ECON1202 Quantitative Analysis for Business and Economics - 2018

Subject Code
ECON1202
Study Level
Undergraduate
Commencing Term
Semester 1
Total Units of Credit (UOC)
6
Delivery Mode
On Campus
School
Economics

1. Course Details

Summary of Course

Mathematics is an important part of theoretical and applied analysis in economics and business. This course equips students with a working knowledge of the most common techniques, providing the basis for their further studies. Topics include the mathematics of finance, matrix algebra, linear programming, as well as calculus and (unconstrained and constrained) optimisation. Special emphasis is put on the illustration of the covered concepts and techniques with applications to typical problems in business and economics.

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 Goals and 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 is offered as part of the first year core in the Bachelor of Economics degrees. For students in the Bachelor of Commerce program, it is not part of the 1st year core BUT it is a prerequisite for most 2nd year economics courses, so it is strongly recommended for those contemplating one of the economics majors.

It aims to give students a good insight and understanding of how mathematical concepts, theories and techniques are applied to the fields of business, economics and the social sciences in order to generate solutions to problems encountered in these fields. In this course we build on mathematical knowledge which you should have gained in high school. The course content constitutes the minimum mathematical knowledge and skills that graduates from the Faculty should possess in order to be effective in their later studies at UNSW, and in the world of work.

After completing QABE, your use of mathematics and statistics in your studies will vary depending on the major(s) you choose. If you choose majors such as Economics, Business Economics, Financial Economics and Econometrics you will study further courses in econometrics. These majors are designed to equip students with statistical and other quantitative skills that are widely used and increasingly demanded by employers in commercial fields and the public sector. If you choose other majors where quantitative skills are needed, such as Accounting, Finance and Marketing, a good understanding of concepts taught in QABE will be a major asset.

The aims of this course are for you to:

Gain experience in areas which every business person needs such as problem solving and using a spreadsheet;

  • Develop your ability to perform calculations;
  • Develop your ability to solve real life business problems using formal mathematical tools and algorithms;
  • Extend your skills in analysis, oral and written communication.

Presumed Knowledge

The Business School has an assumed knowledge requirement that students entering the BCom and BEc are expected to be familiar with HSC Mathematics. Therefore, in this course we will base lectures on a prior knowledge of HSC Mathematics and this assumed knowledge will not be covered or revised as part of the lectures or tutorials.

If you have not studied HSC mathematics in New South Wales, knowledge of the following topics is essential: basic functions and graphs including logarithms and exponentials and solutions of linear and quadratic equations. If you have not studied any or all of these topics previously at an appropriate level of mathematics at high school, remedial work will be necessary.

A short quiz has been designed to give you an evaluation of your mathematics skills. The quiz is available on the course website and students must attempt the quiz in order to get full access to the site. More importantly, the quiz provides an indication of whether you do in fact have a good grasp of the assumed knowledge in mathematics. Students with the appropriate background will find the quiz straightforward. If this is not the case and you feel you require some assistance then there are at least two options. You may wish to engage in some self-study in which case we recommend you purchase the following book available at the UNSW bookshop: Managing Mathematics: A Refresher Course for Economics and Commerce Students by Judith Watson, 2nd edition, 2002. Alternatively, UNSW in conjunction with Randwick TAFE, is offering a course, Essential Mathematics for Higher Education, that will provide instruction in the required mathematics. For further details go to the TAFE website.

Student Learning Outcomes

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

The Learning Outcomes in this course also help you to achieve some of the overall Program Learning Goals and Outcomes for all undergraduate and postgraduate coursework students in the Business School. Program Learning Goals are what we want you to BE or HAVE by the time you successfully complete your degree (e.g. ‘be an effective team player’). You demonstrate this by achieving specific Program Learning Outcomes - what you are able to DO by the end of your degree (e.g. ‘participate collaboratively and responsibly in teams’).

For more information on Program Learning Goals and Outcomes, refer to the course Policies and Support.

The following table shows how your Course Learning Outcomes relate to the overall Program Learning Goals and Outcomes, and indicates where these are assessed (they may also be developed in tutorials and other activities):

Program Learning Goals and Outcomes Course Learning Outcomes Course Assessment Item
This course helps you to achieve the following learning goals for all Business undergraduate/postgraduate coursework students:

On successful completion of the course, you should be able to:

This learning outcome will be assessed in the following items:

1 - Knowledge

Apply basic principles of financial mathematics to real life problems.

Apply probability tools to solve risk and uncertainty scenarios.

Use matrix algebra to represent and solve systems of equations.

Use linear programming and calculus to solve optimisation problems.

Apply both single variable and multivariable calculus to business and economics problems.

  • In-tutorial test
  • Online quizzes
  • Final Exam
2 - Critical thinking and problem solving

Formulate and solve real problems amenable to mathematical analysis that arise in economics and business using the methods appropriate to the problem.

  • In-tutorial test
  • Online quizzes
  • Final Exam
3a - Written communication

Construct written work which is logically and professionally presented.

  • Final Exam
3b - Oral communication

Communicate successfully with group members in solving analytical problems. Such skills in analytical thinking and effective communication are Graduate Attributes that UNSW seeks to foster in its graduates.

Not specifically assessed.

4 - Teamwork

Work collaboratively to complete a task.

Not specifically assessed.

5a - Ethical, social and environmental responsibility

Identify and assess environmental and sustainability considerations in problems in economics and business.

  • Final Exam
5b - Social and cultural awareness

Not applicable in this course.

Not applicable in this course.

2. Staff Contact Details

Position Title Name Email Location Phone Consultation Times
LecturerDrCarlos PimientaQuad 31259385 3358
–
Lecturer-in-charge    Anton KolotilinRoom 404A9385 4965
–
Tutors: List of tutors will be posted on Website.

Communications with staff

Consultations are an opportunity for you to ask questions. You may need to ask about the material introduced in lectures, the problems you have attempted or questions that were not fully answered in tutorials.

You should feel free to contact your lecturers about any matter. For issues regarding the material taught during lectures, please contact the lecturer responsible for your class. For efficiency, all enquiries about the subject material should be made at lectures or tutorials or during consultation time. Discussion of course subject material will not be entered into via lengthy emails.

Email correspondence on administrative matters (e.g. advising inability to attend tutorials) will be responded to within 48 hours, but not over weekends. Please note that the lecturer has no advance notice of the date and time of the exam (the subject of many emails).

Email enquiries should be directed to the QABE staff as follows:

  • Lecture-related enquires to your lecturer;
  • Tutorial material enquiries to your tutor;
  • Course related issues and enquiries about special consideration, assessments and examination to the lecturer-in-charge;
  • Administrative enquiries about the tutorials to the tutor-in-charge

We will reply to emails within 3 working days with the following provisions:

  • The question should require at most a two-sentence response. If it takes more, office hours are the more appropriate venue.
  • The email should not request information that can be found on the website or the course outline.
  • The email is not about grading. For such matters, office hours are appropriate.
  • Always identify yourself and the course code in the subject of your email.
  • Please do not send attachments of any kind unless requested.

Pitstop and PASS

In the weeks leading up to exams, starting from about Week 12, the School will be providing Pitstop, an opportunity for consultation with tutors as you revise for the exams. Details of Pitstop locations and hours for this course will be advised closer to the time.

PASS (the Peer Assisted Support Scheme) is a system of voluntary study groups available to QABE students. The groups are each led by senior students and are an opportunity to practice problems, develop study methods, ask questions, and consolidate your knowledge in a friendly informal environment. The PASS sessions will start in Week 3 and the timetable will be available from the Course Website in Week 2.

3. Learning and Teaching Activities

Approach to Learning and Teaching in the Course

The philosophy underpinning this course and its Teaching and Learning Strategies are based on “Guidelines on Learning that Inform Teaching at UNSW. Specifically, the lectures, tutorials and assessment have been designed to appropriately challenge students and support the achievement of the desired learning outcomes. A climate of inquiry and dialogue is encouraged between students and teachers and among students (in and out of class). The lecturers and tutors aim to provide meaningful and timely feedback to students to improve learning outcomes.

This is not a course where you can become proficient just by observing. You will need to get involved in class ‐ evaluating information, asking and answering questions. You also must learn to organise your independent study and practise enough problems to gain a thorough understanding of concepts and how to apply them.

You are expected to:

  • Put a consistent effort into learning activities throughout the session by preparing for the regular assessment tasks
  • Take a more responsible role in preparing for tutorials and participating in them
  • Develop communication skills through engaging in classroom discussions and preparing an assignment
  • Concentrate on understanding how and why to use formulas and less on memorising them
  • Make continuous improvements by using the feedback from assessments

Learning Activities and Teaching Strategies

The examinable content of the course is defined by the references given in the Lecture Schedule, the content of Lectures, and the content of the Tutorial Program.

In this course there are two types of formal classes: lectures and tutorials. There are also peer assisted study groups (PASS) which you can attend on a voluntary basis. In addition, you will be expected to spend a considerable amount of extra time working with group members on your assignment and working on your own to attempt tutorial preparation and self-study questions.

Lectures

The purpose of Lectures is to provide a logical structure for the topics that make up the course; to emphasize the important concepts and methods of each topic. They will include explanation of relevant topics and theory together with worked examples to demonstrate the theory in practice. Where possible, lectures will show the relevance and application of the quantitative techniques covered in this course to business, economic and financial applications.

To get the most out of the lectures, students are strongly encouraged to familiarise themselves with the readings as given in the course outline prior to attending each lecture. To aid note taking a “book” of lecture outlines, with space for working, is available from the course website. While some students prefer to take their own notes, others will prefer to use the outline as a template for their notes.

Due to the size of lecture classes and the large amount of course material to be covered there is only a very limited time for questions during the lectures themselves. However, the smaller tutorial classes (see below) are ideal forums for students to test their understanding and seek further instruction. Additionally, there are consultation times with lecturers.

Tutorials

Tutorials are an integral part of the subject. Tutorial presentations / discussion questions / problems will build on the material discussed in lectures. Tutorials will increase your understanding of the material covered in lectures if you have tried to work through some numerical problems yourself beforehand.

Focus. Besides learning practical problem‐solving skills, there is an emphasis on the development of communication skills and the ability to construct arguments. Discussions, both in small groups and between the whole class, will be an opportunity for you to examine your understanding of concepts and applications before working on numerical examples.

Preparation. Each week you will be given two sets of questions to work on.

Tutorial questions must be prepared for your tutorial. Expect that your tutor or another student will check that you have attempted these. You are expected to attend the tutorials and discuss any difficulties you encountered solving the tutorial questions with our tutor. Solutions to these tutorial questions will be available on QABE website on each week on Wednesday after 7pm.

Self-study questions will also be set for each week. Attempting these will assist you in answering the tutorial questions and will form a necessary part of the practice you will need to do to successfully complete this course. Solutions to some of these questions will be posted on QABE website before the examination time. Further help in understanding the tutorial solutions and in solving the self-study problems can be obtained through consultations with your lecturer and tutor.

Discussion. The first part of your tutorial will involve discussion questions related to the numerical questions you have prepared. These will help you improve your understanding of concepts and mathematical methods and assist you to see the relevance of these in business and economics. In some weeks you may also discuss topics such as how to approach your group assignment. During this part of the tutorial, you may also suggest topics you would like to be discussed, for example areas where you are confused or need more explanation.

Numerical solutions. During the second part of the tutorial, the students and the tutor, working together, will examine the solutions to the prepared questions. If time permits, extra questions may be attempted. In the case where there is not time to work through all the prepared questions, answers to these questions (but not complete solutions) will be made available on each week on Wednesday on the website.

Out-of-Class Study

Lectures can only provide a structure to assist your study, and tutorial time is limited. Most learning will be achieved outside of class time. Students differ in their learning styles but a learning strategy might include:

  • Read sections of the textbook before/after the lecture
  • Attempt the self study problems and compare your methods with the online practice problems to prepare for quizzes or the past exam required; try extra problems from the textbook if required
  • Prepare tutorial questions
  • Take the online quiz, look at your results and if necessary and carry out further preparation before re-attempting it
  • Work with other group members on the computing assignment
  • Seek assistance from staff, PASS leaders or fellow students to have queries answered

5. Course Resources

The website for this course is on UNSW Moodle.

The Textbook for this course is:

​Recommended text ​Comment
​Haeussler, E.F. Paul, R.S and Wood, R.J., Introductory Mathematical Analysis for Business, Economics and the Life and Social Sciences 13th ed., Published by Addison Wesley, 2008 . ​Text and (optional) student solution manual, which contains solutions to the odd numbered questions, are both available at the UNSW bookshop and in MyCourse reserve in the library.

Students may also find the following textbook useful for some parts of the course:

​​Recommended text ​Comment
​Knox, D.M., Zima, P. and Brown, R.L., Mathematics of Finance, 2nd ed,
Published by McGraw‐Hill, 1999.
​This book is highly recommended reading for the financial maths section and in particular for topics from lectures 8 and 9 which are not in the textbook. Available in MyCourse reserve and at the UNSW Bookshop.
​Morris, C., Quantitative Approaches in
Business Studies, 6th ed., Published by Financial Times Prentice Hall, 2003.
​Easy to read style, this book is an excellent resource for linear programming and decision theory topics. Available in MyCourse reserve.
​Watson, J., Managing Mathematics: A
Refresher Course for Economics and
Commerce Students, 2nd ed., School of Economics, UNSW, 2002.
​Recommended for those who have previously gained the assumed knowledge of mathematics, but who now need to refresh algebra or calculus. Available at the UNSW Bookshop.

Note that in the Lecture Schedule and in the Tutorial Booklet these texts are referred to according to the initials of their authors as HPW, KZB, CM, and JW.

Calculator. A basic scientific calculator is required for this course. Usually the calculator you used at school will be satisfactory. It must be able to perform logarithmic and exponential calculations such as ln x and xy. The calculator must not be a programmable one (i.e. have a full alphabetic keyboard) or a financial one. If you need to purchase a new calculator, keep in mind that, for further use, it will be desirable to have a two variable statistical mode to perform linear regression calculations.

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. UNSW's myExperience Survey Tool is one of the ways in which student evaluative feedback is gathered. You are strongly encouraged to take part in the feedback process.

7. Course Schedule

Week 1: 26 Feb
Activity

Lecture

Topic

L1: Introducing QABE

Topic 1: TIME VALUE OF MONEY

L2: The problem

Simple interest

Compound interest

Continuously compounded interest

Present Value

Future value

Assessment/Other

Lecture book 12th ed

 

KZB 1.1-1.2

HPW 5.1

HPW 5.3

HPW 5.2

KZB 2.3, 2.4

Week 2: 05 Mar
Activity

Lecture

Topic

L3: Equations of value

Net present value

Internal rate of return

 

L4: Geometric progressions

Ordinary annuities Annuities due

Assessment/Other

HPW pp.202-204

KZB 1.4, 2.3, 2.6

KZB 8.1, 8.2

 

HPW 5.4

KZB 3.1-3.4, App.B

Week 3: 12 Mar
Activity

Lecture

Topic

Topic 2: MATRICES

L5:Introduction to matrices

Transpose, diagonal, identity, zero

Matrix algebra: addition, subtraction

Multiplication: scalar, matrix

 

L6: Small matrices:

Matrix Inversion, Adjoint method

Solving systems of Linear Equations

Consistency, types of solutions

Assessment/Other

HPW 6.1- 6.3

 

HPW 6.6

Week 4: 19 Mar
Activity

Lecture

Topic

L7: More on matrices:

Large matrices

Computing methods

Arrays, inversion, other methods

Topic 3: PROBABILITIES

L8: Permutations

Combinations

Assessment/Other

HPW 6.1-6.3

 

HPW pp.347-349

HPW 8.2

Week 5: 26 Mar
Activity

Lecture

Topic

L9: Probability Trees

Rules of probability

Bayes’ Theorem

L10: Markov chains

Assessment/Other

HPW 8.5- 8.7

CM 8

 

HPW 9.3

Mid Semester Break: 02 Apr
Week 6: 09 Apr
Activity

Lecture

Topic

Topic 4: LINEAR PROGRAMMING

L11: Introduction to Linear Programming

Graphical approaches

L12: Changes in the constraints

Changes in the objective function Applications

Assessment/Other

HPW 7.1

CM 19

 

HPW 7.2-7.3

Week 7: 16 Apr
Activity

Lecture

Topic

Topic 5: CALCULUS

L13: Limits

Rate of change - Differentiation by the limit

Differentiation rules

Applications (marginal cost/revenue, propensities)

 

L14: Implicit differentiation

Logarithmic and exponential derivatives

Differentials

Higher derivatives

Applications (elasticity of demand)

Assessment/Other

HPW 10.1-10.4

HPW 11.1, 11.3-11.5

HPW 11.2

HPW 12.3

 

HPW 12.4

HPW 12.1-12.2

HPW 14.1

HPW 12.7 HPW 12.3

Week 8: 23 Apr
Activity

Lecture

Topic

No Lecture - Anzac Day Public Holiday

 

Week 9: 30 Apr
Activity

Lecture

Topic

L15: Relative extrema

Concavity, convexity

Local, global extrema

Inflection points

 

L16: Introduction to integration

The indefinite integral

The definite integral

Integration rules

Assessment/Other

HPW 13.1

HPW 13.3- 13.4, 13.6

 

HPW 14.1-14.7, 14.10

Week 10: 07 May
Activity

Lecture

Topic

L17: Introduction to differential equations

Method of separation of variables

Introducing growth

 

L18: Exponential growth

Limited growth applications

Assessment/Other

HPW 14.10, 15.5

 

HPW 15.6

Week 11: 14 May
Activity

Lecture

Topic

L19: Introduction to multivariable calculus

Level curves

Partial & total derivatives

Topic 6: OPTIMIZATION

L20: Multivariable optimization

Unconstrained optimization

Constrained optimization

Assessment/Other

HPW 17.1-17.3

HPW 17.5-17.6

 

HPW 17.1-17.6

HPW 17.7 HPW 17.8

Week 12: 21 May
Activity

Lecture

Topic

L21: Applications of constrained optimization

Economic applications

Lagrange multipliers

L22: EXAM INFORMATION

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


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