Course coordinator
Dr Jonathan Staggs
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2026 (23/02/2026 - 20/06/2026)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Business School
What makes a ‘good’ business decision? In this course, you will apply various rational and alternative tools to analyse real-world cases to explore how decisions are made and how they can be improved. By questioning perspectives, assumptions, and values, you will practice critical thinking as the most important employability skill for you to make strategic, evidence-based decisions in a complex and ambiguous world.
Analysing information to support decision making is a vital business skill. Being proficient in business analysis is essential to your progress as a business leader.
This course is designed to introduce you to some of the tools business leaders use to guide decision making. You will learn about the tools and how to apply them. The course introduces you to Rational Analytical tools used by businesses to help them prepare and plan for the future, as well as more contemporary tools in Business Studio design associated with a world of complexity and paradox. These tools will assist you as you complete the rest of your degree.
Course Changes in Response to Previous Student Feedback
Sem 1 2025 students expressed some concern that the 40% final exam placed too much pressure and a feeling of cognitive overload. As a result of this, we have changed the final exam to a 30% mid-semester exam which includes multiple choice questions that check student comprehension of course concepts, along with a reflection question.
Course requirements
Restrictions
Students in the MBus(24 unit) program are not permitted to enrol in this course.
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Jonathan Staggs
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Please note: Teaching staff do not have access to the timetabling system to help with class allocation. Therefore, should you need help with your timetable and/or allocation of classes, please ensure you email business.mytimetable@uq.edu.au from your UQ student email account with the following details:
- Full Name
- Student ID
- Course Code
Aims and outcomes
This course aims to develop your critical thinking and decision-making skills by evaluating various tools and diverse perspectives. You will learn to analyse case studies, recognise complexity, make evidence-based, responsible decisions, and justify your arguments.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Analyse real-world business problems using relevant analytical tools.
LO2.
Collaboratively evaluate business decisions from different perspectives.
LO3.
Recommend strategies to balance the needs of shareholders and other stakeholders.
LO4.
Justify positions supported by evidence and respect for the audience.
LO5.
Reflect on personal assumptions and values to question business norms and challenge the status quo.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Examination |
In-Semester Examination
|
30% |
In-semester Saturday 28/03/2026 - 2/05/2026 |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Practical/ Demonstration, Role play/ Simulation, Tutorial/ Problem Set |
Boardroom Roleplay
|
40% |
Site Visit Template - 5:00pm - 2/04/2026 Boardroom Roleplay 1 Boardroom Roleplay 2 Boardroom Roleplay 3
Boardroom Roleplay's in-person during allocated tutorials. |
| Practical/ Demonstration, Presentation, Reflection |
Business Tools For Making Decisions
|
30% |
9/06/2026 1:00 pm |
Assessment details
In-Semester Examination
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
In-semester Saturday
28/03/2026 - 2/05/2026
- Other conditions
- Time limited, Secure.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L03, L04
Task description
This assessment will be an invigilated, in-person exam with Part A (20 marks) and Part B (10 marks). Students will be asked to answer 15 multiple choice questions in relation to content delivered in Weeks 1-4. Each question is worth 1.5 marks, totaling 20 marks for Part A.
In Part B, students are asked to develop one (1) reflective response to a short business scenario, demonstrating their understanding of tools and techniques introduced in the course. The 2-page business scenario will be provided in the exam and the reflective response should be 350-400 words in length. This question is worth 10 marks. Students will be given more information about how to analyse the business scenario and to develop answers to the examination questions at the start of the semester.
AI Statement
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 90 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| Open/closed book | Closed book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Boardroom Roleplay
- Team or group-based
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Practical/ Demonstration, Role play/ Simulation, Tutorial/ Problem Set
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
Site Visit Template - 5:00pm - 2/04/2026
Boardroom Roleplay 1
Boardroom Roleplay 2
Boardroom Roleplay 3
Boardroom Roleplay's in-person during allocated tutorials.
- Other conditions
- Peer assessed, Longitudinal.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
Students are expected to form into teams of four (4) in Week 4 and then independently organise a visit to one (1) of eighteen (18) branches of the case study organisation- Bunnings.- between Weeks 4-6. As part of this visit, teams are expected to complete the 'site visit template' in order to familiarise themselves with the case study. This submission is due at the end of Week 6 and should be submitted by one team member in the assigned Blackboard group portal. This submission is worth 10 marks.
Then, students will have three opportunities to engage in a boardroom roleplay in their allocated tutorial with their team. These assessed tutorials will be held in Weeks 7, 8, and 9 with the the best two (2) marks of the three (3) submissions contributing to their grade. The boardroom roleplay is worth 15 marks, totalling 30 marks (2 x 15 marks) for this element of the assessment task.
In these assessable tutorials, students will be required to sit in their teams and discuss the Bunnings organisation using specific strategic analytical tools covered in those weeks. Students will need to read extra case material made available prior to the class along with a set of four (4) statements about the case, then come ready to write their response to these statements on an individual response sheet in the first phase of the tutorial. No extra materials or devices are allowed during this individual section. Students will be supplied the response sheet but should bring a pen to the tutorial. Students arriving late for this individual section (beginning 5 minutes after the start of the tutorial) are not permitted to submit an individual response and will lose three (3) marks.
Then, in teams, students are to undertake a boardroom role play in which they deliberate how these tools and techniques can be practically applied, drawing upon each other's individual responses. Extra materials and devices are permitted during this phase but should be used discriminately. Teams are expected to reach a consensus position on which statement is most relevant to senior management of the case study organisation, then write this down on the worksheet that is provided. Students must also submit their individual response along the team worksheet to the tutor at the end of the class.
Students will have three (3) opportunities to engage in this boardroom roleplay with the best two (2) marks contributing to their overall grade. These two (2) submissions are worth 15 marks each, totalling 30 marks in total.
Teams are expected to provide peer evaluation data at the end of each of these three tutorials. While this is a team-based task, adjustments may be made to individual student marks based on the quality of their individual section and/or their performance within the boardroom roleplay. These adjustments may be made on the basis of peer evaluation data and/or teaching team observations.
AI Statement
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task when directed to do so by the teaching team. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Students will be provided with individual response sheets and an A3 team worksheet
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Business Tools For Making Decisions
- Mode
- Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia, Written
- Category
- Practical/ Demonstration, Presentation, Reflection
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
9/06/2026 1:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Longitudinal.
- Learning outcomes
- L03, L04, L05
Task description
Students will be provided three in-class reflective tasks that will inform the development of a 5-minute video submission. Each reflective task will be discussed and developed in the final tutorials of the course and will draw upon course concepts and themes and student's own personal experience. These reflections should be synthesised and distilled into a 5-minute business leadership manifesto that should be recorded as a video and demonstrate professional communication. This video should be addressed to the student's future self and outline what kind of business leader the student would like to be.
Students are required to submit their video submission in the Echo platform. Students are also expected to submit a Word document or PDF which references their insights and demonstrates application of scholarly themes from the course. Additionally, students are strongly encouraged to take and submit photos of their handwritten reflections developed throughout the course to demonstrate their engagement with course learning activities and include this in their submission.
AI Statement
Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is a good starting point to help generate insights about the use of tools and techniques to their particular case. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Via Blackboard
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 29 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 30 - 46 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 47 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Additional course grading information
Grades will be allocated according to University-wide standards of criterion-based assessment.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 |
Lecture |
Course Overview, SWOT, and BCG Matrix Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L05 |
Week 2 |
Tutorial |
SWOT and BCG Matrix concept check Learning outcomes: L01, L03 |
Lecture |
SWOT and BCG Matrix- Limitations and Critical Perspectives Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L05 |
|
Week 3 |
Tutorial |
SWOT & BCG Matrix- Applied Learning Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L05 |
Lecture |
Balanced Scorecard and Three Horizons Learning outcomes: L01, L03 |
|
Week 4 |
Tutorial |
Balanced Scorecard and Three Horizons concept check Learning outcomes: L01, L03 |
Lecture |
Balanced Scorecard and Three Horizons- Limitations and Critical Perspectives Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L05 |
|
Week 5 |
Tutorial |
Balanced Scorecard and Three Horizons- Applied Learning. & A2 Team Formation In this tutorial, we require students to form teams of four (4) in preparation for an independent learning activity designed for Week 6. Students are expected to self-enrol in a Blackboard group. Time will be allocated for this process. This team should consist of students who are allocated to the same tutorial in preparation for Assessment 2. Students are expected to stay in the same team for the duration of Weeks 7-9 which consist of in-class boardroom role plays. Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L05 |
Lecture |
PESTLE and Porter's 5 Forces Learning outcomes: L01, L03 |
|
Week 6 |
Fieldwork |
Case Organisation Site Visit There are no tutorials this week. Instead, students teams are expected to organise themselves and undertake a trip to a Bunnings store of their choice and complete a template that will be provided. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05 |
Lecture |
PESTLE and Porter's 5 Forces- Limitations and Critical Perspectives Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L05 |
|
Mid-sem break |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
In-Semester break |
Week 7 |
Tutorial |
PESTLE and Porter's 5 Forces Boardroom Roleplay This is the first assessable tutorial. The best two (2) marks received will contribute to the overall grade for Assessment 2. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05 |
Lecture |
Stakeholder Analysis and Cultural Web Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L05 |
|
Week 8 |
Tutorial |
Stakeholder Analysis and Cultural Web- Boardroom Roleplay This is the second assessable tutorial. The best two (2) marks received will contribute to the overall grade for Assessment 2. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05 |
Lecture |
Strategy Diamond Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L05 |
|
Week 9 |
Tutorial |
Strategy Diamond Boardroom Roleplay This is the third, and final, assessable tutorial. The best two (2) marks received will contribute to the overall grade for Assessment 2. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05 |
Lecture |
Business Model Innovation Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L05 |
|
Week 10 |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Break Labour Day Public Holiday - Monday 4th May 2026 |
Lecture |
Aesthetic Pedagogies for Business Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L05 |
|
Week 11 |
Tutorial |
Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) for Business Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L05 |
Lecture |
Scenario Planning for Business Learning outcomes: L03, L04, L05 |
|
Week 12 |
Tutorial |
Scenario Planning- applied learning Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05 |
Lecture |
Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Business Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05 |
|
Week 13 |
Tutorial |
Individual reflection guidance Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05 |
Lecture |
Course summary Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure
- AI for Assessment Guide
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.