COMM1110 Evidence-based Problem Solving

Subject Code

COMM1110

Study Level

Undergraduate

Commencing Term

Term 1

Total Units of Credit (UOC)

Delivery Mode

On Campus and Online

School

UNSW Business School

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1. Course Details

Summary of Course

Effective problem solving is a core capability of a successful business professional, and UNSW Commerce students need to demonstrate problem-solving confidence and capacity in their studies and professional careers. Evidence-based Problem Solving introduces you to the fundamentals of a deliberate and structured approach to problem solving, balancing analysis and judgment, to avoid the common pitfalls of problem solving in organisations. The importance and power of evidence, and familiarity with the different sources of evidence, are critical for identifying, solving, and communicating a problem. Starting from business problems that organisations are confronted with, you will develop analytical and statistical skills as well as ethical judgement to work with different types of data and different sources of evidence to identify, solve and communicate business problems. In addition to developing an analytical mindset and new ways of working with data, you will also learn basic statistical approaches, tools, and processes to develop statistical skills required for working with data sets. You will have the opportunity to develop Excel skills for basic data analysis, interpretation, and presentation. This prepares you for working with large data sets and mastering common analytics tools in COMM1190 Data, Insights, and Decisions. This course is designed based on a problem-based learning model, in which you are presented with a problem or a problem set throughout your learning process.

Teaching Times and Locations

Please note that teaching times and locations are subject to change. Students are strongly advised to refer to the Class Timetable website for the most up-to-date teaching times and locations.

View course timetable

Course Policies & Support

The Business School expects that you are familiar with the contents of this course outline and the UNSW and Business School learning expectations, rules, policies and support services as listed below:

Program Learning Outcomes
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
Student Responsibilities and Conduct
Special Consideration
Protocol for Viewing Final Exam Scripts
Student Learning Support Services

Further information is provided in the Assessment and Policies and Support sections.

Students may not circulate or post online any course materials such as handouts, exams, syllabi or similar resources from their courses without the written permission of their instructor.

Course Aims and Relationship to Other Courses

COMM1110 Evidence-based Problem Solving is one of the compulsory Integrated First Year (IFY) courses of the BCom. It is a prerequisite for COMM1190 Data, Insights and Decisions. It is recommended to be taken early in your first year, as structured problem-solving skills and the foundations of ethical judgement are universally useful. Students might also find it helpful to access the Career Accelerator’s Case Coach online tool to complement their learning.

Student Learning Outcomes

The Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) are what you should be able to demonstrate by the end of this course, if you participate fully in learning activities and successfully complete the assessment items.

CLOs also contribute to your achievement of the Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs), which are developed across the duration of a program. PLOs are, in turn, directly linked to UNSW graduate capabilities. More information on Coursework PLOs is available under Policies and Support. For PG Research PLOs, including MPDBS, please refer to the UNSW HDR Learning Outcomes.

The following table shows how the CLOs for this course relate to the overall PLOs and indicates where each CLO and PLO is assessed:

Course Learning Outcomes	Program Learning Outcomes	Course Assessment Item
On successful completion of the course, you should be able to:	This course helps you to develop the following Program Learning Outcomes:	This learning outcome will be assessed in the following items:
Draw on evidence to frame and apply logical reasoning, and distinguish relevant information from irrelevant information when providing original solutions to real-life problem-solving for organisations	PLO 2: Problem solving	Assessment 1a Assessment 1b Assessment 2a Assessment 2b Assessment 3a Assessment 3b
Use information from qualitative and quantitative data to identify and interpret solutions to complex real-life problems	PLO 3: Business communication	Assessment 2a Assessment 2b Assessment 3a Assessment 3b
Recognise various ethical frameworks that can apply to a situation and apply these frameworks to resolve a simple ethical dilemma	PLO 5: Responsible business practice	Assessment 2a Assessment 2b Assessment 3a Assessment 3b
Collaboratively solve problems in teams, incorporating diverse perspectives	PLO 2: Problem solving PLO 4: Teamwork	Assessment 2b
Explain basic statistical methods and know when to apply appropriate methods in practical scenarios	PLO 1: Business knowledge	Assessment 2b Assessment 3a Assessment 3b
Independently use Excel’s graphical and statistical capabilities	PLO 1: Business knowledge	Assessment 1a Assessment 1b Assessment 2a Assessment 2b Assessment 3a Assessment 3b

2. Staff Contact Details

Position	Title	Name	Location	Phone	Consultation Times
Course Coordinator	Dr	Kevin Liu	–	–	Please see course Moodle
Lecturer	Dr	Jonathan Lim	–	–	Please see course Moodle
Associate Course Coordinator and Associate Lecturer	Dr	Andrew Dymock	–	–	Please see course Moodle

Course email: comm1110@unsw.edu.au (please use this email for all course-related matters).

3. Learning and Teaching Activities

Use of your Webcam and Digital Devices: If you enrol in an online class, or the online stream of a hybrid class, teaching and associated activities will be conducted using Teams, Zoom, or similar a technology. Using a webcam is optional, but highly encouraged, as this will facilitate interaction with your peers and instructors. If you are worried about your personal space being observed during a class, we encourage you to blur your background or make use of a virtual background. Please contact the Lecturer-in-Charge if you have any questions or concerns.

Some courses may involve undertaking online exams for which your own computer or digital devices will be required. Monitoring of online examinations will be conducted directly by University staff and is bound by the University's privacy and security requirements. Any data collected will be handled accordance with UNSW policies and standards for data governance. For more information on how the University manages personal information please refer to the UNSW Student Privacy Statement and the UNSW Privacy Policy.

Approach to Learning and Teaching in the Course

The teaching strategy for this course is based on a problem-based learning model, in which students are presented with a problem or a problem set throughout their learning process. This strategy is underpinned by a constructivist approach where students actively construct their own learning by undertaking a series of activities to direct their own problem-solving, collaboration, and communication.

This strategy does not dismiss the active role of the teacher or the value of expert knowledge – instead, it modifies the role of the teacher as a guide and mentor to help students construct their own knowledge rather than reproduce a series of facts. Students will be provided with models and tools for problem-solving, which they will use to progressively formulate and test their ideas, draw conclusions and inferences, and communicate their knowledge in a collaborative learning environment.

Learning Activities and Teaching Strategies

Student learning is framed around an active problem-based learning (APBL) model, a student-centered approach that is focused on the solving of a problem.

The APBL model will help students with applying concepts and disciplinary knowledge in a practical way; motivating them to seek out a deeper understanding of concepts; self-directed learning; encouraging greater responsibility for their learning; facilitating personal/academic/professional development, especially changing their mindset from solving problems with a defined answer to providing business solutions to meaningful real-world problems; providing a safe environment to fail, and learn from their failures; providing an opportunity to develop their critical thinking, problem-solving teamwork and communication skills.

COMM1110 is delivered to both on-campus and online students. Each week, students will have two hours of lecture time. During the week there will be a 2-hour activity-led class (tutorial).

4. Assessment

Formal Requirements

In order to pass this course, you must:

achieve a composite mark of at least 50 out of 100;
meet any additional requirements described in the Assessment Summary section.

You are expected to attempt all assessment requirements in the course.

Assessment Structure

Assessment Task	Weighting	Length	Due Date
Assessment 1a (Individual): Excel Training Program - Associate level GMetrix: Excel Associate Level Practice Exam 1 (Online) Option for students to complete the step to obtain the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Excel Certification	10%	Approximately 50 minutes	11.59am Friday, Week 4
Assessment 1b (Individual): Excel Training Program – Expert Level GMetrix: Excel Expert Level Practice Exam 1 (Online) Option for students to complete the step to obtain the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Excel Certification	10%	Approximately 50 minutes	11.59am Friday, Week 8
Assessment 2a (Individual): Case Briefing Pack	25%	1,500 words	11.59am Friday, Week 5
Assessment 2b (Individual): Case Business Report (BCom students: myBcom course points for PLO5)	40%	2,000 words	11.59am Friday, Week 11
Assessment 3a (Individual): Online Discussion Questions	10%	See Moodle	Weekly
Assessment 3b (Individual): Tutorial Participation	5%	See Moodle	Weekly
Total	100%	–	–

Assessment Summary

Assessment 1 (Individual): Excel Training Program - (1a) Associate Level and (1b) Expert Level

Deliverable: You are required to complete the Excel training programs at both Associate and Expert level and sit Practice Exams (i.e. GMetrix Practice Exam 1) at both levels.

Purpose:

Excel is an important skill to learn for your university studies and future career. It is also a critical part of completing your tutorial questions, the Case Assignment (i.e. Assessment 2), and Weekly Discussions (Assessment 3). In recognition of this, UNSW has built into this course the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Excel Associate (Assessment 1a) and Expert (Assessment 1b) programs. COMM1110 provides all the learning resources on Moodle (e.g. GMetrix Training platform and Linkedin Excel Training Videos) for you to learn Excel in a flexible way (24x7 access) outside your scheduled lecture and tutorial. You need to complete Practice Exam 1 at both Associate level and Expert level in the GMetrix training environment. The mark you receive on Practice Exam 1 will be used for this assessment.

Upon completing the two Excel training programs, you are strongly encouraged to continue with the next step to becoming officially certified at Excel Associate OR Expert level (you choose which level). Microsoft Office Certification is a free and exclusive offering to UNSW Business School students and involves undertaking an online test with dedicated technical support from UNSW Business School staff. On successful completion of the test, you will be awarded an industry-recognised certification which can be shared on your LinkedIn profile, resume, and myBCom portfolio as a verified skill that you possess. This next step for Excel Certification does not form part of COMM1110 (you are NOT required to complete this to pass the course) but is an optional and valuable add-on that is an appealing qualification for potential employers. You are required to complete Practice Exam 1 at both the Associate level and Expert level. If you decide to take the external test to become Microsoft Certified, you can select which level you would like to pursue certification. Excel Certification information will

Please note: For students who choose to take the Excel Certification at the Associate or Expert level, this will involve undertaking online tests for which monitoring of the student's own computer equipment or digital devices will be required. Monitoring of online tests will be conducted directly by the University or by third-party providers on behalf of the University, such providers being bound by the University's privacy and security requirements.

Any data collected will be handled in accordance with UNSW Data Handling Guidelines https://www.datagovernance.unsw.edu.au/policies-and-standards. For more information on how the University manages personal information please refer to the UNSW Student Privacy Statement https://student.unsw.edu.au/privacy and the UNSW Privacy Policy https://www.gs.unsw.edu.au/policy/privacypolicy.html

Assessment 2 (Individual): Case - (2a) Briefing Pack and (2b) Business Report

Deliverable: This assessment will investigate one overarching Case. For Part (a) and (b), a separate Business Report will be produced by each individual student.

Purpose: For this case, you will be a consultant asked to analyse the situation from the point of view of various stakeholders. The same situation will be utilised for Part (a) and (b). Part (b) will build on feedback received on Part (a), as well as consider additional material. Your submission will be written as a business report. The purpose of the Case is to showcase your application of evidence-based problem-solving tools to a real-world business situation. For both reports, you will apply tools to analyse: (1) qualitative information; (2) quantitative data provided to you; and (3) ethical decision-making.

Assessment 3a (Individual): Online Discussion Questions

Deliverable: The Online Discussion Questions Assessment consists of two components: a) Online Self-introduction, and b) 9 Weekly Online Discussion Questions (i.e. each week from Week 1 to Week 10, except Week 6 - the Flexibility Week).

To receive full marks for the Online Discussion Questions Assessment (10% of the course marks) you need to:

a) Create your Moodle Student Profile and introduce yourself (2%), and

b) Complete 8 out of the 9 Weekly Discussion Questions (8%, i.e. 1% per week).

Although 8 discussions count towards this assessment completion, you are strongly encouraged to attempt all to ensure that you get the most from your course experience.

*More information about the assessments will be provided on the course Moodle site.

Assessment 3b (Individual): Tutorial Participation

The purpose of the tutorial class is to reinforce and clarify the concepts and issues covered in the lectures, and to provide a forum for further analysis and discussion of these issues. 5% of the course marks are reserved for tutorial participation and discussion. In order to obtain the marks, you must participate in a relevant and constructive way in tutorial activities and discussions. Your tutor is the final judge of the quality of your participation. A record of attendance at tutorials will be kept.

Assignment Submission Procedure

Please see the course Moodle site.

Late submission of assessment items

Late Submission Penalties

Late submission will incur a penalty of 5% per day or part thereof (including weekends) from the due date and time. An assessment will not be accepted after 5 days (120 hours) of the original deadline unless special consideration has been approved. An assignment is considered late if the requested format, such as hard copy or electronic copy, has not been submitted on time or where the ‘wrong’ assignment has been submitted.

For assessments which account for 10% or less of the overall course grade, and where answers are immediately discussed or debriefed, the LIC may stipulate a different penalty. Details of such late penalties will be available on the course Moodle page.

No extensions will be granted except in the case of serious illness, misadventure or bereavement, which must be supported with documentary evidence. Requests for extensions must be made to the Lecturer In Charge by email and be accompanied by the appropriate documentation no later than 24 hours before the due date of the assignment. In circumstances where this is not possible, students must apply for Special Consideration (see above).

The Lecturer in Charge is the only person who can approve a request for an extension. If you do make a request for an extension, the Lecturer in Charge will email you and the course convener with the decision. Note: A request for an extension does not guarantee that you will be granted one.

Assessment Feedback

Feedback on student performance from formative and summative assessment tasks will be provided to students in a timely manner. Assessment tasks completed within the teaching period of a course, other than a final assessment, will be assessed and students provided with feedback, with or without a provisional result, within 10 working days of submission, under normal circumstances. Feedback on continuous assessment tasks (e.g. laboratory and studio-based, workplace-based, weekly quizzes) will be provided prior to the midpoint of the course.

Special Consideration

You can apply for special consideration when illness or other circumstances beyond your control interfere with your performance in a specific assessment task or tasks, including online exams. Students studying remotely who have exams scheduled between 10pm and 7am local time, are also able to apply for special consideration to sit a supplementary exam at a time outside of these hours.

Special consideration is primarily intended to provide you with an extra opportunity to demonstrate the level of performance of which you are capable. To apply, and for further information, see Special Consideration on the UNSW Current Students page.

Special consideration applications will be assessed centrally by the Case Review Team, who will update the online application with the outcome and add any relevant comments. The change to the status of the application immediately sends an email to the student and to the assessor with the outcome of the application.

Please note the following:

Applications can only be made through Online Services in myUNSW. Applications will not be accepted by teaching staff. The lecturer-in-charge/course coordinator will be automatically notified when your application is processed.
Applying for special consideration does not automatically mean that you will be granted a supplementary exam or other concession.
If you experience illness or misadventure in the lead up to an exam or assessment, you must submit an application for special consideration, either prior to the examination taking place, or prior to the assessment submission deadline, except where illness or misadventure prevent you from doing so.
If your circumstances stop you from applying before your exam or assessment due date, you must apply within 3 working days of the assessment or the period covered by your supporting documentation.
Under the UNSW Fit To Sit/Submit rule, if you sit the exam/submit an assignment, you are declaring yourself well enough to do so and are cannot subsequently apply for special consideration.
If you become unwell on the day of – or during – an exam, you must stop working on your exam, advise your course coordinator or tutor and provide a medical certificate dated within 24 hours of the exam, with your special consideration application. For online exams, you must contact your course coordinator or tutor immediately via email, Moodle or chat and advise them you are unwell and submit screenshots of your conversation along with your medical certificate and application.
Special consideration requests do not allow the awarding of additional marks to students.

Further information on Business School policy and procedure can be found under “Special Consideration” on the Policies and Support page.

Late Submission Penalties

For assessments other than examinations, late submission will incur a penalty of 5% per day or part thereof (including weekends) from the due date and time. An assessment will not be accepted after 5 days (120 hours) of the original deadline unless special consideration has been approved. An assignment is considered late if the requested format, such as hard copy or electronic copy, has not been submitted on time or where the ‘wrong’ assignment has been submitted.

Protocol for Viewing Final Exam Scripts

UNSW students have the right to view their final exam scripts, subject to a small number of very specific exemptions. The UNSW Business School has set a protocol under which students may view their final exam script. Individual schools within the Faculty may also set up a local process for viewing final exam scripts, so it is important that you check with your School. Further school-specific information may be included below.

Quality Assurance

The Business School is actively monitoring student learning and quality of the student experience in all its programs. A random selection of completed assessment tasks may be used for quality assurance, such as to determine the extent to which program learning goals are being achieved. The information is required for accreditation purposes, and aggregated findings will be used to inform changes aimed at improving the quality of Business School programs. All material used for such processes will be treated as confidential.

5. Course Resources

There is NO set textbook for this course. All required and supplementary readings will be posted on the course Moodle site.

All resources for Microsoft Excel Training, practice tests, and the recommended certification test will be made available via Moodle and are free of charge.

6. Course Evaluation & Development

Feedback is regularly sought from students and continual improvements are made based on this feedback. At the end of this course, you will be asked to complete the myExperience survey, which provides a key source of student evaluative feedback. Your input into this quality enhancement process is extremely valuable in assisting us to meet the needs of our students and provide an effective and enriching learning experience. The results of all surveys are carefully considered and do lead to action towards enhancing educational quality.

This course is an integral part of our flagship program, the Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), which has recently undergone an extensive review after thorough internal and external research and consultation. This exciting new program draws on evidence-based pedagogies and assessment strategies to deliver an innovative and inclusive curriculum that showcases the comprehensive academic excellence of the discipline schools in the Business School.

As part of the new first-year program, the course curriculum for COMM1110 has been fully integrated with contemporary business themes and well-rounded world-class business knowledge. The course has been redeveloped to give students the ability to acquire business skills and career development and to look at business opportunities, problems and issues through the lenses of all our disciplines.

We will be seeking our feedback throughout the term for the continuous improvement of the course, in addition to the myExperience survey at the end of the term. The continuous improvement process for this term is particularly focused on the integration of real world and hypothetical business case studies to provide meaningful opportunities to apply the evidence-based problem-solving framework and skills acquired in the unit to everyday business decision-making."

7. Course Schedule

Note: for more information on the UNSW academic calendar and key dates including study period, exam, supplementary exam and result release, please visit: https://student.unsw.edu.au/new-calendar-dates

Week	Activity	Topic	Assessment/Other
Week 1: 13 February	–	Problems and Evidence-based Problem Solving	Assessment 3: Weekly Online Discussion Question & Tutorial Participation
Week 2: 20 February	–	Problem Articulation and Disaggregation	Assessment 3: Weekly Online Discussion Question & Tutorial Participation
Week 3: 27 February	–	Frameworks for Ethical Decision-Making	Assessment 3: Weekly Online Discussion Question & Tutorial Participation
Week 4: 6 March	–	Understanding Problems - Fact Gathering	Assessment 1a (Individual): Excel Training Program - Associate Level Assessment 3: Weekly Online Discussion Question & Tutorial Participation
Week 5: 13 March	–	Patterns, Biases, Hypothesising Effects	Assessment 2a (Individual): Case Briefing Pack Assessment 3: Weekly Online Discussion Question & Tutorial Participation
Week 6: 20 March	–	Flexibility Week - No lectures or tutorials	–
Week 7: 27 March	–	Analysing the Issues - Identifying Causes	Assessment 3: Weekly Online Discussion Question & Tutorial Participation
Week 8: 3 April	–	Analysing the issues – with Limited Evidence	Assessment 1b (Individual): Excel Training Program - Expert Level Assessment 3: Weekly Online Discussion Question & Tutorial Participation
Week 9: 10 April	–	Problem Solving and Making Decisions	Assessment 3: Weekly Online Discussion Question & Tutorial Participation
Week 10: 17 April	–	Evaluation and Communication	Assessment 3: Weekly Online Discussion Question & Tutorial Participation
Week 10: 17 April	Week 11	No classes	Assessment 2b (Individual): Case Business Report

8. Policies and Support

Information about UNSW Business School program learning outcomes, academic integrity, student responsibilities and student support services. For information regarding special consideration, supplementary exams and viewing final exam scripts, please go to the key policies and support page.

Program Learning Outcomes

The Business School places knowledge and capabilities at the core of its curriculum via seven Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs). These PLOs are systematically embedded and developed across the duration of all coursework programs in the Business School.

PLOs embody the knowledge, skills and capabilities that are taught, practised and assessed within each Business School program. They articulate what you should know and be able to do upon successful completion of your degree.

Upon graduation, you should have a high level of specialised business knowledge and capacity for responsible business thinking, underpinned by ethical professional practice. You should be able to harness, manage and communicate business information effectively and work collaboratively with others. You should be an experienced problem-solver and critical thinker, with a global perspective, cultural competence and the potential for innovative leadership.

All UNSW programs and courses are designed to assess the attainment of program and/or course level learning outcomes, as required by the UNSW Assessment Design Procedure. It is important that you become familiar with the Business School PLOs, as they constitute the framework which informs and shapes the components and assessments of the courses within your program of study.

PLO 1: Business knowledge

Students will make informed and effective selection and application of knowledge in a discipline or profession, in the contexts of local and global business.

PLO 2: Problem solving

Students will define and address business problems, and propose effective evidence-based solutions, through the application of rigorous analysis and critical thinking.

PLO 3: Business communication

Students will harness, manage and communicate business information effectively using multiple forms of communication across different channels.

PLO 4: Teamwork

Students will interact and collaborate effectively with others to achieve a common business purpose or fulfil a common business project, and reflect critically on the process and the outcomes.

PLO 5: Responsible business practice

Students will develop and be committed to responsible business thinking and approaches, which are underpinned by ethical professional practice and sustainability considerations.

PLO 6: Global and cultural competence

Students will be aware of business systems in the wider world and actively committed to recognise and respect the cultural norms, beliefs and values of others, and will apply this knowledge to interact, communicate and work effectively in diverse environments.

PLO 7: Leadership development

Students will develop the capacity to take initiative, encourage forward thinking and bring about innovation, while effectively influencing others to achieve desired results.

These PLOs relate to undergraduate and postgraduate coursework programs. For PG Research PLOs, including Master of Pre-Doctoral Business Studies, please refer to the UNSW HDR Learning Outcomes

Business School course outlines provide detailed information for students on how the course learning outcomes, learning activities, and assessment/s contribute to the development of Program Learning Outcomes.

UNSW Graduate Capabilities

The Business School PLOs also incorporate UNSW graduate capabilities, a set of generic abilities and skills that all students are expected to achieve by graduation. These capabilities articulate the University’s institutional values, as well as future employer expectations.

UNSW Graduate Capabilities	Business School PLOs
Scholars capable of independent and collaborative enquiry, rigorous in their analysis, critique and reflection, and able to innovate by applying their knowledge and skills to the solution of novel as well as routine problems.	PLO 1: Business knowledge PLO 2: Problem solving PLO 3: Business communication PLO 4: Teamwork PLO 7: Leadership development
Entrepreneurial leaders capable of initiating and embracing innovation and change, as well as engaging and enabling others to contribute to change	PLO 1: Business knowledge PLO 2: Problem solving PLO 3: Business communication PLO 4: Teamwork PLO 6: Global and cultural competence PLO 7: Leadership development
Professionals capable of ethical, self-directed practice and independent lifelong learning	PLO 1: Business knowledge PLO 2: Problem solving PLO 3: Business communication PLO 5: Responsible business practice
Global citizens who are culturally adept and capable of respecting diversity and acting in a socially just and responsible way.	PLO 1: Business knowledge PLO 2: Problem solving PLO 3: Business communication PLO 4: Teamwork PLO 5: Responsible business practice PLO 6: Global and cultural competence

While our programs are designed to provide coverage of all PLOs and graduate capabilities, they also provide you with a great deal of choice and flexibility. The Business School strongly advises you to choose a range of courses that assist your development against the seven PLOs and four graduate capabilities, and to keep a record of your achievements as part of your portfolio. You can use a portfolio as evidence in employment applications as well as a reference for work or further study. For support with selecting your courses contact the UNSW Business School Student Services team.

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism

Academic Integrity is honest and responsible scholarship. This form of ethical scholarship is highly valued at UNSW. Terms like Academic Integrity, misconduct, referencing, conventions, plagiarism, academic practices, citations and evidence based learning are all considered basic concepts that successful university students understand. Learning how to communicate original ideas, refer sources, work independently, and report results accurately and honestly are skills that you will be able to carry beyond your studies.

The definition of academic misconduct is broad. It covers practices such as cheating, copying and using another person’s work without appropriate acknowledgement. Incidents of academic misconduct may have serious consequences for students.

Plagiarism

UNSW regards plagiarism as a form of academic misconduct. UNSW has very strict rules regarding plagiarism. Plagiarism at UNSW is using the words or ideas of others and passing them off as your own. All Schools in the Business School have a Student Ethics Officer who will investigate incidents of plagiarism and may result in a student’s name being placed on the Plagiarism and Student Misconduct Registers.

Below are examples of plagiarism including self-plagiarism:

Copying: Using the same or very similar words to the original text or idea without acknowledging the source or using quotation marks. This includes copying materials, ideas or concepts from a book, article, report or other written document, presentation, composition, artwork, design, drawing, circuitry, computer program or software, website, internet, other electronic resource, or another person's assignment, without appropriate acknowledgement of authorship.

Inappropriate Paraphrasing: Changing a few words and phrases while mostly retaining the original structure and/or progression of ideas of the original, and information without acknowledgement. This also applies in presentations where someone paraphrases another’s ideas or words without credit and to piecing together quotes and paraphrases into a new whole, without appropriate referencing.

Collusion: Presenting work as independent work when it has been produced in whole or part in collusion with other people. Collusion includes:

Students providing their work to another student before the due date, or for the purpose of them plagiarising at any time
Paying another person to perform an academic task and passing it off as your own
Stealing or acquiring another person’s academic work and copying it
Offering to complete another person’s work or seeking payment for completing academic work

Collusion should not be confused with academic collaboration (i.e., shared contribution towards a group task).

Inappropriate Citation: Citing sources which have not been read, without acknowledging the 'secondary' source from which knowledge of them has been obtained.

Self-Plagiarism: ‘Self-plagiarism’ occurs where an author republishes their own previously written work and presents it as new findings without referencing the earlier work, either in its entirety or partially. Self-plagiarism is also referred to as 'recycling', 'duplication', or 'multiple submissions of research findings' without disclosure. In the student context, self-plagiarism includes re-using parts of, or all of, a body of work that has already been submitted for assessment without proper citation.

To see if you understand plagiarism, do this short quiz: https://student.unsw.edu.au/plagiarism-quiz

Cheating

The University also regards cheating as a form of academic misconduct. Cheating is knowingly submitting the work of others as their own and includes contract cheating (work produced by an external agent or third party that is submitted under the pretences of being a student’s original piece of work). Cheating is not acceptable at UNSW.

If you need to revise or clarify any terms associated with academic integrity you should explore the 'Working with Academic Integrity' self-paced lessons available at: https://student.unsw.edu.au/aim.

For UNSW policies, penalties, and information to help you avoid plagiarism see: https://student.unsw.edu.au/plagiarism as well as the guidelines in the online ELISE tutorials for all new UNSW students: http://subjectguides.library.unsw.edu.au/elise. For information on student conduct see: https://student.unsw.edu.au/conduct.

For information on how to acknowledge your sources and reference correctly, see: https://student.unsw.edu.au/referencing. If you are unsure what referencing style to use in this course, you should ask the lecturer in charge.

Student Responsibilities and Conduct

Students are expected to be familiar with and adhere to university policies in relation to class attendance and general conduct and behaviour, including maintaining a safe, respectful environment; and to understand their obligations in relation to workload, assessment and keeping informed.

Information and policies on these topics can be found on the 'Managing your Program' website.

Workload

It is expected that you will spend at least ten to twelve hours per week studying for a course except for Summer Term courses which have a minimum weekly workload of twenty to twenty four hours. This time should be made up of reading, research, working on exercises and problems, online activities and attending classes. In periods where you need to complete assignments or prepare for examinations, the workload may be greater. Over-commitment has been a cause of failure for many students. You should take the required workload into account when planning how to balance study with employment and other activities.

We strongly encourage you to connect with your Moodle course websites in the first week of semester. Local and international research indicates that students who engage early and often with their course website are more likely to pass their course.

View more information on expected workload

Attendance and Engagement

Your regular attendance and active engagement in all scheduled classes and online learning activities is expected in this course. Failure to attend / engage in assessment tasks that are integrated into learning activities (e.g. class discussion, presentations) will be reflected in the marks for these assessable activities. The Business School may refuse final assessment to those students who attend less than 80% of scheduled classes where attendance and participation is required as part of the learning process (e.g. tutorials, flipped classroom sessions, seminars, labs, etc.). If you are not able to regularly attend classes, you should consult the relevant Course Authority.

View more information on attendance

General Conduct and Behaviour

You are expected to conduct yourself with consideration and respect for the needs of your fellow students and teaching staff. Conduct which unduly disrupts or interferes with a class, such as ringing or talking on mobile phones, is not acceptable and students may be asked to leave the class.

View more information on student conduct

Health and Safety

UNSW Policy requires each person to work safely and responsibly, in order to avoid personal injury and to protect the safety of others.

View more information on Health and Safety

Keeping Informed

You should take note of all announcements made in lectures, tutorials or on the course web site. From time to time, the University will send important announcements to your university e-mail address without providing you with a paper copy. You will be deemed to have received this information. It is also your responsibility to keep the University informed of all changes to your contact details.

Student Support and Resources

The University and the Business School provide a wide range of support services and resources for students, including:

Business School Learning Support Tools
Business School provides support a wide range of free resources and services to help students in-class and out-of-class, as well as online. These include:

Academic Communication Essentials – A range of academic communication workshops, modules and resources to assist you in developing your academic communication skills.
Learning consultations – Meet learning consultants who have expertise in business studies, literacy, numeracy and statistics, writing, referencing, and researching at university level.
PASS classes – Study sessions facilitated by students who have previously and successfully completed the course.
Educational Resource Access Scheme – To support the inclusion and success of students from equity groups enrolled at UNSW Sydney in first year undergraduate Business programs.

The Nucleus - Business School Student Services team
The Nucleus Student Services team provides advice and direction on all aspects of enrolment and graduation. Level 2, Main Library, Kensington 02 8936 7005 / https://nucleus.unsw.edu.au/en/contact-us

Business School Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
The Business School Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee strives to ensure that every student is empowered to have equal access to education. The Business School provides a vibrant, safe, and equitable environment for education, research, and engagement that embraces diversity and treats all people with dignity and respect. BUSEDI@unsw.edu.au

UNSW Academic Skills
Resources and support – including workshops, individual consultations and a range of online resources – to help you develop and refine your academic skills. See their website for details.
academicskills@unsw.edu.au

Student Support Advisors
Student Support Advisors work with all students to promote the development of skills needed to succeed at university, whilst also providing personal support throughout the process.
John Goodsell Building, Ground Floor.
advisors@unsw.edu.au
02 9385 4734

International Student Support
The International Student Experience Unit (ISEU) is the first point of contact for international students. ISEU staff are always here to help with personalised advice and information about all aspects of university life and life in Australia.
Advisors can support you with your student visa, health and wellbeing, making friends, accommodation and academic performance.
International.student@unsw.edu.au
02 9385 4734

Equitable Learning Services
Equitable Learning Services (formerly Disability Support Services) is a free and confidential service that provides practical support to ensure that your health condition doesn't adversely affect your studies. Register with the service to receive educational adjustments.
Ground Floor, John Goodsell Building.
els@unsw.edu.au
02 9385 4734

UNSW Counselling and Psychological Services
Provides support and services if you need help with your personal life, getting your academic life back on track or just want to know how to stay safe, including free, confidential counselling.
Level 2, East Wing, Quadrangle Building.
counselling@unsw.edu.au
02 9385 5418

Library services and facilities for students
The UNSW Library offers a range of collections, services and facilities both on-campus and online.
Main Library, F21.
02 9065 9444

Moodle eLearning Support
Moodle is the University’s learning management system. You should ensure that you log into Moodle regularly.
externalteltsupport@unsw.edu.au
02 9385 3331

UNSW IT
UNSW IT provides support and services for students such as password access, email services, wireless services and technical support.
UNSW Library Annexe (Ground floor).
02 9385 1333

Support for Studying Online

The Business School and UNSW provide a wide range of tools, support and advice to help students achieve their online learning goals.

The UNSW Guide to Online Study page provides guidance for students on how to make the most of online study.

We recognise that completing quizzes and exams online can be challenging for a number of reasons, including the possibility of technical glitches or lack of reliable internet. We recommend you review the Online Exam Preparation Checklist of things to prepare when sitting an online exam.

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Accreditation

COMM1110 Evidence-Based Problem Solving - 2023

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1. Course Details

Summary of Course

Teaching Times and Locations

Course Policies & Support

Course Aims and Relationship to Other Courses

Student Learning Outcomes

2. Staff Contact Details

3. Learning and Teaching Activities

Approach to Learning and Teaching in the Course

Learning Activities and Teaching Strategies

4. Assessment

Formal Requirements

Assessment Structure

Assessment Summary

Assignment Submission Procedure

Assessment Feedback

Special Consideration

Protocol for Viewing Final Exam Scripts

Quality Assurance

5. Course Resources

6. Course Evaluation & Development

7. Course Schedule

8. Policies and Support

UNSW Graduate Capabilities

Plagiarism

Cheating

Workload

Attendance and Engagement

General Conduct and Behaviour

Health and Safety

Keeping Informed

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