Unit rationale, description and aim
Understanding how organisations operate within their social, economic, and legal environments is essential for anyone pursuing further studies in a business environment. This unit provides foundational knowledge and skills in the key business areas of accounting, management, marketing and employment law. Students will explore how businesses function and the factors that influence their decisions, including the basic principles of business management and the ethical considerations that shape business practices. Students will learn how marketing and accounting systems work, how businesses interact with their environments, and the role of employment law in business operations. This unit will also introduce students to key management concepts, such as planning, organising, and decision-making. Through practical learning activities, students will develop the skills to analyse simple business situations and apply basic business concepts to everyday scenarios. The unit encourages students to think critically and ethically about business, considering how organisations can contribute positively to society while achieving their goals. The aim of this unit is to provide students with the essential knowledge and skills to succeed in further studies and prepare students to approach future business challenges with confidence and responsibility.
Campus offering
No unit offerings are currently available for this unit.Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
Identify and describe the basic business concepts ...
Learning Outcome 01
Apply basic business concepts to explain how busin...
Learning Outcome 02
Analyse simple business situations to identify pot...
Learning Outcome 03
Content
Topics will include:
- Introduction to the business environment
- Business ethics and corporate social responsibility
- Emerging trends in business
- The ‘business plan’
- Management and leadership
- Operations and supply chain management
- Human resource management
- Risk assessment
- Business law and governance
- Marketing fundamentals and marketing strategy
- Understanding basic economic concepts
- Accounting and financial management
- Technology and business information systems
Assessment strategy and rationale
Assessment is an integral part of the learning process. The assessment strategy for this unit adopts a scaffolded and developmental approach, with each task building on the previous one. This iterative process allows students to progressively develop and apply their understanding of key business fundamentals to real-world scenarios. They will also develop the ability to analyse the strategic, operational and ethical implications of business decisions.
The first assessment task requires students to complete a quiz to demonstrate their understanding of basic business concepts. The second is an oral presentation, where students will apply their understanding of basic business concepts to analyse real-world examples. The final assessment, a written, simple business plan, is designed to evaluate students’ ability to analyse business situations, apply practical skills, and consolidate key concepts in a coherent and effective way.
Throughout this process, students will enhance their written and oral communication skills while building collaborative capacity through group work, equipping them for effective teamwork in further study. Students are required to complete and submit three graded assessment tasks. Each task will be marked using a rubric specifically designed to evaluate the level of achievement against the learning outcomes.
Overview of assessments
Assessment 1: Quiz Students will demonstrate the...
Assessment 1: Quiz
Students will demonstrate their understanding of basic business concepts through a quiz on topics covered in the unit.
25%
Assessment 2: Oral presentation Students will wo...
Assessment 2: Oral presentation
Students will work in groups to deliver an oral presentation on a unit topic. The will apply basic business concepts to analyse real-world examples.
35%
Assessment 2: Business plan Students will develo...
Assessment 2: Business plan
Students will develop a simple business plan, submitted in written form. They will analyse a business situation, and apply their knowledge of basic business concepts to develop solutions.
40%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
This unit guides students through the complexities of the business environment, starting with foundational knowledge and progressing toward its practical application. Students will explore key business principles, including accounting, management, marketing, employment law, and environmental factors that shape business operations. Through a combination of workshops, case studies, and group activities, supported by online resources, students will examine how organisational operations interact with external environments.
Active participation in weekly workshops will encourage students to engage with the material, discuss key concepts, and apply them to practical business situations. Group tasks, investigating topics covered in the unit, will promote teamwork and enable students to synthesise their learning collaboratively. Reflective activities will allow students to assess their individual progress, deepen their understanding, and critically analyse the ethical implications of business decisions.
By leveraging technology, encouraging peer-to-peer learning, and providing continuous feedback, this strategy ensures that students are supported throughout their learning journey. The combination of active engagement, collaboration, and reflection will equip students with the skills to critically understand and navigate business environments, empowering them to make informed and ethical decisions in a professional context.