Faculty of Business: Management
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level: Undergraduate

Result Type: Grade and marks

Handbook description

This subject introduces students to the challenges affecting the regulation of employment in a decentralised environment. It aims to help students understand the new legal and regulatory environment under which Australia operates. Students develop practical negotiation and advocacy skills required in employment relations. The employment relationship is studied in terms of the influence of social, economic, political and legal environment and the power resources of the key institutional parties and others who seek to influence employment.

Subject objectives/outcomes

On successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

1. Understand the origins and strategies of the main institutional players in employee relations within Australia.
2. Understand the system, structure, and processes of the regulatory framework of employment relations in Australia.
3. Explain how the shift in Australia from a centralised industrial relations system to one which is more enterprise focused.
4. Identify the various forms and types of enterprise agreements in Australia and their impact on work (e.g., productivity, efficiency and job satisfaction).
5. Acquire skills in negotiation and advocacy required in achieving successful enterprise bargaining outcomes.

Contribution to graduate profile

This unit contributes to the Bachelor of Business by providing a foundation for studying the major issues affecting employment relationships. At a time of immense change in the nature of employment and in the processes affecting it, this unit begins by providing students with a range of conceptual tools and competing points of view about rights, rules and conflicts at work. Thereafter, the central concern of the unit is to examine the social, economic and political context of managing employee relations. The subject will identify the shift in the roles of key institutional parties such as unions, employer associations and government as well as employees and managers in enterprise-based bargaining. This unit combines theoretical and historical understandings of Australian employment relations with a detailed examination of the current problems and strategies of these key employment relations players. The subject develops students' knowledge and practice of negotiation and advocacy in enterprise bargaining.

Teaching and learning strategies

The subject will comprise of 1 x 180-minute lecture/seminar on a weekly basis. The lecture will generally involve presentation of theoretical material. The lecture includes a workshop which focuses on practical application of negotiation and advocacy skills. The subject develops concepts and techniques for the choice and evaluation of strategies and tactics in enterprise bargaining and advocacy. Much of the subject will involve case studies and role playing. These activities will require students to keep a journal/diary of their observations and experiences.

Students will be expected to have read any prescribed reading articles (including the relevant text chapter) prior to class sessions and engage in necessary group discussions during tutorials.

Content

• The labour market and employment
• The employment relationship and key institutional players
• Current problems and conflict affecting the employment relationship
• Devolution of employee relations and the changing role of management in employment relations
• Negotiations: Steps, strategies, tactics, and limits
• Advocacy: Process, approach, strategy, and research

Assessment

Negotiation and Advocacy Exercise (Group)	30%
In groups of no more than five, students engaged in a simulated enterprise negotiation and or advocacy exercise to develop the proposals and processes required in finalising the enterprise negotiation.Addresses objectives 1, 2 and 5.
Reflective Journal/Diary (Individual)	20%
Students will have to keep a journal/diary of their observations and experiences during the negotiation and advocacy role play. Addresses objectives 1-5.
Final Examination (Individual)	50%
The final examination will comprise of a selection of essay questions. Addresses objectives 1-4.

Examinations will be conducted under University Examination conditions, and hence thoroughly address secure assessment concerns. The e-copy of the assignment will be subjected to the plagiarism detection software. A peer assessment of individual contributions is also used to minimize social loafing.

Recommended text(s)

Sappey R., Burgess J., Lyons, M., and Buultjens J. (2006). Industrial Relations in Australia: Work and workplaces, Pearson Education Australia, Melbourne.

Teicher, J., Lambert, R. and O'Rourke, A. (Eds) (2006). Workchoices: The new industrial relations agenda. Pearson Education Australia, Frenchs Forest.

In addition, a book of readings will be compiled to incorporate recent articles on WorkChoices and a workbook for practising workplace enterprise bargaining, negotiation and advocacy skills.

Indicative references

CCH (2006). Understanding Work Choices: A practical guide to the new workplace relations system, 2nd edition. CCH, North Ryde.

CCH (2004). Australian Master Human Resource Guide 2004, CCH Australia Ltd, Sydney.

Watson, I., Buchanan, J., Campbell, I. and Briggs, C. (2003). Fragmented Futures: New Challenges in Working Life, ACCIRT and Federation Press, Sydney.