Work integrated learning is the core component of the Special Industry Project course. The course provides a select group of undergraduate students across the university with the opportunity to work in a small cross-disciplinary team setting and solve a business problem presented by a live business client. The academic component of the course is comprised of a series of master classes delivered by academic experts and industry professionals. Under the supervision of the course convenor and support of a designated industry mentor, students will apply their theoretical knowledge into practice by working on innovative solutions that address the specified business issue from the live business client that is located in Australia or overseas. The Special Industry Project course facilitates undergraduate students’ development of professional skills important for their job market readiness.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Apply relevant theoretical knowledge and skills to solve a specified business problem; 
   
2. Research, analyse, evaluate and propose practical solutions to the business problem encountered by the client organisation;
   
3. Work effectively and professionally within a team to develop practical solutions to a specified business problem;
   
4. Communicate effectively with peers and business professionals;
   
5. Construct a professional industry report; and
   
6. Critically reflect upon the value of lifelong learning processes provided through the project experience.

Research-Led Teaching

Students will be wearing the hat of the “consultant” in this course and will be addressing an issue with the support of a private sector mentor industry. When working with a client it is critical to have a thorough understanding of the client’s problem, business operations, requirements, stakeholders, risks, potential solutions, needs and strategy. This requires a blend of both primary and secondary research methods and data. It also requires the synthesis of said research into practical application, ultimately leading to desired business outcomes.

Such skills are necessary when entering or working in the current job market. The learning both in and out of the classroom will further support the development of professional skills and ultimately students’ employability.

Field Trips

Students will undertake a field trip to visit the client, including an overnight stay. Travel costs are to be covered by ANU.

Additional Course Costs

There may be offsite meetings with the client and/or the mentors which may or may not present the option of non-compulsory purchase of food or beverages.

Students are not required to financially contribute to any meetings but are permitted to do so at their own discretion.

Required Resources

Reading Resources

HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations, Nancy Duarte, 2012. (available in the library on short-term loan)

Recommended Resources

Mark Thomas, 2003. High Performance Consulting Skills. Thorogood. Students can read the book online or download pdf chapters from https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.virtual.anu.edu.au/lib/anu/detail.action?docID=308966

Leonard, K., & Yorton, T. (2015). Yes, and: How Improvisation Reverses" no, But" Thinking and Improves Creativity and Collaboration--lessons from the Second City. Harper Collins. Hard copies of relevant chapters will be provided in class.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

·        Verbal Feedback

·        During mentoring sessions with industry partner

·        Written feedback on all assignments

·        Live feedback during lectures

·        Peer feedback

·        Feedback from presentation panels

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Other Information

Prizes

Prize from the client to be confirmed before final presentations.

Support for Students

The University offers a number of support services for students. Information on these is available online from http://students.anu.edu.au/studentlife

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Introduction to Consulting – What is it? What does it Require? What not to do?	Guest speaker
2	Meet your client and understand the case study	Client speaker session
3	Aligning Business Solutions to Strategy	Strategic business models Networking/Meet and Greet with Industry mentors
4	Teams – Setting yourself up for success	Guest Speaker- Nghia Tran
5	Moving Beyond the ‘Comfort Zone’	Guest Speaker – Associate Professor Vinh Lu Mid-Term Progress - Report Due
6	Mid-Term Progress - Presentation	Mid-Term Progress - Presentation Due Peer Evaluation Due (In class)
7	Project Review – 60 minutes per team	NO LECTURE
8	Tips and tricks for effective presentations	Guest Speaker –Cam Sullings
9	Project Review – 90 minutes per team	NO LECTURE
10	The basics of financial and investment planning	Financial modeling tools Peer Evaluation Due (In class)
11	Managing Stakeholders	Project management institute templates Final Business Proposal - Report Due
12	Final Business Proposal - Presentations	Final Business Proposal - Presentations Due
13		Reflection Due

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Learning Outcomes
Participation (10%)	10 %	2, 3, 5, 6, 7
Mid-Term Progress - Report (10%)	10 %	1, 2, 3, 5
Mid-Term Progress - Presentation (10%)	10 %	1, 2, 3, 5
Peer Evaluation 1 (5%)	5 %	6, 7
Peer Evaluation 2 (5%)	5 %	6, 7
Final Business Proposal - Report (30%)	30 %	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Final Business Proposal - Presentation (20%)	20 %	1, 3, 5, 6
Reflection (10%)	10 %	7

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Participation is essential; The rubric for participation is available on Wattle.

Examination(s)

There is no final exam in this course.

Assessment Task 1

Participation (10%)

Value: 10%

Participation will be based on a number of components.

The marking criteria is available on Wattle.

Participation is linked to achievement of the learning outcomes (LO4, LO5 and LO6), demonstrated by:

• frequency of participation in class: weight 10%
• attendance of guest lecturers presentations and engagement in Q&A: weight 20%
• quality of in-class comments (demonstrate insight and a constructive approach): weight 50%
• listening skills (to others in class and teams, and to guests): weight 20%

Participation is expected across the 12 weeks of classes. The completion of the group project depends on every team member doing their best work, all 12 weeks.

Assessment Task 2

Mid-Term Progress - Report (10%)

Value: 10%

Type: Group

Purpose of Assessment: Students will provide a status report of progress on their final proposal. This will provide a focus for the final reports and give students an opportunity to practice the professional presentation of business report.

Length: 1,500 words

Content:

• Critical components of business unit’s issue/problem are identified
• Research strategy – what is driving where, how, why, what data you are gathering?
• Research acquired & evidence compiled (highlights)
• Summary of potential solutions for your Final Project Proposal (what are your ideas?)

Assessment: By Katerina Kormusheva (see marking rubric on Wattle)

Reference: If relevant; end notes and Harvard style

Submission: Wattle

Assessment Task 3

Mid-Term Progress - Presentation (10%)

Value: 10%

Type: Group

Purpose of Assessment: Students will provide a presentation of their mid term report. This will provide an opportunity to practice delivering persuasive, informative presentations- a critical skill in the business world.

Length: 10 minutes

Content: Provide the highlights (most important elements) from your mid term progress reports. The purpose is to convince me, unequivocally, that your team's thinking and reasoning is evidence based and compelling. You must tell a story and take me on a journey, as if I was the client.

Assessment: By Katerina Kormusheva (see marking rubric on Wattle)

Reference: If relevant, end notes and Harvard style

Due: Week 6 - In Class.

Submission: Wattle

Video recording: Student presentations will be recorded to allow subsequent validation of the assessment and stored until the official assessment appeals date has passed.

Assessment Task 4

Peer Evaluation 1 (5%)

Peer Evaluations will be conducted during week 6 and are compulsory.

They are intended to be an exercise in providing constructive feedback, giving your teammates clear ideas of what to change (and how) as well as what to keep doing.

These will be done in class.

Assessment Task 5

Peer Evaluation 2 (5%)

Peer Evaluations will be conducted during week 10 and are compulsory.

They are intended to be an exercise in providing constructive feedback, giving your teammates clear ideas of what to change (and how) as well as what to keep doing.

These will be done in class.

Assessment Task 6

Final Business Proposal - Report (30%)

Value: 30%

Type: Group

Purpose of Assessment: This assessment is to showcase the student's ability to perform as team to successfully address the client's issue and/or business problem. Ultimately the client will influence the final mark of this assessment item. Further explanation of the criteria and weighting can be found on Wattle.

Length: 8000 words (+/- 10%) not including Appendices, References List, Cover Page, TOC, TOT/TOF

Content: Your report must include the following content, please include additional content as you see fit (as long as it provides value to your overall proposal and aligns with the story you are trying to tell):

1)   Cover page

2)   Table of Contents

3)   Table of Tables/Figures

4)   Executive Summary

5)   Purpose of report

6)   Background

7)   Problem Statement

a)   Identify critical components of business unit’s issue and/or problem

b)   Evidence & Research (make it compelling)

8)   Identification of Solution

a)   Implementation Approach 1

i)     Strategy

b)   Implementation Approach 2

i)     Strategy

Suggested content for these sections include:

SMART goal

• Key Stakeholders
• Key activities
• Cost/Benefit Analysis
• Timeline
• Risks (or risk identification)
• Recommendations (need to be easily actioned)

o  Short-term

• Tactical
• Operational

o  Long-term

• Strategic

9)   Conclusion

10) Appendix

11) References

Assessment: By Katerina Kormusheva (see marking rubric on Wattle)

Reference: If relevant; end notes and Harvard style

Submission: Wattle         

Assessment Task 7

Final Business Proposal - Presentation (20%)

Value: 20%

Type: Group

Purpose of Assessment: Students will pitch their business case to the course convenor, client and industry mentors. This provides the opportunity to experience the difference between building a strong business case in writing and presenting/communicating it to stakeholders.

Length: 15 minutes (plus 10 minutes Q&A)

Content: A summary of the highlights of the final report. You must:

• Create a compelling value proposition
• Tell a story
• Engaging the stakeholders in the room
• Sell your solutions

Assessment: By Katerina Kormusheva (see marking rubric on Wattle)

Reference: If relevant; end notes and Harvard style

Submission: Wattle and hard copies for panel of judges

Video recording: Student presentations will be recorded to allow subsequent validation of the assessment and stored until the official assessment appeals date has passed.

Individual students are assigned a position in the team and present their respective portfolios of the project, this providing students with an opportunity to demonstrate their skills as individuals.

Assessment Task 8

Reflection (10%)

Value: 10%

Type: Individual

Purpose of Assessment: An opportunity for students to:

• Examine their thinking and learning process thus far in this course;
• Identify their skill gaps and growth;
• Present a plan of action for improvement; and
• Recognize and share valuable insights.

Length: 1000 Words

Content (suggestions):

• What are your skill gaps and areas of growth? (link to learning outcomes)
• Moving forward, how do you plan to address your gaps and capitalise on your areas of growth?
• What insights have you gained about:
• Yourself
• Your team/teamwork
• Your client
• Creating solutions
• Problem solving
• Decision-making

Assessment: By Katerina Kormusheva (see marking rubric on Wattle

Reference: If relevant; end notes and Harvard style

Submission: Wattle

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically, committing to honest and responsible scholarly practice and upholding these values with respect and fairness.

The ANU commits to assisting all members of our community to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle and Academic Misconduct Rule, uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with.

The Academic Misconduct Rule is in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Very minor breaches of the academic integrity principle may result in a reduction of marks of up to 10% of the total marks available for the assessment. The ANU offers a number of online and in person services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. Visit the Academic Skills website for more information about academic integrity, your responsibilities and for assistance with your assignments, writing skills and study.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Returning Assignments

Assignments will be returned within 2 weeks after submission date.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

No re-submission of assignments will be allowed in this course.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students