Business Commons^™

Work-Integrated Learning Design For Undergraduate Business Degrees: Stakeholders' Perspectives, Laura L. Rook, Lisa Mcmanus

Faculty of Business - Papers (Archive)

Work-integrated Learning (WIL), where the theory and practice of work are integrated through various activities in the curricula, provides several benefits to stakeholders if designed and implemented correctly. This study explored the views of undergraduate students and academics in relation to the potential implementation of a Work-integrated Learning program in the undergraduate degrees of a business school at a regional university through the lens of stakeholder theory. A total of 50 students and 24 academics participated in the study. The findings suggest students and academics hold different views to the effectiveness of on-campus and off-campus WIL activities, structure of a …

Interactive Dynamic Learning Environment (Idle), Belinda Kathlyn Gibbons, Karlheinz Kautz, Mario Fernando, Trevor A. Spedding

Faculty of Business - Papers (Archive)

The global business community requires graduates with skills and capabilities to cope with real-world interdisciplinary problems. Two key issues frequently noted are the silo disciplinary focus and the lack of exposure to responsible decision-making (RDM). IDLE (Interactive Dynamic Learning Environment) is a web-based computer simulated enterprise delivered through a systems approach broadening students' understanding of the interrelationship between corporations, society and the environment. Engagement in IDLE develops students' understanding and application of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability through the identification of business interdependencies. In IDLE, integrating systems dynamics with agile dynamic system development methods enabled the intricate multifaceted relationships …

Salespeople's Learning By Doing And Pricing Strategy, Qiang Lu, Ranjit Voola, Shahriar Akter

Faculty of Business - Papers (Archive)

Understanding the salespeople’s dynamic learning process is critical in effective sales force management. Particularly, the ability to understand the customer intimately is critical in facilitating sales people develop capabilities that allow them set prices that best meet the needs of the customer and the company objectives. To the best of our knowledge, there are no studies structurally modelling salespeople’s learning by doing. We develop a Bayesian learning framework to capture salespeople’s learning by doing. In doing so, we argue that for sales organizations who delegate pricing authority to sales people, it is imperative that they understanding how their sales people …

Reflections On A Bilingual Peer Assisted Learning Program, Jin Cui, Tairan Huang, Corinne L. Cortese, Matthew P. Pepper

Faculty of Business - Papers (Archive)

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to identify and evaluate faculty and academic staff perceptions, experiences and expectations with respect to a voluntary, bilingual peer assisted learning (PAL) program, which operates for the benefit of students studying in the Faculty of Business at a regional Australian University.

Design/methodology/approach - A survey instrument and semi-structured interviews were used to faculty executive and academic staff in order to collect information about the perceived benefits of the program and identify opportunities for improvement.

Findings - Based on an analysis of student results, the bilingual PAL program is shown to have a …

Expanding Expertise : The Role Of A Community In Learning What Is And What Is Not Yet There, Alanah Kazlauskas

Faculty of Business - Papers (Archive)

It takes time for both individuals and a field of endeavour to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills. In this chapter, we consider how such expertise develops, is maintained and expands. In the previous chapter, 'Making sense of complex dynamic spaces: The wicked problem of doping control in sport', we presented an overview of global efforts to address the persistent problem of the use of performance enhancing substances and techniques in sport. In this chapter, we focus on the work of anti-doping scientists. We use the Communities of Practice framework presented in the first Section this book to gain deeper …

Learning And Study Strategies Affecting The Performance Of Undergraduate Management Accounting Students In An Australian University, Anura De Zoysa, Palli Mulla K A Chandrakumara, Kathleen Rudkin

Faculty of Business - Papers (Archive)

This study examines the relationship between the academic performance of second year management accounting students at an Australian 'red brick' university and the respective individual learning and study strategies adopted by them in their studies of management accounting. A sample size of one hundred and eighteen valid responses comprises the data for this study. The respondents completed the Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI). The results demonstrate that learning and study strategies of low and high performing groups differed significantly in six out of ten aspects that were examined, namely: anxiety; attitude; information processing; motivation; the ability to select main …

'Ngulluck Katitj Wah Koorl Koorliny / Us Mob Going Along Learning To Research Together': Drawing On Action Research To Develop A Literature Review On Indigenous Gendered Health And Wellbeing, Bronwyn Fredericks, Kathleen Clapham, Roxanne Bainbridge, Len Collard, Mick Adams, Dawn Bessarab, Clair Andersen, Deb Duthie, Rowena Ball, Marlene Thompson (Longbottom), Carolyn Daniels

Faculty of Business - Papers (Archive)

This paper describes the collaborative work practices of the Health and Wellbeing Node within the National Indigenous Research and Knowledges Network (NIRAKN). The authors reflect on the processes they used to research and develop a literature review. As a newly established research team, the Health and Wellbeing Node members developed a collaborative approach that was informed by action research practices and underpinned by Indigenous ways of working. The authors identify strong links between action research and Indigenous processes. They suggest that, through ongoing cycles of research and review, the NIRAKN Health and Wellbeing Node developed a culturally safe, respectful and …

A Practice-Based Approach To Student Reflection In The Workplace During A Work-Integrated Learning Placement, Christopher Sykes, Bonnie Amelia Dean

Faculty of Business - Papers (Archive)

In the Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) curriculum, reflection on workplace activities is widely used to support student learning. Recent critiques have demonstrated the limitations of current approaches to support students' reflective learning of workplace practices. By employing a practice-based approach, we seek to refocus WIL reflection on workplace practices, emphasising the 'embedded (social), engaged (practice) and embodied (material) aspects' of students' reflective practices in the workplace. We argue that reflection-in-the-midst-of-action includes an often-overlooked phenomenological contribution that shifts attention from cognition to action. This study uses a case study of one typical WIL student to illustrate the importance of reflection-in-the-midst-of-action and the …

Authentic Assessment - Key To Learning, Grace Mccarthy

Faculty of Business - Papers (Archive)

One of the distinctive characteristics of the millennial generation is the desire for continuous feedback on their performance (Meister & Willyerd, 2010). As Wilson and Gerber (2008) note, millennial students have grown up with video games from which they constantly receive feedback and rewards for achievement, and they continue to seek feedback both in their studies and in the workplace. However, Wilson and Gerber also note that many of these students are prone to overestimate their own performance. They need guidance to help them accurately self-assess. This chapter explores the issues of assessment and feedback and proposes approaches that can …

Whither 'Training And Development' In Vietnam?: Learning From United States And Japanese Mncs' Practice, Anne Cox, Malcolm Warner

Faculty of Business - Papers (Archive)

This paper focuses on training and development (T&D) policies and practices to explore how multinational companies (MNCs) localise their human resources within their subsidiaries in a developing country. It uses qualitative research methods to examine three US and three Japanese MNCs operating in the automotive and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry in Vietnam. The paper identifies both home- and host-country effects as significant factors in the transfer of MNCs' T&D policies and practices. Clear home-country effects are evident in rigorous attempts of both US and Japanese MNCs to transfer and implement formalised and centrally controlled training programs. Host-country effects manifest …

You Never Know What Question You Are Going To Answer: Creating Effective Tension For Effective Learning Using Business Case Studies, Palli Mulla K A Chandrakumara, Ananda Wickramasinghe

Sydney Business School - Papers

Case studies in business management have been used as an effective approach and tool for enhancing students' critical thinking and problem-solving skills by providing opportunities for student to apply appropriate theories, concepts and models for real world issues faced by organisations. Despite the popularity of the case study approach in business and management education, it is self evident that the effective use of case studies to achieve above mentioned benefits is challenging and problematic mainly because case studies are misused and abused in different ways, including just adopting a popular method, just asking students to read and answer the questions, …

Reflective Assessment In Work-Integrated Learning: To Structure Or Not To Structure, That Was Our Question, Bonnie Amelia Dean, Chris Sykes, Shirley Agostinho, Mike Clements

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This paper reports the findings of a research study on whether or not to structure reflective assessment tasks. It examines students' perceived benefits or limitations from structuring reflective assessments in a Commerce WIL program at the University of Wollongong. Sixty-four students over two semesters responded to a questionnaire on their perceptions of structured reflective assessments in the Internship Program. The findings of the self-reported experiences were heterogeneous and indicative of the dominant themes relevancy and flexibility. We suggest these themes stem from a misalignment of assessment and reflective practice. Correcting this misalignment could be achieved by providing a balance of …

Social Networks, Social Learning And Service Systems Improvement, Andrew Sense, Matthew Pepper

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This article illustrates and qualitatively explores the value of understanding the social networks present in a service operation through a case study of a local government service network that manages regional development applications. It also examines how social learning underpins service systems performance improvement and how it is instrumental in creating a richer environment for ongoing service network innovation and development. It is argued that gaining a better understanding of these social networks and the social learning potential in a system offers substantial and highly practitioner-friendly avenues to progress service systems capability development. These fi ndings clearly place an emphasis …

Virtual Teams And Blended Learning, Grace Mccarthy

Sydney Business School - Papers

Research on how to develop effective virtual teams addresses many of the same issues as lecturers working with students in a blended or online environment. Virtual teams may meet occasionally face to face but mostly work in different physical locations. Similarly, blended learning students meet periodically for face to face classes but otherwise use technology to connect to the university and their fellow students, rather than sitting together in the same physical environment. It is useful therefore to consider what lessons can be learned from the literature on virtual teams which can be used with blended learning students. This paper …

Customising Management Education: Designing Learning Episodes Using An Open System Perspective, Peter Mclean

Faculty of Business - Papers (Archive)

This paper presents a holistic framework for designing effective learning episodes for management students. Based on a synthesis of adult learning theory and open system theory, the paper proposes a model of learning design which can guide the customising of management education to account for the particular requirements of the four key elements in a learning episode. Effective learning requires careful consideration of and alighment between these key elements, and flexibility to change when any of these elements varies from prior expectations.

The Use Of Team-Based Learning As An Approach To Increased Engagement And Learning For Marketing Students: A Case Study, Paul Chad

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Marketing educators are often faced with poor preclass preparation by students, declining student interest in attending classes as the semester progresses, and student complaints regarding previous bad experiences with team assessment activities. Teambased learning (TBL) is an innovative teaching strategy using semiformalized guidelines aimed to enhance student engagement and improve teamwork and, hence, overcome the typical problems faced by educators. This case study examines the firsttime use of TBL in a postgraduate marketing subject at an Australian university. The results indicate that the TBL innovation has a positive influence on student engagement and offers opportunities to assist learning. The study …

Engaging Industry: Embedding Professional Learning In The Business Curriculum: Final Report 2011, Theo Theo Papadopoulos, Tracy Taylor, Eveline Fallshaw, Michael Zanko

Faculty of Business - Papers (Archive)

Professional learning has become a feature of business curricula in universities throughout Australia and around the world. 'Professional learning' is often used to denote educational programs that are explicitly linked to industry and professional bodies through industry placements, industry projects and teaching approaches that highlight contemporary industry issues. Professional learning encompasses the skills, qualities and attributes that are required by a profession and the processes through which those skills are learnt: that is, the methods of teaching - case studies, role plays, field trips, work placement and the like. Professional learning encourages deep learning in relation to the student's future …

The Implementation Of Authentic Activities For Learning: A Case Study In Finance Education, Mara K. Koplin, Chi Fun Freda Hui

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This paper seeks to demonstrate how assessment tasks set in a finance subject contribute to an authentic learning experience. Authentic learning has been shown to help connect students’ classroom learning to the outside world. Linking what students are learning in class to the real world enables them to better understand the problems to be faced when dealing with incomplete information, while also engaging them more fully. In this preliminary study we explore the attributes of an authentic learning experience. The assessment task requires each student to research the topics covered in class in relationship to a country that they have …

Embedding Professionally Relevant Learning In The Business Curriculum Through Industry Engagement, Michael Zanko, Theo Papadopoulos, Eveline Fallshaw, Tracy Taylor, Clare Woodley, Christine Armatas

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This paper reports on preliminary findings from an ALTC funded project on how to build curriculathat meet the needs of business students and employers of business graduates. The project grew outof an Australian Business Deans Council Teaching and Learning Network scoping study whichidentified widespread concern among industry, academic and professional associations about the lackof engagement with real world problems by business graduates. In the paper we discuss the need forindustry engagement, define professionally relevant learning, and outline the study objectives andmethodology. We present a typology of industry engagement in the curriculum that emerged from ourfieldwork, and tools that business faculties …

Collective Learning In The Development Of Innovative Local Organizations And Regions, Samuel Garrett-Jones

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

The paper discusses the specific problems of constructing local advantage in the regional innovation setting in Australia. Focusing on ‘nontraditional’ intermediary organizations and their role in promoting learning it reviews a novel approach to accelerating the performance of a local council in New South Wales, Australia and its associated regional development organization.

Learning Outside The Textbook: Accounting Students' Reflections In An Internship Programme, Bonnie Amelia Dean, Graham D. Bowrey, Michael D. Clements

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

The opportunity to gain professional industry experience for accounting students whilst undertaking their undergraduate degree provides them with both a competitive edge in the marketplace and an opportunity to experience the activities undertaken in their chosen profession. Structured experiential learning programmes enables students the practical opportunity to apply their knowledge in an industry context and to reflect on their personal learning journey. This paper presents an innovative and flexible internship programme which based upon an e-learning framework fosters learning through reflection based assessments. Through a preliminary investigation, it is revealed that accounting students after undertaking this programme, reveal learning pertaining …

Assessing And Building Innovation And Learning Capacity In Local Organizations, Samuel Garrett-Jones

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Conceptual models of regional innovation systems have prompted major government initiatives in Europe and North America to assess and to promote local innovation and learning capabilities. In Australia, by contrast, local governments and other local organizations concerned with economic and social development are faltering. Lacking is (1) a conceptual understanding of local knowledge and innovation networks; (2) data on local innovation actors and activities; and (3) clarity on the most effective ways for municipal and regional government to 'construct advantage' in a federal system. The paper reviews the 'macro' (e.g. innovation surveys) and 'micro' (e.g. case studies) approach to assessing …

Consumers' Difficulty With Learning By Analogy Of Really New Products: Selection Criteria Of Effective Analogies, Amina Ait El Houssi

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Research in marketing and consumer behavior has suggested that analogies may be useful to enhance consumer learning of really new products. However, mixed results on the effectiveness of analogies have also been found indicating the risk of communication failure. In this paper several aspects of analogical thought that may negatively influence the use of analogies as learning devices for really new products are identified. For effective use of consumer learning by analogy of really new products several criteria are proposed for the selection of an appropriate analogy. In an exploratory study these criteria are used to find explanation for the …

Links Are Not Enough: Using Originality Reports To Improve Academic Standards, Compliance And Learning Outcomes Among Postgraduate Students, Grace Mccarthy, Ann M. Rogerson

Sydney Business School - Papers

Training students on the interpretation of originality reports generated by an electronic evaluation tool can assist with the reduction of unintentional plagiarism. An initial trial by the Sydney Business School, a postgraduate faculty of the University of Wollongong, has demonstrated that a proactive approach, based on pedagogical principles, can have a positive impact on the improvement of student writing skills when compared to a retributive justice approach reliant on a student’s ability and initiative in accessing internet support resources. This paper argues that higher education should not rely on links to internet based information, policies, and systems, to educate students …

Preferred Learning Methods: Comparisons Between International And Domestic Accounting Students, Indra Abeysekera

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This study provides a comparison between the preferred learning modes (traditional, interactive, group case-based lectures) of international and domestic students undertaking a new undergraduate accounting topic at an Australian university. A Likert-scale survey questionnaire was used to determine the differences and similarities between the two groups. When the results are analysed using the Hofstede model of societal cultural dimensions, they indicate significant differences between the two groups of students with regard to their preferences for formal versus interactive and group case-based lectures. The paper provides a discussion of the implications of these findings for teaching methods, assessment and curriculum development.

Teaching And Learning Business Innovation By Successive Approximations, Jorge E. Fernandez-Pol

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This paper describes a strategy for teaching and learning business innovation by successive approximations. This novel strategy has two major sources: the book An Introduction to the Creative Economy by Pol and Carroll (2007), and intense observation of how novices learn the discipline. I will draw an analogy between the observation of an unknown planet and the study of business innovation as a tool for helping participants to connect with the suggested pedagogical approach. In essence, the approach consists of three approximations: first, identification of the dimensions or areas that are of absolutely fundamental importance for teaching and learning business …

Enabling Authentic Cross-Disciplinary Learning Through A Scaffolded Assignment In A Blended Environment, Anne Abraham, Hazel J. Jones

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This paper reports on the development of a scaffolded learning assignment with blendedcomponents in a cross-disciplinary setting. The assignment has been developed in a socioculturalcontext, based on a Vygotskian approach and this paper details the design anddevelopment of the assignment. The five stages of the assignment have been carefullyscaffolded and include elements of individual and group tasks, finishing with an individualreflection on the process. Formative assessment and associated feedback are importantelements of the scaffolding and suggestions for further applications for the learning designof the assignment are suggested.

Exploring The Values Orientations Of International Accounting Students: Implications For Educators, A. Abraham

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

The internationalisation of accounting education has grown significantly over the last decade, with Australia now being the third largest provider of international degrees. This internationalisation has brought benefits to both students and academics by widening their understandings and perspectives of other countries and cultures. The diversity has also provided a basis for researching the impact of culture on student’s approaches to teaching and learning. However, no study to date has measured and analysed the tensions that exist between the cultural values of students and educators. This paper reports an exploratory study of postgraduate students enrolled in a foundation accounting subject …

Management Learning Exercise And Trainer’S Note For Market Segmentation In Tourism, Sara Dolnicar

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Tourists are different. Tourists prefer different destinations, engage in different vacation activities and perceive different aspects of their vacation as important. Differences (heterogeneity) among tourists enable the tourism industry to identify interesting groups within the market who have similar and very distinct needs, target them, and gain competitive advantage through offering superior service to a smaller group of tourists instead of trying to satisfy the entire market’s diverse needs. The process of identifying and learning about possible market segments that may be managerially useful is referred to as market segmentation. This article shows how researchers can develop learning exercises for …

A Guest Lecturing Program To Improve Students' Applied Learning, Janette K. Rowland, Jennifer Ann Algie

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Initial research findings are presented on the benefits of a guest lecturing program currently being implemented by a School of Marketing at an Australian University. The program entails establishing relationships between the Marketing School and leading marketing corporations. Individual employees from these companies are matched to appropriate marketing subjects and asked to deliver a lecture demonstrating theory in practice. Academics have the opportunity of building research contacts with guest lecturers which may result in linkage grants, thus improving the research-teaching nexus. The development process and initial outcomes of establishing the program could be used by other Universities to improve their …