Future Students - Courses

Commercial Accountability and Business Transformation

Unit Code: LEB510

Duration	Contact Hours	Campus	Prerequisite	Corequisite
12 weeks or equivalent	Minimum of 2 hours per week or equivalent for online students using discussion forum	Lilydale, Online	Nil

Credit Points: 12.5 Credit Points

Related Course/s:

This unit is for continuing students only and has no new intakes.

A postgraduate unit at the graduate certificate level in the Master of Business (eBusiness and Communication) and Master of Technology (Business Systems Design and Management) as MTB140, and Master of Management.

Note: prior to 2008, the unit code for this unit was LEB500

Aims & Objectives:

You begin your study of LEB510 Commercial Accountability and Business Transformation with an investigation of the drivers of accountability within the context of business transformation taking the perspective of the many stakeholders engaging in commercial activities. Stakeholders include consumers, investors, alliance partners, employees, owners, governments, suppliers, communities, regulators (for example of price, international trade, product availability, exchange rates, ownerships, monetary flows, safety requirements, markets and boundaries). Accountability relates to the process of decision making in particular and to the reasons why decisions are made. The accountability of a commercial organisation is explored in terms of being held to account (compliance), giving an account (transparency) and taking account of stakeholders (responsiveness).

Accountability will be viewed as a driver of governance leading to concern for how decisions are taken, how power and responsibilities are exercised and how stakeholders, including citizens in a global environment are heard. Thus you will need to take a rational and applied approach in this unit with an overlay of care and ethical consideration, all within the context of a networked commercial world in a constantly changing global environment. Challenges abound that will stretch your thinking, imagination and attention. The dilemma of constraints of documentation, rules, and regulations, is juxtaposed with the imperative of frequent change and overlapping periodic business transformation. You will learn to look ahead, seek clarity amongst the confusion and develop a readiness to exercise judgment with wisdom and move on in a timely and graduated manner. Compliance, transparency and responsiveness are integral aspects of the change process that will guide but not unduly constrain progress and change. Many contexts and models relating to accountability will be considered and you will be able to focus on specific areas of interest for the application of your learning.

On completion of this unit you will be able to:

Understand the relevance of commercial accountability for business transformation in a global environment;Appreciate the challenges facing eBusiness and other commercial operations in a global environment and the multiple implications of accountability
Undertake analysis of (1) the many aspects of accountability and (2) the related aspects of governance that are of importance to business enterprises operating in a networked world facing different commercial realities within different nations
Explain the relevance of risk in the context of accountability and governance
Explain how the process of risk analysis can be adapted to suit business situations involving environments subject to constant change
Discover and explore accountability frameworks applied in different types of enterprise contexts, for example: higher education, corporate conduct accountability, accountability in partnerships, small business accountability and governance, disaster and incident management, employees as enterprise stakeholders, accountability in offshore manufacturing and ‘whistleblowing’
Reflect on personal accountability as it might apply to you as a private individual and as a business worker or manager
Describe the relationship between the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the new ear of corporate governance and the conduct of business
Explain the importance of trust as a key business value and its implications for business operations and strategy in a global environment
Discuss the ethics of subjectivity in the context of a constantly changing world and the challenges of systematic documentation in entrepreneurial projects

Teaching Methods:

Online delivery is supported by a unit outline with CDROM, a unit website with a variety of resources which may include lessons, learning objects (documents and presentations), virtual lectures, threaded discussions and interactive chat rooms. Face-to-face workshops may be conducted in a variety of configurations (weekly or 2 day blocks) subject to demand. International students will attend weekly workshops taking a work-related approach.

Assessment:

Case based accountability and governance mapping 30%, Decision accountability analysis 30%, Developing a project accountability management plan for an eBusiness transformation strategy 40%

Generic Skills Outcomes:

On completion of this unit you will be able to:

Critically understand business transformation and the accountability and governance issues in the related decision making
Use your knowledge of accountability and keep informed of the associated challenges facing managers and others operating in a global environment
Undertake informed critical enquiry into proposed business activities taking multiple views and accounting for stakeholders interests
Apply accountability frameworks and the tools of risk analysis in the context of overlapping business transformation
Display appropriate attitudes to accountability in professional roles and areas of expertise
Take a self-driven approach to current and ongoing learning in relation to accountability and governance as a private individual, business worker or manager
Understand the interconnectedness between many of the stakeholders involved in any business transformation and the associated behaviors required for accountability, taking into account the technical, social and economic perspectives

Content:

Challenges of commercial accountability for business transformation
Implications for accountability in international environments
Compliance – being held to account
Transparency – giving account
Responsiveness to stakeholders – taking account
Operating and decision making – outcomes, alternatives, criteria and choice
Interactions among structures, processes and culture as governance
Using power relations and responsibility in governance
Stakeholder and citizen input and influence on governance
Balancing governance, performance management and long term wealth creation
Accountability and risk analysis
Account-giving behavior as a social act
Personal accountability – consistency with own values in a meaningful life

Reading Materials:

Beale, N. ‘Oil and Troubled Waters’, Harvard Business Review; Nov 2005, Vol. 83 Issue 11, p24-28

Bendell, J. 2004, Barricades and Boardrooms: A Contemporary history of the Corporate Accountability Movement, United Nations Research Institute for Social Development http://www.corporate-accountability.org/docs/bendael3.pdf
Cowan, N. 2004, Corporate Governance that Works, Pearson Prentice Hall, Jurong

Dellaportas, S, Gibson, K, Alagiah, R, Hutchinson, M, Leung, P & Von Homrigh, D. 2005, Ethics, Governance and Accountability: A Professional Perspective, John Wiley & Sons, Milton

Demirag, IS. 1998, Corporate Governance, Accountability and the Pressures to Perform: An International Study, Elsevier Science Ltd.

Foss, B & Stone, M. 2002, CRM in Financial Services: A Practical Guide to Making Customer Relationship Management Work, Kogan Page, London, UK

Landry, JT. ‘The Embedded Corporation: Corporate Governance and Employment Relations in Japan and the United States’, Harvard Business Review; Mar 2005, Vol. 83 Issue 3, p28-28

Solomon, A & Solomon, J. 2004, Corporate Governance and Accountability, John Wiley & Sons, Milton

Wagner, S & Dittmar, L, ‘The Unexpected Benefits of Sarbanes-Oxley’, Harvard Business Review; April 2006, Vol. 84 Issue 4, p133-140