COMM1000 Creating Social Change: From Innovation to Impact - 2018

Subject Code
COMM1000
Study Level
Undergraduate
Commencing Term
Semester 1
Total Units of Credit (UOC)
6
Delivery Mode
On Campus
School
UNSW Business School

1. Course Details

Summary of Course

Do you want to change the world, but don’t know where to start?

This course is for aspiring change agents across all sectors, including business, not-for-profit and government. Whether your career lies in business, law, art and design, arts and social sciences, the built environment, science, engineering or medicine, you will learn how to address complex social problems and you will develop practical skills to create better social outcomes.

We explore the issues that policy makers, industry leaders and social service providers grapple with every day, such as inequality, place-based disadvantage, mental health, homelessness, and human rights. We will introduce models for systems change, social innovation, and cross-sectoral collaboration. You will complete the course with a broad understanding of social systems and the keys to initiating and sustaining positive social change.

The course introduces national and global trends through a range of case studies, and you will have the opportunity to hear directly from experts in business, government and social purpose organisations who have successfully initiated social change.

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

Course Aims and Relationship to Other Courses

​This course aims to introduce students to systems thinking and social change scenarios. It provides an overview of how sectors (public, private, and not-for-profit) create social impact in Australia and how they can work together more effectively to achieve positive social change. Students will examine these change processes within specific sectors as well as how these sectors interact to generate change. Catalysts and barriers to change will also be highlighted and supported by the real-life experiences of high calibre guest speakers. Students will be given the opportunity to put this learning into practice by planning their own change process to solve a social problem.

This course is designed as a flexible core elective in the Commerce (or Commerce related) program, a level 1 Business School elective, or a General Education course for students from other UNSW faculties. It is designed to complement learning within the broad range of programs from across the University.

2. Staff Contact Details

Position Title Name Email Location Phone Consultation Times
Lecturer in ChargeDrAlexandra WalkerRoom 2049, Centre for Social Impact, Lvl 2 South Wing, Quadrangle Building, UNSW Business School+61 2 9385 9757Wednesday, 1.30pm - 2.30pm

3. Learning and Teaching Activities

Approach to Learning and Teaching in the Course

​The overall pedagogical philosophy of this course is based on the belief that learning is an active process requiring engagement and immersion.

Due to the dynamic nature of social change this course will be highly interactive and discussion-oriented. It will utilise innovative and varied learning, teaching and assessment strategies designed to apply content to practical examples and case studies.

The course assumes the ability and willingness of students to actively engage in class and to take on a multi-disciplinary approach.

Learning Activities and Teaching Strategies

​This course is delivered as a 1hr lecture and a 2hr tutorial allowing for blended learning and teaching strategies. From weeks 1-4 the lecture is delivered face-to-face at the lecture time and place in your timetable. From week 5 onwards, the lecture is delivered on line. All tutorials are face-to-face and will start in Week 2.

Typically, the course will be a mixture of short lectures, guest speakers, case studies, discussions and debates.

5. Course Resources

Links to all required and optional resources are on the reading list for your course in the UNSW Library’s Leganto system, which you can access via 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.

Required readings consist of core texts and their applications. Readings are chosen to provide both theoretical foundation and to illuminate their meaning and usage in professional contexts. The readings are not to be studied in detail, but designed to initiate thinking and understanding of key themes in social systems and change.

6. Course Evaluation & Development

Each year feedback is sought from students and other stakeholders about the courses offered in the School and continual improvements are made based on this feedback. In this course, we will seek your feedback through end of semester myExperience responses. Your feedback is important to ensure the course is continually improved.

7. Course Schedule

Week 1: 26 Feb - 2 March 2018
Activity

Lecture (on campus): Introduction to course

Topic

Course outline

Optional introductory readings

Assessment/Other

Read the Course Outline and understand attendance requirements

 

Activity

Tutorial

Topic

NO TUTORIALS THIS WEEK

Assessment/Other

NO TUTORIALS THIS WEEK. Read the Course Outline and understand attendance requirements

Week 2: 05 Mar - 09 March 2018
Activity

Lecture (on campus): UNDERSTANDING COMPLEXITY

Topic

Introduction to Social Change & the consequences of social inequality

Assessment/Other

* Attendance at lectures and tutorials

* Online readings

Activity

Tutorials

Topic

Understanding academic integrity, referencing & plagiarism

Critical thinking & how to apply it

Assessment/Other

* Attendance at lectures and tutorials

* Online readings

Week 3: 12 March - 16 March 2018
Activity

Lecture (on campus): UNDERSTANDING COMPLEXITY

Topic

What’s the (wicked) problem? From the personal to the global: setting the scene for social change

Assessment/Other

* Attendance at lectures and tutorials

* Online readings

Activity

Tutorial

Topic

Wicked problems activity

Assessment/Other

* Attendance at lectures and tutorials

* Online readings

Week 4: 19 Mar - 23 March 2018
Activity

Lecture (on campus): SYSTEMS THINKING & LEADING CHANGE

Topic

Systems thinking & the three sectors

Assessment/Other

* Attendance at lectures and tutorials

* Online readings

* Complete Multiple Choice Quiz 1 by 11:59pm Friday 23 March

 

Activity

Tutorial

Topic

Systems thinking activity

Assessment/Other

* Attendance at lectures and tutorials

* Online readings

Week 5: 26 March - 29 March 2018 (Friday 30 March is "Good Friday" public holiday)
Activity

Lecture (online from now on): SYSTEMS THINKING & LEADING CHANGE

Topic

Leadership & the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Assessment/Other

* Watch the online lecture

* Meet your team and choose your social issue

* Online readings

Activity

Tutorial

Topic

- Different types of change agents

Activity: Introducing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Assessment/Other

* Tutorial attendance is compulsory this week

* Online readings

Teaching recess and Course Break: 30 March - 8 April
Week 6: 09 April - 13 April 2018
Activity

Lecture (online from now on): HOW THE THREE SECTORS CREATE SOCIAL IMPACT

Topic

Governments, NFPs & social change

Assessment/Other

* Online readings

* Watch the online lecture

Activity

Tutorial

Topic

Debate: supply chains and the social responsibility of business

Assessment/Other

* Tutorial attendance

 

Week 7: 16 April - 20 April 2018
Activity

Lecture (online from now on): HOW THE THREE SECTORS CREATE SOCIAL IMPACT

Topic

Governments, NFPs & social change

Assessment/Other

* Watch the online lecture

* Online readings

* Complete Multiple Choice Quiz 2 by 11:59pm Friday 20 April

Activity

Tutorial

Topic

Activity: How do the 3 sectors create positive social impact?

Assessment/Other

* Tutorial attendance

* Online readings

 

 

Week 8: 23 April - 27 April 2018 (Wednesday 25 April is ANZAC Day public holiday)
Activity

Lecture (online from now on): SOCIAL INNOVATION

Topic

Social innovation: how to design a change process

Assessment/Other

* Online readings

* Tutorials are online this week- you must complete a compulsory teamwork activity on Moodle.

Activity

Tutorial

Topic

NO F2F TUTORIALS THIS WEEK: COMPLETE ONLINE TUTORIAL ACTIVITY

- Allocate roles in teams for the social pitch

Assessment/Other

* Tutorials are online this week- you must complete a compulsory teamwork activity on Moodle.

Week 9: 30 April - 4 May
Activity

Lecture (online from now on): SOCIAL INNOVATION

Topic

Designing & measuring your change process

Assessment/Other

* Watch the online lecture

* Team work: designing your change process

* Online readings

Activity

Tutorial

Topic

Designing & measuring your change process: towards measuring impact

Assessment/Other

* Tutorial attendance is compulsory this week

* Online readings

 

Week 10: 07 May - 11 May 2018
Activity

Lecture (online from now on): CROSS-SECTORAL COLLABORATION & PREPARING A SOCIAL PITCH

Topic

Preparing your social pitch and creating shared value

Assessment/Other

* Watch the online lecture

* Online readings

Activity

Tutorial

Topic

Present social pitch in tutorials

Assessment/Other

* Tutorial attendance

* Online readings

Week 11: 14 May - 18 May 2018
Activity

Lecture (online from now on):

Topic

Cross-sectoral collaboration, collective impact & wrap up

Assessment/Other

* Watch the online lecture

* Online readings

* Social pitch written reports due 11.59pm on Friday 18 May 2018

Activity

Tutorial

Topic

Present social pitch in tutorials

Complete myExperience survey

Assessment/Other

* Tutorial attendance

* Online readings

8. Policies

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

Program Learning Goals and Outcomes

The Business School Program Learning Goals reflect what we want all students to BE or HAVE by the time they successfully complete their degree, regardless of their individual majors or specialisations. For example, we want all our graduates to HAVE a high level of business knowledge and a sound awareness of ethical, social, cultural and environmental implications of business. As well, we want all our graduates to BE effective problem-solvers, communicators and team participants.

You can demonstrate your achievement of these goals by the specific outcomes you achieve by the end of your degree (i.e. Program Learning Outcomes—henceforth PLOs). These PLOs articulate what you need to know and be able to do as a result of engaging in learning. They embody the knowledge, skills and capabilities that are identified, mapped, taught, practised and assessed within each Business School program.

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

Program Learning Outcomes

  • Undergraduate
  • Postgraduate Coursework
Knowledge You should be able to identify and apply disciplinary knowledge to business situations in a local and global environment.
Critical thinking and problem solving You should be able to identify and research issues in business situations, analyse the issues, and propose appropriate and well-justified solutions.
Written communication You should be able to prepare written documents that are clear, concise and coherent, using appropriate style and presentation for the intended audience, purpose and context.
Oral communication You should be able to prepare and deliver oral presentations that are clear, focussed, well-structured, and delivered in a professional manner.
Teamwork You should be able to participate collaboratively and responsibly in teams, and reflect on your own teamwork, and on the team’s processes and ability to achieve outcomes.
Ethical, social and environmental responsibility
  1. You should be able to identify and assess ethical, environmental and/or sustainability considerations in business decision-making and practice.
  2. You should be able to identify social and cultural implications of business.
Workplace skills (Co-op programs only) You should be able to conduct yourself in a professional manner in the work environment, communicate effectively in diverse workplace situations and be able to apply discipline knowledge and understanding to real business problems with initiative and self-direction.
Related PLO Documents View the Undergraduate Honours PLOs (pdf)
Knowledge You should be able to identify and apply current knowledge of disciplinary or interdisciplinary theory and professional practice to business in local and global environments.
Critical thinking and problem solving You should be able to identify, research and analyse complex issues and problems in business and/or management, and propose appropriate and well-justified solutions.
Written communication You should be able to produce written documents that communicate complex disciplinary ideas and information effectively for the intended audience and purpose.
Oral communication You should be able to produce oral presentations that communicate complex disciplinary ideas and information effectively for the intended audience and purpose.
Teamwork You should be able to participate collaboratively and responsibly in teams, and reflect on your own teamwork, and on the team’s processes and ability to achieve outcomes.
Ethical, social and environmental responsibility
  1. You should be able to identify and assess ethical, environmental and/or sustainability considerations in business decision-making and practice.
  2. You should be able to identify social and cultural implications of business.
Related PLO Documents View the Master of Philosophy PLOs (pdf)
View the Doctor of Philosophy PLOs (pdf)

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.
  • Critical thinking and problem solving
  • Knowledge
  • Oral communication
  • Research capability
  • Teamwork
  • Workplace skills
  • Written communication
Entrepreneurial leaders capable of initiating and embracing innovation and change, as well as engaging and enabling others to contribute to change
  • Critical thinking and problem solving
  • Knowledge
  • Oral communication
  • Workplace skills
  • Written communication
Professionals capable of ethical, self- directed practice and independent lifelong learning
  • Ethical, social and environmental responsibility
  • Workplace skills
Global citizens who are culturally adept and capable of respecting diversity and acting in a socially just and responsible way.
  • Ethical, social and environmental responsibility
  • Oral communication
  • Written communication

The Business School strongly advises you to choose a range of courses that assist your development against these PLOs and graduate capabilities, and to keep a record of your achievements as part of your portfolio. You could use these records 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 nine to ten hours per week studying for a course except for Summer Term courses which have a minimum weekly workload of eighteen to twenty 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.

Special Consideration

You must submit all assignments and attend all examinations scheduled for your course. 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. Special Consideration is primarily intended to provide you with an extra opportunity to demonstrate the level of performance of which you are capable.

General information on special consideration for undergraduate and postgraduate courses can be found in the Assessment Implementation Procedure and the Current Students page.

Please note the following:

  1. Applications will not be accepted by teaching staff. The lecturer-in-charge will be automatically notified when you lodge an online application for special consideration
  2. Decisions and recommendations are only made by lecturers-in-charge (or by the Faculty Panel in the case of final exam special considerations), not by tutors
  3. Applying for special consideration does not automatically mean that you will be granted a supplementary exam or other concession
  4. Special consideration requests do not allow lecturers-in-charge to award students additional marks

Business School Protocol on requests for Special Consideration

The lecturer-in-charge will need to be satisfied on each of the following before supporting a request for special consideration:

  1. Does the medical certificate contain all relevant information? For a medical certificate to be accepted, the degree of illness and its impact on the student must be stated by the medical practitioner (severe, moderate, mild). A certificate without this will not be valid. Students should also note that only medical certificates issued after physically visiting a registered medical practitioner will be accepted. Medical certificates submitted for Special Consideration should always be requested from a registered medical practitioner that you have seen at a medical practice. Certificates obtained online or via social media may be fraudulent and if relied upon could result in a breach of the UNSW Student Code.
  2. Has the student performed satisfactorily in the other assessment items? To understand what Satisfactory Performance means in this course, please refer to the 'Formal Requirements' section in Part A of your Course Outline

Special Consideration and the Final Exam in undergraduate and postgraduate courses

Applications for special consideration in relation to the final exam are considered by a Business School Faculty panel to which lecturers-in-charge provide their recommendations for each request. If the Faculty panel grants a special consideration request, this will entitle the student to sit a supplementary examination. No other form of consideration will be granted. The following procedures will apply:

  1. Supplementary exams will be scheduled centrally and will be held approximately two weeks after the formal examination period.

    Supplementary exams for Semester 1, 2018 will be held during the period 14 - 21 July, 2018. Students wishing to sit a supplementary exam will need to be available during this period.

    The date for all Business School supplementary exams for Summer Term 2017/2018 is Wednesday, 21 February, 2018. If a student lodges a special consideration for the final exam, they are stating they will be available on this date. Supplementary exams will not be held at any other time.

  2. Where a student is granted a supplementary examination as a result of a request for special consideration, the student’s original exam (if completed) will be ignored and only the mark achieved in the supplementary examination will count towards the final grade. Absence from a supplementary exam without prior notification does not entitle the student to have the original exam paper marked, and may result in a zero mark for the final exam.

The Supplementary Exam Protocol for Business School students is available at: http://www.business.unsw.edu.au/suppexamprotocol

For special consideration for assessments other than the final exam refer to the ‘Assessment Section’ in your course outline.

Protocol for Viewing Final Exam Scripts

The UNSW Business School has set a protocol under which students may view their final exam script. Please check the protocol here.

Given individual schools within the Faculty may set up a local process for viewing final exam scripts, it is important that you check with your School whether they have any additional information on this process. Please note that this information might also be included in your course outline.


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

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 Centre
The UNSW Learning Centre provides academic skills support services, including workshops and resources, for all UNSW students. See their website for details.
Lower Ground Floor, North Wing Chancellery Building.
learningcentre@unsw.edu.au
02 9385 2060

Educational Support Service
Educational 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. Check their website to request an appointment or to register in the Academic Success Program.
John Goodsell Building, Ground Floor.
advisors@unsw.edu.au
02 9385 4734

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).
itservicecentre@unsw.edu.au
02 9385 1333

Disability Support Services
UNSW Disability Support Services provides assistance to students who are trying to manage the demands of university as well as a health condition, learning disability or who have personal circumstances that are having an impact on their studies. Disability Advisers can arrange to put in place services and educational adjustments to make things more manageable so that students are able to complete their course requirements. To receive educational adjustments for disability support, students must first register with Disability Services.
Ground Floor, John Goodsell Building.
disabilities@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


COMM1000-2018-S1