Course coordinator
Dr Gemma Irving
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2025 (28/07/2025 - 22/11/2025)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Business School
This course introduces students to the different types of information that managers and other decision-makers gather, and the tools used to analyse that information for effective business decisions. It provides an overview of the extensive range of strategic and operational frameworks drawn from fields such as strategic management, financial management, marketing, human resource management, supply chain management and international business. The purpose of this comprehensive toolkit course is not only to provide students with a wide range of the necessary business analytical tools, but also to integrate these tools into a more complete and meaningful package that can be used as a portable toolkit for ensuing courses, and across their post-study career. To do this, this course follows a problem based approach, where an understanding of the decision-making frameworks is gained through its application to practical problems. Three themes per semester will be investigated in groups, using the multiple lenses that tools such as Business Model Canvas, Balanced Scorecards, Career Mapping, SOAR, PESTEL, Market Analysis, Porter's Five Forces, Financial Forecasting, Bell-Mason Diagnostic, Prior Art Searches, Scenario Planning, Technology Analysis, SWOT, Strategy Diamond, Seven Tools of Project Management, Business Plans, Root Cause Analysis, MInto Pyramid, and HR Audits provide. This will provide students with insights into both the nature of the business problems as well as methods that are used for identifying and evaluating alternative solutions.
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 requirements
Restrictions
Students in the MBus(24 unit) program are not permitted to enrol in this course.
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Gemma Irving
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 provide students with a comprehensive 'toolkit' of necessary business analytical tools, integrating these into a more meaningful package that can be used as a portable toolkit for ensuing courses across a student's post-study career. In doing so, this course adopts a problem-based approach where a student's understanding of the decision making frameworks is gained via application to practical problems.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Apply commonly used rational analytical tools to real-world business problems.
LO2.
Apply commonly used business studio design tools to real-world business problems.
LO3.
Synthesise and evaluate complex findings in an effective way.
LO4.
Examine a complicated business environment as part of a team.
LO5.
Describe and discuss the ethical context of business decisions and situation analysis.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Strategic analysis | 30% |
8/09/2025 1:00 pm |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Practical/ Demonstration |
Business Tools For Making Decisions
|
30% |
14/10/2025 1:00 pm |
| Examination |
Final Examination
|
40% |
End of Semester Exam Period 8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025 |
Assessment details
Strategic analysis
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
8/09/2025 1:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L03, L04
Task description
During workshops, students will have the chance to discuss a case using specific strategic analytical tools covered each week. Students will need to read the case, actively participate in discussions, and deliberate how these tools and techniques can be practically applied. Students must then submit an individual assignment that provides senior management with their strategic insights for the company in question, using the relevant strategy tools and techniques.
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. 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.
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
- Team or group-based
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance, Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia, Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Practical/ Demonstration
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
14/10/2025 1:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Peer assessed.
- Learning outcomes
- L02, L03, L04, L05
Task description
Students will be asked to form teams of six (6) to present a critical analysis and a strategic recommendation to a company. This 15-minute group meeting must be recorded as a Teams or Zoom meeting with each member's camera on. The group is expected to draw upon three (3) tools and techniques from the available five (5) tools- GE Matrix, VRIN, BCG, Balanced Scorecard, and Strategy Diamond and justify why these tools and techniques have been chosen as the most relevant for the case study company in question.
At the end of the assessment task, all team members will be required to complete a peer assessment of each other's performance and contribution to the assessment. Instructions for how to do this will be provided in class.
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.
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.
Final Examination
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025
- Other conditions
- Time limited.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L05
Task description
The final assessment will be an invigilated, in-person exam where students will be asked to develop and justify a 'best practices' strategic response using tools and techniques introduced in the course. The examination requires students to familiarise themselves with the facts of a business case that will be made available seven (7) days before the exam and answer a number of questions relating to this case study. Students will be given more information about how to analyse the business case and to develop answers to the examination questions towards the end 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 | 120 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.
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 Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L05 |
Week 2 |
Lecture |
External analysis- PESTLE & SWOT Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L05 |
Workshop |
Harvard Case Companion Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L05 |
|
Week 3 |
Lecture |
No lecture Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L05 |
Workshop |
No workshop EKKA Public Holiday - Wednesday 13 August 2025 - Check Blackboard for announcements about affected classes. Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04 |
|
Week 4 |
Lecture |
External analysis - Porters 5 Forces Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04 |
Workshop |
External analysis- PESTLE & SWOT Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04 |
|
Week 5 |
Lecture |
External analysis - Stakeholder analysis framework Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L05 |
Workshop |
External analysis - Porters 5 Forces Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L05 |
|
Week 6 |
Lecture |
Internal analysis- VRIN Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L05 |
Workshop |
External analysis - Stakeholder analysis framework Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L05 |
|
Week 7 |
Lecture |
Internal analysis- Strategy Diamond and The Balanced Scorecard Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L05 |
Workshop |
Internal analysis- VRIN Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04, L05 |
|
Week 8 |
Lecture |
Internal analysis- BCG Matrix, GE Matrix, and 3 Horizons Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L05 |
Workshop |
Internal analysis- Strategy Diamond and the Balanced Scorecard Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L05 |
|
Week 9 |
Lecture |
No lecture Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L05 |
Workshop |
Assignment 2 Group Meeting Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L05 |
|
Mid Sem break |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
In-Semester break |
Week 10 |
Lecture |
Internal analysis – Strategy Implementation Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05 |
Workshop |
Internal analysis – Strategy Implementation Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L05 |
|
Week 11 |
Lecture |
Business Crisis- Turnaround Analysis Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L05 |
Workshop |
Internal analysis – Strategy Implementation Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04, L05 |
|
Week 12 |
Lecture |
Business Crisis- Business Model Innovation & Scenario Planning Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L05 |
Workshop |
Business Crisis- Turnaround Analysis Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L05 |
|
Week 13 |
Lecture |
Course summary and exam guidance Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L05 |
Workshop |
Business Crisis- Business Model Innovation & Scenario Planning Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, 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
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.