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AMME4660: Management, Employees and Industrial Relations (2012 - Semester 2)

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Unit: AMME4660: Management, Employees and Industrial Relations (6 CP)
Mode: Normal-Day
On Offer: Yes
Level: Senior Advanced
Faculty/School: School of Aerospace, Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering
Unit Coordinator/s: Mr McHugh, Paul
Session options: Semester 2
Versions for this Unit:
Campus: Camperdown/Darlington
Pre-Requisites: None.
Brief Handbook Description: This unit aims to develop an understanding of industrial relations issues in Australia, Government regulations, awards and agreements, and how they relate to companies, management, employers, employees, and unions. Students will develop skills and understanding of Australian regulations and awards, negotiation of workplace agreements, enterprise bargaining agreements, and working with unions.

The course will be viewed from the perspective of all players in the system so that a new graduate, who will at some time fit all categories, has an understanding of employer/employee relationships in the workforce. Guest lecturers will be invited from industry (management, unions, etc.) to present their experiences in industrial relations. Role playing will be used to simulate working environments to develop skill in handling grievances, resolving conflicts, and develop negotiating skills. By the end of this unit of study students will be better prepared to enter the workforce as both an employee and as a manager.
Assumed Knowledge: None.
Lecturer/s: Mr McHugh, Paul
Timetable: AMME4660 Timetable
Time Commitment:
# Activity Name Hours per Week Sessions per Week Weeks per Semester
1 Tutorial 5.00 4 13
2 Independent Study 6.00 13
T&L Activities: Independent Study: Students should spend a minimum of an additional 6 hours per week outside formal contact hours in order to successfully complete assignments and study.

Attributes listed here represent the key course goals (see Course Map tab) designated for this unit. The list below describes how these attributes are developed through practice in the unit. See Learning Outcomes and Assessment tabs for details of how these attributes are assessed.

Attribute Development Method Attribute Developed
Students will be required to research, interpret and understand government regulations pertaining to the workplace. They will be required to look at these issues from the perspective of employer, employee, and unionist. They will also need to research and understand data and statistics on workplace relations in Australia. Information Seeking (Level 4)
Students are required to clearly communicate their understanding of workplace relations in the form of oral presentations, written reports, and role playing activities. Communication (Level 4)
Students will be required to gain an understanding of industrial relations issues in Australia. This will be particularly relevant to them as they will fill all roles in the workplace (employee, employer, union member).

Students will work in teams during tutorials, analyzing information. Students will also do oral presentation in teams on case studies.		 Professional Conduct (Level 3)

For explanation of attributes and levels see Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table.

Learning outcomes are the key abilities and knowledge that will be assessed in this unit. They are listed according to the course goal supported by each. See Assessment Tab for details how each outcome is assessed.

Information Seeking (Level 4)
1. Understand the legal framework of industrial relations in Australia. Understand the historical background and its relationship to other countries systems. Be able to substantiate views and opinions.
Communication (Level 4)
2. Gain an understanding of the Australian industrial relations system and its history. Be able to understand how and why the current system has developed by analyzing historical events. Be able to present a written argument to support opinions.
Professional Conduct (Level 3)
3. Understand the tribunal system, industrial awards and agreements. Be able to present arguments for and against different issues.
4. Understand through case studies, the applications of different aspects of industrial relations. Be able to present case studies as a member and organizer of a team.
Assessment Methods:
# Name Group Weight Due Week Outcomes
1 Assignment No 50.00 Multiple Weeks 1, 2, 3,
2 Presentation/Seminar Yes 20.00 Multiple Weeks 4,
3 Final Exam No 30.00 Exam Period 1, 2, 3,
Assessment Description: Assignment: Two Assignments. One due mid-semester and one late semester.

Presentation/Seminar: Two oral presentations and participation. One in mid-semester and one late semester.

Final Exam: 2 hrs closed book.
Grading:
Grade Type Description
Standards Based Assessment Final grades in this unit are awarded at levels of HD for High Distinction, DI (previously D) for Distinction, CR for Credit, PS (previously P) for Pass and FA (previously F) for Fail as defined by University of Sydney Assessment Policy. Details of the Assessment Policy are available on the Policies website at http://sydney.edu.au/policies . Standards for grades in individual assessment tasks and the summative method for obtaining a final mark in the unit will be set out in a marking guide supplied by the unit coordinator.
Policies & Procedures: Academic Honesty in Coursework. All students must submit a cover sheet for all assessment work that declares that the work is original and not plagiarised from the work of others.

Coursework assessment and examination policy. The faculty policy is to use standards based assessment for units where grades are returned and criteria based assessment for Pass/Fail only units. Norm referenced assessment will only be used in exceptional circumstances and its use will need to be justified to the Undergraduate Studies Committee. Special consideration for illness or misadventure may be considered when an assessment component is severely affected. This policy gives the details of the information that is required to be submitted along with the appropriate procedures and forms.

Special Arrangements for Examination and Assessment. In exceptional circumstances alternate arrangements for exams or assessment can be made. However concessions for outside work arrangements, holidays and travel, sporting and entertainment events will not normally be given.

Student Appeals against Academic Decisions. Students have the right to appeal any academic decision made by a school or the faculty. The appeal must follow the appropriate procedure so that a fair hearing is obtained.

Note that policies regarding assessment submission, penalties and assessment feedback depend upon the individual unit of study. Details of these policies, where applicable, will be found above with other assessment details in this unit outline.

All university policies can be found at http://sydney.edu.au/policy

Various request forms for the Faculty of Engineering and IT can be found at http://sydney.edu.au/engineering/forms/
Prescribed Text/s: Note: Students are expected to have a personal copy of all books listed.

Note that the "Weeks" referred to in this Schedule are those of the official university semester calendar https://web.timetable.usyd.edu.au/calendar.jsp

Week Description
Week 1 Introduction to Industrial Relations
Week 2 Human Resources Management and Industrial Relations
Week 3 Managing Workforce Diversity
Week 4 The Labour market and Employment
Week 5 The Organisation of Work
Week 6 Industrial Relations in Different Contexts
Week 7 The Legal Framework
Week 8 The Tribunal System
Week 9 Awards and Agreements
Week 10 Unions and Employer Associations
Week 11 Pay
Week 12 Working Conditions
Week 13 Occupational Health and Safety
Exam Period Assessment Due: Final Exam

Course Relations

The following is a list of courses which have added this Unit to their structure.

Course Year(s) Offered
Mechanical / Medical Science 2015, 2016, 2017
Mechanical Engineering / Arts 2011, 2012, 2013
Mechanical Engineering / Commerce 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Mechanical Engineering / Medical Science 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Mechanical Engineering / Project Management 2012, 2013
Mechanical Engineering / Science 2011, 2012, 2013
Mechanical Engineering / Law 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Mechanical Engineering (Space) / Arts 2011, 2012, 2013
Mechanical Engineering (Space) / Project Management 2012, 2013
Mechanical Engineering (Space) / Science 2011, 2012, 2013
Mechanical (Space) / Medical Science 2015
Mechanical Engineering (Space) / Medical Science 2012, 2013, 2014

Course Goals

This unit contributes to the achievement of the following course goals:

Attribute Practiced Assessed
Project and Team Skills (Level 3) No 0%
Information Seeking (Level 4) Yes 26.66%
Communication (Level 4) Yes 26.66%
Professional Conduct (Level 3) Yes 46.66%

These goals are selected from Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table which defines overall goals for courses where this unit is primarily offered. See Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table for details of the attributes and levels to be developed in the course as a whole. Percentage figures alongside each course goal provide a rough indication of their relative weighting in assessment for this unit. Note that not all goals are necessarily part of assessment. Some may be more about practice activity. See Learning outcomes for details of what is assessed in relation to each goal and Assessment for details of how the outcome is assessed. See Attributes for details of practice provided for each goal.