COMM5706 Design for Social Innovation - 2023

Subject Code
COMM5706
Study Level
Postgraduate
Commencing Term
Term 2
Total Units of Credit (UOC)
6
Delivery Mode
On-site, Kensington
School
UNSW Business School
This course outline is for the current term. To view outlines from other years and/or terms, visit the archives

1. Course Details

Summary of Course

COMM5706 Design for Social Innovation is an elective course in the Graduate Certificate in Social Impact as well as the MBAX (Social Impact) program. It offers participants the opportunity to learn and apply design tools and methods to real projects with a focus on social outcomes. The course introduces participants to design principles, tools, methods and approaches as they apply to identifying, creating, developing and sustaining social innovations. At the heart of good design is a search for ways to create a better, more sustainable world.

When a design-based approach is applied to social innovation and the generation of social impact, the focus can be on products (like designing effective and efficient post- disaster shelters); or services (like designing more inclusive financial services); product / service systems; or processes (like designing effective organisations or social enterprises); or communications (like designing complex information about changes to the law in ways that people can understand and act on).

Design for Social Innovation is suitable for those who are interested in social innovation and/or design thinking and methods but does not require familiarity with either.

The course has a practical focus, participants may choose to work on their own project or select from a number of identified projects to cement their learning. This action learning approach highlights the complexity of many social issues and opportunities and the need for interconnected, systemic responses. Design for social innovation necessitates taking a "whole-systems approach", rather than a silo approach, to offer different perspectives to the traditional social impact and business tools. Design methods are particularly suited to addressing complicated and complex issues with equally complex and complicated solutions. Students will learn how to engage in the whole cycle of design through practical exercises and projects - Defining, Researching, Ideating, Prototyping, Testing, Iterating, Implementing and Reflecting.

Teaching Times and Locations

Course materials and readings are available online prior to the beginning of the official start of term, on Monday 29th May 2023. 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.

The intensive seminar program is delivered over 2 weekends, from 9-5pm each day:

  • Saturday June 24th and Sunday June 25th (Week 4)
  • Saturday July 22nd and Sunday July 23rd (Week 8) 

Students are advised to familiarise themselves with the COMM5706 online Moodle site prior to, or during '0 week', beginning Monday 22nd May 2023. Blended and flipped delivery means that students are expected to complete readings and some online activities prior to seminars.

 

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

View course Policies and Support

Course Aims and Relationship to Other Courses

This course aims to: 

  1. develop students' understanding of design tools, methods, strategies and approaches and their application in the context of social innovation. 
  2. enable students to identify a variety of applications for using design methods through case study and individual investigation of case studies, simulations and practical activities. 

Additional Course Details

The website for this course is on Moodle at: http://moodle.telt.unsw.edu.au Login to Moodle with your student zID (username) and zPass (password).

If you encounter a technical problem while using Moodle, please contact the UNSW IT Service Desk via the following channels:

Website: https://www.it.unsw.edu.au/students/

Email: ITServiceCentre@unsw.edu.au

Telephone: +61 (2) 9385 1333

Phone and email support is available Monday to Friday 8am - 8pm, Saturday and Sunday 11am - 2pm. Online service requests can be made via their website.

Readings
There are no prescribed textbooks for this course. Each Unit (topic) will have mandatory and optional readings. Links to all of these resources are on the reading list for your course in the UNSW Library's Leganto system, which you can access via links in your Moodle course. Please note you will need to login, and may be required to enter your UNSW zID and zPass in order to access the library site.

If you experience any problems in accessing the readings, please try the following:

  • Search directly for the article on the UNSW Library home page (https://library.unsw.edu.au/) by placing the name of the article in the Search box.
  • Search directly for the book excerpt on the UNSW Library home page (https://library.unsw.edu.au/) by placing your course code into the Search box. When you do this all the course readings that are excerpts from books will appear.

2. Quality Assurance and Course Alignment

Quality Assurance

The program is aligned to a number of international standards, to ensure the courses you study are high quality. At present, this includes designing courses to:

Student Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Goals and Outcomes Course Learning Outcomes Course Assessment Item
PLO 1: Business knowledge*Describe how a range of design disciplines (including service, communication, product, business model and interaction design) inform and support social innovation and social enterprise development; *Identify the practical and theoretical intersections between design and social innovation
Assessment 1 : Participation
Assessment 2 : Critical examination of design framework
Assessment 3 : Group Presentation, Facilitation and Slides
Assessment 4 : Report (Visual layout)
PLO 2: Problem solving*Identify and apply key methods for understanding, analysing and engaging with complex systems that underpin many challenging social issues; *Apply creative and critical thinking, problem identification and problem-solving tools and frameworks to understand and respond to social issues; *Critically engage with and evaluate concepts of design thinking, co-design, social design and human-centred design as they apply to the context of social innovation
Assessment 1 : Participation
Assessment 2 : Critical examination of design framework
Assessment 3 : Group Presentation, Facilitation and Slides
Assessment 4 : Report (Visual layout)
PLO 3: Business communication*Write, document and reflect on the application of design methods to understanding and framing social issues; and engaging users/ stakeholders in the process; *Pitch/present an innovative, effective and viable design strategy to a social design challenge
Assessment 1 : Participation
Assessment 2 : Critical examination of design framework
Assessment 3 : Group Presentation, Facilitation and Slides
PLO 4: TeamworkDemonstrate an ability to work as part of a team to develop an appropriate design strategy for a real world social challenge or opportunity
Assessment 1 : Participation
Assessment 2 : Critical examination of design framework
Assessment 4 : Report (Visual layout)
PLO 6: Global and cultural competence*Apply and critically reflect on ethical frameworks to apply design methods in the context of social issues/challenges; and *Analyse key local and international, historical and current participatory design traditions, and demonstrate how these can be applied to develop social innovation
Assessment 1 : Participation
Assessment 2 : Critical examination of design framework
Assessment 3 : Group Presentation, Facilitation and Slides
Assessment 4 : Report (Visual layout)

3. Staff Contact Details

Position Name Email Location Phone Consultation Times

Course Authority: 

Lee Cooper

Lee Cooper is an Executive Design Manager with ThinkPlace, a global strategic design and social innovation agency working with governments, private enterprises, and NGOs around the world to create sustainable future and has extensive experience across social innovation, design and impact. Before joining ThinkPlace Lee spent over 25yrs working in the non-profit sector across program design, development, and delivery; advocacy and policy; marketing, communications and fundraising; monitoring and evaluation for a broad range of organisations from Cancer Council NSW, Alcohol & Drug Foundation and Wayside Chapel.

Lee has a Masters in Management and is currently finishing Masters in Creative Intelligence & Strategic Innovation.

Centre for Social Impact Student Administration

Please direct any CSI education program, enrolment and administration queries here: Centre for Social Impact Student Team

Phone No: 02 8936 0990

Email: csistudents@unsw.edu.au

4. Learning and Teaching Activities

Approach to Learning and Teaching in the Course

The teaching model in this course is flipped, blended, intensive. You are encouraged to develop an inquiry-based approach to your learning and will be supported in this throughout the course by a clear teaching strategy. The COMM5706 online Moodle site will provide access to multi- media resources and presentations that can provide you with the tools to examine, explore and discuss your learning with your co-participants and teachers. This learning will be applied in the intensive, hands on, practical classes where you will be learning with your co-participants and facilitator. The online resources will set the scene, framework and context for the topics being examined. 

Learning Activities and Teaching Strategies

In order to maximise the collaborative and experiential nature of this course, a "flipped" learning and teaching approach will be used that will help to support deeper student engagement and outcomes. The "flipped" approach means you do reading and researching independently and use group class time for active and interactive learning. Each Unit (topic) will include a range of activities that you will complete before and after the Unit is offered. You have three major resources to help you learn: 

  1. The course materials, comprising readings, references, insights and commentary for each Unit. You will do much of your learning outside the classroom by working through the course materials, and by completing the activities.  
  2. Your facilitator, whose role is to guide your learning by conducting class discussions, answering questions that might arise after you have done the week's work, providing insights from practical experience and understanding of theory, providing you with feedback on your Assessments, and directing discussions that will occur between you and your co-participants. 
  3. Your co-participants, who are an invaluable potential source of learning for you. Their work and life, and their willingness to question and argue with the course materials, the facilitator and your views, represent a great learning opportunity. They bring much valuable insight to the learning.

Course Structure

The teaching model is what is referred to as blended learning, in that the course combines both face-to-face learning (four days of class) with online support learning (online modules and access to learning materials). You will need to complete some units and readings before the first weekend of classes. The intensive weekends will be supported by reading materials and unit workbooks available on Moodle.

6. Course Resources

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

Centre for Social Impact (CSI)

http://www.csi.edu.au/ 

Please direct any CSI education program, enrolment and administration queries here:

Email: csistudents@unsw.edu.au; Phone: (02) 8936 0990.

Business Student Centre

https://www.business.unsw.edu.au/students/resources/student-centre 

The Nucleus: Student Hub, Level 2, in the Main Library. (UNSW map location F21)

Phone: (02) 8936 7005

Moodle eLearning Support

For online help using Moodle, go to: https://student.unsw.edu.au/moodle-support

For technical support, email: itservicecentre@unsw.edu.au; Phone: (02) 9385 1333.

UNSW Learning Centre

www.lc.unsw.edu.au 

Provides academic skills support services, including workshops and resources, for all UNSW students. See website for details.

Library services and facilities for students

https://www.library.unsw.edu.au/study/services-for-students

IT Service Centre

https://www.myit.unsw.edu.au/

Provides technical support to troubleshoot problems with logging into websites, downloading documents, etc.

Office: UNSW Library Annexe (Ground floor). Phone: (02) 9385 1333.  

UNSW Counselling and Psychological Services

https://student.unsw.edu.au/wellbeing  

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.

Office: Level 2, East Wing, Quadrangle Building; Phone: (02) 9385 5418; Email: counselling@unsw.edu.au

Equitable Learning Services (formally Disability Support Services)

https://student.unsw.edu.au/els

Provides assistance to students who are trying to manage the demands of university as well as a health condition, learning disability or have personal circumstances that are having an impact on their studies. 

Phone: (02) 8374 9201; Email: els@unsw.edu.au

Nura Gili Indigenous Student Support

https://www.nuragili.unsw.edu.au/contact-us/student-support  

Nura Gili's Academic Support Officers are available to assist Indigenous students

Phone: (02) 9385 3805; Email: nuragili@unsw.edu.au

    7. Course Evaluation & Development

    Continual Course Improvement

    This course is constantly undergoing continual improvement on the basis of student feedback.

    Student Response

    -

    Response to Student Feedback

    -

     

    8. Course Schedule

    Week Activity Topic Detail/Engagement Assessment Task
    Week 1 Welcome Online sessionIntroduction to the Design Discipline, Practices & Social Innovation

    Assessment Task 1: Participation assessed throughout

    Assessment 1 : Participation
    Week 2 Online workbooksDesign-led Research
    –
    –
    Week 3 Online workbooksBusiness Models for Social Innovation
    –
    –
    Week 4 SeminarsThe Design Practice 1

    First Intensive Weekend (24-25 June)  

    –
    Week 5 Online workbooksComplexity & Systems
    –
    –
    Week 6 Online workbooksDesigning for Social Value - Resilience or Vitality
    –
    –
    Week 7 Online workbooksTransitions

    Assessment Task 2 Due

    Assessment 2 : Critical examination of design framework
    Week 8 SeminarsThe Design Practice 2

    Second Intensive Weekend (22-23 July) 

    Assessment task 3 due

    Assessment 3 : Group Presentation, Facilitation and Slides
    Week 9 Online workbooksDesigning Experiments
    –
    –
    Week 10 Online workbooksEmbedding Social Innovation
    –
    –
    Week 11 no unit
    –

    Assessment task 4 due

    Assessment 4 : Report (Visual layout)

    9. Policies and Support

    Information about UNSW Business School protocols, University policies, student responsibilities and education quality and support.

    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.  Separate PLOs for honours and postgraduate research programs are included under 'Related Documents'.

    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.

    RELATED DOCUMENTS

     

    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 CapabilitiesBusiness 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 Centre.




    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

    Your regular and punctual attendance at lectures and seminars or in online learning activities is expected in this course. The Business School reserves the right to 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.).

    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 EQS Consultation Program
    The Consultation Program offers academic writing, literacy and numeracy consultations, study skills, exam preparation for Business students. Services include workshops, online resources, individual and group consultations. 
    Level 1, Room 1035, Quadrangle Building.
    BUS.EQS.Consultations@unsw.edu.au
    02 9385 4508

    Communication Resources
    The Business School Communication and Academic Support programs provide online modules, communication workshops and additional online resources to assist you in developing your academic writing.

    Business School Student Centre
    The Business School Student Centre provides advice and direction on all aspects of admission, enrolment and graduation.
    Level 1, Room 1028 in the Quadrangle Building
    02 9385 3189

    UNSW Learning & Careers Hub
    The UNSW Learning & Careers Hub provides academic skills and careers support services—including workshops, individual consultations and a range of online resources—for all UNSW students. See their website for details.
    Lower Ground Floor, North Wing Chancellery Building.
    learningcentre@unsw.edu.au
    02 9385 2060

    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 9385 2650

    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



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