The course introduces participants to the process of developing a business growth strategy. The course gives participants an experiential learning challenge in tackling a business growth challenge on behalf of an external client. By working with a challenge posed by an external client, participants apply and adapt their skills around real management constraints, building on the client organisation's cumulative resource history, its present capacity and the owners'/managers' intended strategy.

Course participants analyse the client's business dynamics and the client's growth challenge, and prepare strategy recommendations. This project-based course requires participants to apply all of the core disciplines of management to understand the client's business dynamics. The course is conducted in workshops and seminars and through participant teams actively researching the growth challenge posed by the client.

It is a requirement of undertaking this course that students sign an Agreement covering the conduct of the project. The Agreement covers professional conduct, client confidentiality and privacy, and the responsibilities of all parties, as well as the handling of questions, issues, disputes and disciplinary action.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Frame business growth challenges using dynamic and systemic analysis tools
2. Illustrate the interrelation between external market opportunities, internal capabilities and business growth dynamics
3. Identify growth opportunities for the client organisation
4. Use formal criteria to choose amongst growth opportunities for the client organisation
5. Develop a comprehensive growth strategy for a new initiative, whether a post-start-up entrepreneurial venture or a business growth initiative within a large established corporation
6. Integrate critical thinking and problem solving skills in multidisciplinary and cross-cultural teams to address business dilemmas
7. Create a substantial shared project on business growth opportunities
8. Reflect on recommendations about business growth opportunities presented to an external client

Research-Led Teaching

The course has been developed over many years by experienced practitioners in business growth, dynamics, and international strategy. Building on a course originally presented by Melbourne-based consultant and academic, Dr John Barton; the present lecturer has developed the course frameworks and approaches based on regular interactions and on-going research with high-growth Australian companies.

The course gives participants an experiential learning challenge in tackling a business growth challenge on behalf of an external client. By working with a challenge posed by an external client, participants apply and adapt their skills around real management constraints, building on the client organisation's cumulative resource history, its present capacity and the owners'/managers' intended strategy.

In groups determined in consultation with the Course Convenor during Week 1, course participants analyse the client's business dynamics and the client's growth challenge, and prepare strategy recommendations. This project-based course requires participants to apply all of the core disciplines of management to understand the client's business dynamics. The course is conducted in workshops and seminars and through participant teams actively researching the growth challenge posed by the client.

Field Trips

There are no field trips for this course

Additional Course Costs

There are no additional costs for this course

Examination Material or equipment

This course does not have an examination held during the normal examination period. More information on exam reflecting hybrid mode will be made available on Wattle at least 2 weeks before the exam date.

Required Resources

There is no mandatory text but there are recommended resources for the course.

Recommended Resources

A complete list of all texts will be published on Wattle prior to the course commencement.

Staff Feedback

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

• Written comments
• Verbal comments
• Feedback to the whole class, to groups, to individuals, focus groups

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.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Introduction to the course and the external company challenge	Seminar Introduction to the four major types of growth strategy and the various tools used to assist growth. Self skills and relevant experience presentation External company introduction/challenge Group participants selection (approx 3 students per group) Complete Client Project Agreement. Workshop No workshop in Week 1 Reading Various - TBA in Wattle pre course commencement Homework Bring a real business growth challenge to the next Workshop - with your current solution
2	Business Growth Type - Introduction Growth Tool - Business Model Canvas Teams work on Practice Project	Seminar BMC External company introduction/challenge Workshop Review of business growth challenge homework from Week 1 Reading Various - BMC related. Final list will be advised in Wattle pre course commencement. Practice Case - Practice Project For next class: Analyse Practice Case using BMC External company First meeting with client. Take brief, research, analyse client growth task, growth dilemma(s), draft challenge scope.
3	Business Growth Type - Scaling Part 1 Business Growth Tool - Strategy Dynamics Business Growth Task - Competitive Advantage Building a Strategic Architecture Teams work on Practice Project Managing the Main Project	Seminar Strategy Dynamics Workshop Review and analysis of external business growth challenge. Teams present systemic growth initiatives, resource implications, integrated action plan. Reading Various - Strategy Dynamics related. Final list will be advised in Wattle pre course commencement. External company Expansion from previous week
4	Business Growth Type - Scaling Part 2 Business Growth Tool - Strategy Mapping Business Growth Task - Strategic Options Teams present analysis of Practice Project Feedback and Review Managing the Main Project	Seminar Scaling 2 Strategy Options Workshop Strategy mapping Present analysis of Practice Project Review and analysis of external business growth challenge. Teams present systemic growth initiatives, resource implications, integrated action plan. Reading Various - Strategy Mapping related. Final list will be advised in Wattle pre course commencement. External company Expansion from previous week Business growth issue/resolution topic due by end of scheduled weekly class
5	Business Growth Type - Entry Part 1 Business Growth Tool - BPMN Business Growth Task - Organisational Design In-Class Exam Managing the Main Project	Seminar BPMN Workshop In-Class Exam Reading Various - BMPN related. Final list will be advised in Wattle pre course commencement. External company Expansion from previous week In-class exam
6	Business Growth Type - Entry Part 2 Business Growth Tool - Ansoff Business Growth Task - Strategic Prioritisation Teams work on Group Project	Seminar Ansoff Workshop Review and analysis of external business growth challenge. Teams present systemic growth initiatives, resource implications, integrated action plan. Reading Various - Ansoff related. Final list will be advised in Wattle pre course commencement. External company Expansion from previous week
7	Business Growth Type - Acquisition Part 1 Business Growth Tool - BCG Business Growth Task - Executing Strategy Managing the Main Project	Seminar Strategy Mapping Workshop Review and analysis of external business growth challenge. Teams present systemic growth initiatives, resource implications, integrated action plan. Reading Various - BCG related. Final list will be advised in Wattle pre course commencement. External company Expansion from previous week
8	Business Growth Type - Acquisition Part 2 Business Growth Tool - Balance Scorecard Business Growth Task - Sourcing & Purchasing Managing the Main Project	Seminar Balance Scorecard Workshop Teams present systemic growth initiatives, resource implications, integrated action plan.Review and analysis of external business growth challenge Reading Various - Balance Scorecard related. Final list will be advised in Wattle pre course commencement. External company Expansion from previous week Essay due by 5pm on Thursday
9	Business Growth Type - Innovation Part 1 Business Growth Tool - G E McKinsey Business Growth Task - Marketing Managing the Main Project	Seminar GE McKinsey Workshop Review and analysis of external business growth challenge. Teams present systemic growth initiatives, resource implications, integrated action plan. Reading Various - GE McKinsey related. Final list will be advised in Wattle pre course commencement. External company Expansion from previous week
10	Business Growth Type - Innovation Part 2 Business Growth Tool - Long-run Return Business Growth Task - Manufacturing & Operations Managing the Main Project	Seminar Long-run Return Workshop Review and analysis of external business growth challenge. Teams present systemic growth initiatives, resource implications, integrated action plan. Reading Various - Long-run Return related. Final list will be advised in Wattle pre course commencement. External company Expansion from previous week
11	Teams practice final presentations; Course review	Seminar & Workshop Review and analysis of external business growth challenge Practice presentations and plans Reading Various - TBA in Wattle pre course commencement External company Expansion from previous week Teams to confirm date/time of final client presentation with Course Convenor. Presentation slides to be submitted by Wednesday week 12.
12	Team presentation and individual plans to clients.	Teams present to clients (Date & time to be confirmed by Friday Week 11) Final Growth Plan (Main Individual Project) due by 5pm on Friday 11th June.

Tutorial Registration

n/a

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Business growth issue/resolution topic - Individual Assessment	10 %	18/03/2021	06/04/2021	1,2,3,4,5,6
In-Class Exam - Individual Assessment	20 %	*	*	1,2,3,4,5,6
Essay - Individual Assessment	20 %	29/04/2021	13/05/2021	1,2,3,4,5,6
Final Growth Plan Presentation & overall team project - Group work	15 %	*	01/07/2021	1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8
Final Growth Plan - Individual Project	35 %	11/06/2021	01/07/2021	1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8

* 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 Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

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

Classes may be streamed live through ZOOM or pre-recorded and made available on Echo360 and Wattle. Participation is expected in all classes and assessment.

Examination(s)

There is an in-class exam for the course. Please refer to details for Assessment Task 2.

Assessment Task 1

Business growth issue/resolution topic - Individual Assessment

Description: The host client companies will be identified by the Course Convenor. The first meeting is in Week 2 and all other meetings are established between the host company and the student groups (see Tasks 4 & 5). Each student is to select 1 business issue from their initial meetings with the external client. Students are to explain the topic and prepare a written resolution plan as to the optimal outcome and steps to achieve. Each student will discuss their plan in the workshop (the discussion will not be assessed).

Assessment Type: Individual

Value: 10%

Word limit: to be announced in Week 1 class

Marking criteria: The marking criteria will be provided in Wattle at least two weeks prior to due date.

Note: In this course, work that is compiled in a big push just before the due date, is rarely satisfactory.

Due date: 5pm on Thursday, 18 March 2021 of Week 4

Form of submission: Submit via Turnitin on the course Wattle site

Return of assessment: Within 2 weeks of submission

Assessment Task 2

In-Class Exam - Individual Assessment

Description: Tasks are described in detail in the Additional Course Information on Wattle. These will be available as of Week 1. More information on exam reflecting hybrid mode will be made available on Wattle at least 2 weeks before the exam date.

Assessment Type: Individual

Value: 20%

Time limit: 10 minutes of reading times + 2 hours of writing time

Marking criteria: The marking criteria will be provided in Wattle at least two weeks prior to due date.

Due date: In-Class Week 5

Form of submission: In class, 2-hours, Open-book via Wattle

Return of Assessment results: Within 2 weeks of submission

Note: This is an examination, so late submission and extensions are not permitted. Students with extenuating circumstances are suggested to request a Deferred Examination

Assessment Task 3

Essay - Individual Assessment

Description: Tasks are described in detail in the Additional Course Information on Wattle. Each student to create an essay on a topic to be provided in Week 1.

Assessment Type: Individual

Value: 20%

Word limit: to be announced in Week 1 class

Marking criteria: The marking criteria will be provided in Wattle at least two weeks prior to due date.

Due date: 5pm on Thursday, 29 April 2021 of Week 8

Form of submission: Submit via Turnitin on the course Wattle site

Return of assessment: Within 2 weeks of submission

Assessment Task 4

Final Growth Plan Presentation & overall team project - Group work

Description: In groups determined in consultation with the course convener during Week 1, course participants analyse the client's business dynamics and the client's growth challenge, and prepare strategy recommendations. The host client companies will be identified by the course convener. Each company may have 1 or 2 groups working with them for the period from Week 2 to Week 12. The host company and course convener agree to the task. The first meeting is in Week 2 and all other meetings are established between the host company and the student groups. The project report presentation demonstrates the team’s ability to condense its recommendations into a few well-supported essentials, to communicate these effectively, to respond to probing questions and to engage with the client in an extended discussion of the critical issues involved in implementing the plan.

Assessment type: Group work

Value: 15%

Time limit: 15 minutes of presentation + at least 15 minutes of Q&A

Marking criteria: The marking criteria will be provided in Wattle at least two weeks prior to due date.

Due date: Teams, approx 3 students per team, arrange a date and time with the client and the course convener to be held in Week 12. (Teams to confirm dates/times for client presentations by the Friday of Week 11); Presentation slides to be submitted by the Wednesday of Week 12.

Form of submission: Presentation at clients' premises (or via ZOOM), together with course convener. The presentation will be recorded but commercial confidentiality will be respected.

Return of Assessment: After the release of results on Thursday, 01 July 2021.

Note: Extensions for this assessment are not permitted. Students with extenuating circumstances are advised to request Special Consideration as soon as feasible to allow alternative arrangements.

Assessment Task 5

Final Growth Plan - Individual Project

Description: The growth plan provides a clear and coherent outline of strategies to enable the client to grow. Its purpose is to give students the opportunity to demonstrate their individual recommendations whilst working in a multidisciplinary team. Specifically the task is to develop a plan to achieve the growth goals of a real organisation in a dynamic and international context.

Assessment Type: Individual work

Value: 35%

Word limit: 3500 words

?Marking criteria: The marking criteria will be provided in Wattle at least two weeks prior to due date.

Due date: 5pm on Friday, 28 11th June 2021 in end of semester examination period

Form of submission: Submit via Turnitin on the course Wattle site for Lecturer; PLUS minimum of two bound hard-copies for client company

Return of Assessment: After the release of results on Thursday, 01 July 2021.

Note: Late submission for this assessment is not permitted. Students with extenuating circumstances are advised to request Special Consideration as soon as feasible to allow alternative arrangements.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community 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 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 University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

Online Submission

The ANU uses 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. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

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.

All requests for extensions to assessment in RSM courses must be submitted to the RSM School Office with a completed application form and supporting documentation. The RSM Extension Application Form and further information on this process can be found at https://www.rsm.anu.edu.au/education/education-programs/rsm-assessment-extension/ .

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

Please see relevant assessment task details above.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure The Course Convener may grant extensions 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

Unless specified otherwise in the assessment requirements, resubmissions are permitted up until the due date and time, but not allowed afterwards.

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