/02
 Week 9
14 April




 Decision Making and Problem Solving/Team Meetings
 Ch 9- Dickie
Decision making
 BSBFLM512A/02
BSBFLM512A/03
BSBFLM512A/04
 Week 10
23 April
 Assessment Task 2
In Class Project Brief Presentation and Portfolio Due
Mandatory Attendance
   BSBFLM512A/01
BSBFLM512A/02
BSBFLM512A/03
BSBFLM512A/04
 Week 11
28 April
 Online Motivation/Team Meetings

Assessment Task 2
Group Reflection Report Due

 Ch 8- Dickie
Motivating
 BSBFLM512A/02
BSBFLM512A/03
 Week 12
5 May
 Conflict Management & Negotiation/Team Meetings  Ch 12- Dickie
Change and conflict in organisations
Ch 9 – de Janasz
Negotiation
 BSBFLM512A/01
BSBFLM512A/02
BSBFLM512A/03
BSBFLM512A/04
 Week 13
12 May

 Law Week
Assessment Task 3
Manage Law Week Activity

   
 
Week 14
21 May
 Assessment Task 3
Group Presentation in Class
Mandatory Attendance

   
 
Week 15
26 May




 Feedback for Improved Performance Assessment Task 3
Individual Report Due

 Ch 17 - de Janasz
Coaching and providing feedback for improved performance
 BSBFLM512A/02
BSBFLM512A/03
 Week 16
2 June
 Feedback and Review    
 Weeks 17-18  Practical Placement    


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

Dickie, L & Dickie, C 2006, Cornerstones of Management, Tilde Publishing, Australia


References

De Janasz, S, Dowd, K & Schneider, B 2006, Interpersonal Skills in Organizations, 2e, McGraw-Hill Irwin, New York.

Robbins, S, Bergman, R, Stagg, I & Coulter, M, 2006, Foundations of Management, 2e, Pearson Education, Australia.


Other Resources

Online Learning Materials
Online learning materials can be accessed by going into the RMIT web site, clicking on Students, under IT Information and Services there is a link to the Online Learning Hub. www.rmit.edu.au/online. Log in and click on BUSM5083 - Leadership and Team Management.

It is essential to have access to an internet connected computer outside of class times. Internet connected computers are available in the Business Labs on Level 3 of Building 108, 239 Bourke Street, Melbourne.

Useful Websites
http://www.rmit.edu.au/library -This website is a useful resource for your assessment tasks
http://www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/lsu/  -The Learning Lab is a learning and study skills site developed by the Learning Skills Unit offering online interactive tutorials, printable handouts and an email Learning Query service. The site is designed to assist students develop the capabilities for tertiary study


Overview of Assessment

Assessment will incorporate a variety of methods including in class exercises, written tests, presentations and a major group project. Students are advised that they are likely to be asked to personally demonstrate their assessment work to their teacher to ensure that the relevant competency standards are being met.


Assessment Tasks



Assessment Task 1
In class test
Week 7
Individual Mark Value 25%

Individual assessment. Test takes place during class time. Test time 2 hours and reading time of 15 minutes. This assessment addresses competency elements:
• BSBFLM512A/01 Establish team performance plan
• BSBFLM512A/02 Develop and facilitate team cohesion
• BSBFLM512A/03 Facilitate team work
• BSBFLM512A/04 Liaise with stakeholders


Assessment Tasks 2 & 3 Law Week Activity

This major project is designed to simulate some of the team management issues that occur in workplaces. Teams will design, plan and manage activities associated with Law Week 2008 for other RMIT Legal Practice students.
Assessment for this activity is in two stages:

Assessment Task 2 – Project Planning
Week 10 Group Presentation & Portfolio- Group Mark 15%
Week 11 Group Reflection Report – Group Mark 15%

In Week 10 teams will present their initial project brief to the class for review and comment. Assessment will include the presentation, a project portfolio and participation in minuted meetings.

In Week 11 students will provide a group reflection report analysing and reflecting on the application of team and management theory by the group.

This assessment addresses competency elements:
• BSBFLM512A/01 Establish team performance plan
• BSBFLM512A/02 Develop and facilitate team cohesion
• BSBFLM512A/03 Facilitate team work
• BSBFLM512A/04 Liaise with stakeholders


Assessment Task 3 – Law Week Activity
Week 13 – Manage Law Week activity
Week 14 – Team Presentation – Group Mark 20%
Week 15 – Individual Essay – Individual Mark 20%

All teams are expected to implement their Law Week Activity in Week 13. Each team will present an evaluation of their activity and their team performance in Week 14. Individual students are to complete a report analysing and reflecting on their individual as well as their team’s performance.

This assessment addresses competency elements:
• BSBFLM512A/01 Establish team performance plan
• BSBFLM512A/02 Develop and facilitate team cohesion
• BSBFLM512A/03 Facilitate team work
• BSBFLM512A/04 Liaise with stakeholders

Assessment 4
Team Skills Observation
Individual Mark Value 5%

During the semester you will be expected to show your effectiveness as a team member through your participation in a variety of class activities. Your effectiveness as a team member will be assessed by your peers and teacher in class and group activities. The following criteria will be used:
• Demonstrates reliability
• Communicates constructively
• Listens actively
• Participate actively
• Treats others in a respectful and supportive manner
• Shows commitment to the team
(adapted from – Brounstein, M 2002, Managing Teams for Dummies, Wiley Publishing, New York.)

This assessment addresses competency elements:
• BSBFLM512A/02 Develop and facilitate team cohesion
• BSBFLM512A/03 Facilitate team work


Assessment Matrix

Assessment Matrix
Students will be assessed directly against a mixture of the elements and performance criteria that comprise the competency.

All assessments are graded.To pass the course, students must submit all assessments. achieve competency in all course elements and gain at least 50% mark value overall. Assessment methods have been designed to measure achievement of each element in a flexible manner over a range of assessment tasks .

 

Task 1 

Task 2

Task 3

 Task 4

BSBFLM512A/01
Establish team performance plan

 X

 X

 X

 X
BSBFLM512A/02
Develop and facilitate team cohesion

 X

 X

 X

 X

BSBFLM512A/03
Facilitate team work

 X

 X

 X

 X

BSBFLM512A/04
Liaise with stakeholders

 X

 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
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.
Feedback on the course itself is welcome at any time to the class teacher, course coordinator or program coordinator.

Academic Administration Procedures

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.

Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the presentation of the work, idea or creation of another person as though it is your own. It is a form of cheating and is a very serious academic offence that may lead to expulsion from the University. Plagiarised material can be drawn from, and presented in, written, graphic and visual form, including electronic data and oral presentation. Plagiarism occurs when the origin of the material used is not appropriately cited. it also occurs through enabling plagiarism, which is the act of assisting or allowing another person to plagiarise or to copy your own work. Please make sure you consider this carefully in completing all your work and assessments in this course and if you are unsure about whether you might have plagiarised, seek help from your teacher.

Examples of plagiarism include:
• Copying sentences or paragraphs word-for-word from one or more sources, whether published or unpublished, which could include but is not limited to books, journals, reports, theses, websites, conference papers, course notes, etc. without proper citation;
• Piecing together text from one or more sources and adding only linking sentences;
• Copying or submitting whole or parts of computer files without acknowledging their source;
• Copying a whole or any part of another student’s work; and
• Submitting work as your own that someone else has done for you.

For further information including “Plagiarism (and how to avoid it): Resources for Students” please refer to the Plagiarism section of the RMIT Policies, available at :http://www.rmit.edu.au/governance/policies in the Teaching and Learning Policy section.

The originality verification software Turnitin (see http://www.turnitin.com), may be used on assessments in this course.

Note, if requested by your teacher, you must complete a hardcopy of the RMIT coversheet with your assessment submissions: http://mams.rmit.edu.au/rbkf8knmzbla1.doc

To support you with issues associated with the honesty and full referencing of external work presented in assignments, please visit the University website for Academic Integrity: http://www.rmit.edu.au/academicintegrity

Specifically, support resources for yourself as a student to ensure that your submitted assessment accurately represents your work are provided at: http://www.rmit.edu.au/academicintegrity/students


Submission of written work/assessment
All written work must conform with RMIT’s guidelines “Written Reports And Essays: Guidelines For Referencing And Presentation In RMIT Business” which can be found at: http://mams.rmit.edu.au/s9sx559hurvc.rtf

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 or from http://mams.rmit.edu.au/7ksj9bbov094.doc

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


Supervised Assessment
Unless otherwise instructed by your class teacher, course coordinator or invigilator, the following conditions apply to your supervised assessments:
• All answers are written in blue or black pen only. Answers written in other colours or pencil will not be marked, excluding diagrams.
• The only materials which may be brought into the assessment room are blue or black pens, pencil, eraser and correction fluid. Items such as electronic dictionaries, mobile phones, electronic devices, written material and paper are not to be brought into the assessment room. It is a breach of assessment conditions to have any unauthorized materials or equipment in the assessment room.
• Assessment papers, questions and other material provided by the University are not to be removed from the assessment room.
• There is no communication of any kind with any person either inside or outside the assessment venue, apart from the assessment supervisor/invigilator or course teachers.

Special Consideration
Special Consideration is a process that enables the University to take account of unexpected circumstances such as illness, injury or bereavement that affect a student’s performance in assessment. Special Consideration can be applied for to obtain:
a) Alternative Assessment
b) Extension of Time
c) Equitable Assessment Arrangement
d) Deferred Assessment

You may apply for special consideration up to and no later than 48 hours (2 working days) after the date of test/exam or due date for assessment. Forms are available from BTS Reception on Level 13 or from http://www.rmit.edu.au/students/forms

Grounds for special Consideration may include illness, accident, bereavement, hardship/trauma. All supporting documentation must be included with your application. Completed forms must be addressed submitted to the Hub on Level 4 Building 108. Further information can be accessed from http://www.rmit.edu.au/students/specialconsideration


Return of Assessments
Assessments will be returned to you by one of the following methods (please ask your class teacher or course coordinator for further information):
1. Assignments/written work will be returned to you
• During class/lecture times
• By post if you attach a stamped, self-addressed A4-sized envelope to your assignment
2. In-class tests will be returned to you for individual consultation with your teacher; the teacher will re-collect the tests which are to be retained by the Business TAFE School.

Variations to Assessment
A change will not be made to the form or forms of assessment as detailed in the Course Guide unless:
1. the students enrolled in that course have received notice in writing of the proposed change; and
2. the change is approved by the Head of School and not less than seventy percent of the students enrolled in that course.

Appealing Assessment
You are entitled to appeal assessment results. Any appeal should be submitted to the Course Co-ordinator Student Liaison, Seymour Jacobson not more than 10 days after receiving notice of the result for the assessment. Please refer to RMIT Policy – Appeal Against Assessment Result available at http://www.rmit.edu.au/governance/policies in the Teaching and Learning Policy area.

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 and be deemed NYC (Not Yet Competent).

Relevant previous study or work/life experience and credit in this course
RMIT University recognises nationally accredited or endorsed qualifications and Statements of Attainment issued to the student by other Registered Training Organisations (RTO’s).

Also, RMIT provides credit for work experience or other forms of life experience that match the learning outcomes/competencies of RMIT courses. You must provide evidence that is current, relevant valid, and verifiable that your experience matches the learning outcomes/competencies of the relevant course for which you are seeking credit. This evidence may include formal qualifications (certificates, etc); work samples; references; documents, etc. Please speak to your teacher before applying.

To apply, you should obtain an RPL Information Sheet from BTS Reception on Level 13. Forms are also available at Reception or from the RMIT Website at http://www.rmit.edu.au/student-records/studentforms . You should complete the appropriate form (RPL and/or Credit Transfer), attach the relevant supporting documentation and submit to the Program Coordinator via Level 13 reception within one month of enrolling.

Course Overview: Access Course Overview