Master of Commerce

The Business Research specialisation can only be taken with the approval of the Master of Commerce Course Director.

The specialisation is comprised of research method subjects and a Business research project which are designed to increase skills and competence in designing, conducting and analysing qualitative research projects using a variety of qualitative research techniques. The final subject in the specialisation, a double subject studied over two sessions, allows students to carry out a supervised business research project in their own workplace. The selection of the project will be jointly carried out by the academic supervisor, the student and the employer.

In this specialisation you will study subjects in the areas of research methods project management and you will also undertake a business research project. For specific subject listings, please view the course structure.

This specialisation provides you with a sound knowledge and overview of major factors governing commercial law and taxation law in Australia. The two subjects in Commercial Law introduce students to the Australian Constitution and the Australian legal system and provides topics on the legal framework of business regulation and substantive law relevant to commercial transactions. Topics also encompass contract law, agency, partnership, torts, trusts, negotiable instruments, credit transactions and business ethics and the law.

The final subject in the specialisation, a double subject studied in the first session, provides an intensive analysis of the Australian taxation system. Special provisions of taxation namely repairs, depreciation, and capital allowances are examined as will be partnership taxation, taxation of trusts and company taxation provisions. Fringe benefits tax is explored, and the Goods and Services Tax including its impact on business is also examined. Tax avoidance is dealt with and attention is also given to international taxation issues such as double taxation agreements.

In this specialisation you will study subjects in the areas of commercial law as well as Australian taxation law For specific subject listings, please view the course structure.

Dispute resolution is a growing and constantly changing area and requires continual professional practice and networking to keep informed. This specialisation provides graduates with an understanding of the causes of conflict and the availability and suitability of various methods of dispute prevention and resolution and their differing results. Students learn the skills and ethics of conflict resolution and are able to apply them to mediation processes in different settings including their own workplace.

Students will be exposed to the interdisciplinary nature of conflict theory and will learn to appreciate cultural approaches and differences, understand the ethical application of conflict resolution, understand how violence can be reduced in society, become familiar with the foundations of law and legal processes, appreciate Aboriginal history and dispute resolution, be aware of theories of morality and how they can be applied in exercising moral judgement as well as practice skills and identify attitudes that contain and prevent disputes in workplaces and other specialised settings.

In this specialisation you will study subjects in the areas of the theories and skills of conflict resolution, methods and results in dispute resolution and mediation processes and uses. For specific subject listings, please view the course structure.

In recent times economic analysis has become firmly integrated into the decision making process of most if not all Commonwealth agencies, State government bodies, business organisations and not-for-profit entities and it has influenced issues ranging from nuclear power, politics and warfare to crime, health care and environmental regulation.

Economic analysis can be described as a systematic approach to determining the optimum use of scarce resources, involving comparison of two or more alternatives in achieving a specific objective under given assumptions and constraints. Changes in economic conditions affect and are affected by supply and demand, strength of buying power, the willingness to spend, and the intensity of competitive efforts. These changes propel fluctuations in the overall state of the economy and influence courses of action taken by both government and business. Economic analysis takes into account the costs of resources employed and attempts to measure in monetary terms the private and social costs and benefits of a project for the community and/or the economy.

In this specialisation you will study subjects in the areas of business economics, international economics and managerial economics as well as economic evaluation. For specific subject listings, please view the course structure.

Today’s educational leaders need to develop the conceptual tools in which to analyse the varying global, national and local contexts and forces which are impacting on leadership in educational and training organisations. The specialisation in Educational Leadership provides students with the opportunity to develop an understanding of the economic and social forces, internal and external to formal organisations, which impact on contemporary educational and training organisations.

Topics include social justice, critical and postmodern approaches to educational leadership and training; policy development and implementation; organisational change and the politics of education in the 21st Century; the philosophical, ethical and historical strands that underpin educational leadership as a field; the nature of educational change and capabilities for planning, leading and managing the process of change; and education policy problems which can influence the lives of teachers, students, parents and educational leaders.

In this specialisation you will study subjects in the areas of mapping the field of educational leadership, educational leadership in contemporary organisations, leading educational change and education policy analysis. For specific subject listings, please view the course structure.

The Finance specialisation aims to produce graduates who understand the organisation and structure of the financial system, various financial markets and the instruments of these markets; and display a thorough knowledge of the determinants of the level and structure of interest rates on money and capital markets, and key factors determining the exchange rate. Students also learn to apply the analytical skills needed to identify and interpret developments and changes in financial markets, develop the ability to explain the mechanisms by which various financial price variables are influenced; and understand the scope and methodology of the finance function and its role in corporate management.

This specialisation offers an overview of practical aspects of corporate capital structure and management; the skills necessary to identify and manage financial risk; and emerging complexities in the Australian and global corporate sectors.

In this specialisation you will have a choice of subjects in the areas of corporate finance, international financial management, money and capital markets, investment analysis and financial planning. For specific subject listings, please view the course structure.

The financial planning industry continues to expand rapidly and the knowledge, competencies and skill levels necessary to be successful financial planners is expected to escalate significantly in the 21st century. This Finance specialisation will assist students to operate as financial planning professionals who can confidently analyse complex client financial and personal requirements, design appropriate solutions and develop leading edge solutions for client needs.

Students will have the opportunity to gain knowledge of the regulation and legal structures impinging on the financial markets and knowledge of, and the ability to apply, a range of key financial related principles, concepts and practices relevant to the needs of clients. Students will gain competency in the use of selected financial techniques which will assist financial professionals in the decision making and control functions. Students will also develop an understanding of the practicalities of engaging clients across a wide spectrum of financial situations and delivering a financial plan as the initial step in building a long term client relationship.

In this specialisation you will have a choice of subjects in the areas of financial planning, estate planning, superannuation and retirement planning, investing in property and taxation strategies. For specific subject listings, please view the course structure.

Business needs people who can think critically and exercise sound independent and collaborative judgement based on a range of data and resources as well as foresee and initiate change within the organisation and its environment. It is critical to an organisation’s success that managers understand the principles of a range of functional areas of management and have the ability to apply these principles to the analysis and management of organisational situations and are able to lead people in managing effective information systems, projects, programs, budgets and investment strategies. Managers must have the communication and other interpersonal skills needed in the effective day-to-day management of projects and organisations; and be able to demonstrate competence in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of corporate strategy and policy.

This General Management specialisation is designed for those who wish to upgrade their professional qualifications and provides a broad, comprehensive and forward looking orientation and equips students to research, monitor, analyse and make effective decisions in relation to the complex issues confronting the modern manager at both strategic and operational levels.

In this specialisation you will have a choice of subjects in the areas of management theory and practice, human resource management, strategic management, international business and management of change. For specific subject listings, please view the course structure.

Human resource managers need to develop a strong portfolio of capabilities appropriate for business enhancement and managing change in an increasingly complex environment. Issues such as enterprise bargaining, multi-skilling, occupational health and safety, EEO, casualisation of the workforce and increased employee involvement in decision-making are forcing practitioners to take an integrated, strategic view of Human Resource Management. Furthermore, regulatory and compliance issues are increasingly challenging the role of the human resource management professional in the workforce today.

This specialisation helps students understand from a variety of perspectives the strategic role that human resource management can fulfil in ensuring high levels of organisational and individual performance.

In this specialisation you will have a choice of subjects in the areas of human resource management, international human resource management, advanced studies in industrial relations, strategic human resource management and the human resource management context. For specific subject listings, please view the course structure.

Australia’s system of industrial relations has been designed in response to a rapidly changing contemporary context and reflects the impact of economic conditions and theories, as well as the social, political and structural transformation of the Australian economy and society. Since the beginning of last century, there has been an explosion of laws which govern the relationships of employers and employees in the Australian workforce. The aim of the specialisation is to give insight into the managerial and specialist roles in the industrial relations field within the private, public or trade union sectors.

This specialisation provides students with an overview of the theory and practical knowledge of Australian industrial relations and covers issues such as the roles played by trade unions, employers and their associations, and federal and state governments; contract of employment; employer liability for negligence; workers compensation, collective bargaining; compulsory arbitration; conciliation and negotiation; mediation and conflict resolution; the various types of industrial offensive and defensive actions taken by the parties; organisational behaviour theory; and the various controls and pressures that exist in Australian industrial relations today.

In this specialisation you will study subjects in the areas of the industrial relations environment, industrial relations systems and issues, IR practice, and industrial relations in the legal environment. For specific subject listings, please view the course structure.

In this specialisation students will learn how information systems can be used to achieve a company's strategic objectives. The need for information systems strategic planning is analysed within the modern environment of industry and commerce, so that alignment and optimisation of technology investment can be achieved.

Students will focus on examining and critically analysing a combination of technical and management issues in contemporary infrastructure management, with a strong focus on telecommunications. Students also study the role and value of information, information systems and information technology in modern organisations as well as the theory and practice of decision support systems for use in management, research and decision making.

In this specialisation you will have a choice of subjects in the areas of strategic management information, IT infrastructure management, IT for management, principles of information security, and e-systems infrastructure development. For specific subject listings, please view the course structure.

In the initial stage of this specialisation students are introduced to the roles and functions of human resource management in organisations. Students investigate how human resource management can contribute to organisational performance and examine the ethical moral implications of HR functions and techniques. From this foundation, students then undertake studies of human resource management in the context of international business operations and the HR practices which support the movement of businesses and managers into cultures that are both similar to and foreign from the home culture.

Students then undertake studies in international management behaviour by examining a variety of management and leadership practices in organisations operating in cross cultural contexts from a behavioural perspective.

The final subject in the specialisation examines human resource development from a cross-border perspective and identifies the changing role of the human resource development professional. It considers the affect on the workplace of globalisation and culture, and highlights the strategic importance of human resource strategies and practices in the competitive global business environment.

In this specialisation you will have a choice of subjects in the areas of strategic management information, IT infrastructure management, IT for management, principles of information security, and e-systems infrastructure development. For specific subject listings, please view the course structure.

International Management is the practice of managing business operations in more than one country. International Management professionals require conceptual and analytical skills needed for formulating management strategies and policies.

In this specialisation, students will learn about cross cultural management practices and how work behaviour differs throughout the world. Students have the option to choose to choose three subjects from four options relating to international business such as Strategic Management, a study of key practical and theoretical aspects of strategic management; International Business, a study of the business practices of Australia's major trading partners; International Human Resource Management, a study of the nature and practice of human resource management in the context of international business operations; and Global Marketing, a study of global and local marketing opportunities aimed at achieving growth objectives.

In this specialisation you will have a choice of subjects in the areas of management theory and practice, international human resource management, strategic management, international business and global marketing. For specific subject listings, please view the course structure.

In today’s business environment, organisations are required to undergo changes almost constantly if they are to remain competitive. Managing organisational change is the process of planning and implementing change in organisations and minimising employee resistance and loss to the organisation while simultaneously maximising the effectiveness of the change effort.

The aim of the specialisation in Management of Organisational Change is to provide students with skills, knowledge and attributes needed for the facilitation of organisational change. It is designed for all managers and consultants working in private, public or not-for-profit organisations by providing them with a foundation of theoretical and practical knowledge, as well as a set of skills they can draw on in their roles as agents for change.

In this specialisation you will study subjects in the areas of organisational politics, culture and change management, management theory and practice, management of change and management of sustainable business. For specific subject listings, please view the course structure.

The aim of the Marketing specialisation is to provide students who are looking to enhance their marketing knowledge and skills and respond to changes in the marketing environment. A range of marketing subjects is offered with some flexibility to enable students to tailor their course to suit their needs and interests. The program is designed to enable students to draw on their workplace experience and enhance their marketing practice by engagement with theoretical frameworks and debates in the marketing discipline.

On completion of this specialisation, graduates will be able to: understand the nature of marketing and marketing management; detail the role of marketing within the wider business organisational context; undertake, analyse and interpret the outcomes of market research; formulate a marketing policy based on the outcomes of market research; understand the consumer decision process; and develop and implement an international marketing plan for products or markets for which they are responsible.

In this specialisation you will have a choice of subjects in the areas of marketing management, customer behaviour, managing product and service innovation, global marketing, marketing and organisational research and integrated marketing communications. For specific subject listings, please view the course structure.

The Operations Management specialisation commences with an overview of concepts and techniques which are used to measure outcomes and ensure the compliance of outcomes to specifications. Subjects within the specialisation enhance the development of managerial skills required to empower the work-face operator to identify emerging aberrations and to take corrective action before a fault is built in.

The specialisation offers insight into how businesses and organisations can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of service and manufacturing operations in the local and global business environment. It allows students the opportunity to examine the identification, measurement, and management of risk using multi-disciplinary techniques. The specialisation develops students’ project management capabilities with particular attention being given to the operational context of project management, its relationship to general management and to the coordination requirements of the two.

In this specialisation you will study subjects in the areas of foundations of quality management, operations management, project management and forecasting and risk assessment. For specific subject listings, please view the course structure.

The public sector and government agencies are charged with providing fair, equitable and efficient service to the public. It is managed in accordance with principles of access and equity and there is a requirement for clear and explicit delineation of the responsibilities and accountabilities of public employees, administrative units and territory instrumentalities.

This specialisation provides students with an overview of the knowledge and skills required in managing the public sector – financial accountability; business economics; administrative law; and the political, economic, legal and social contexts of management in the public sector. A range of specific areas of public sector management are studied such as the policy process and strategy, financial management, HRM and employment relations as well as performance management, accountability and ethics, corporatisation and privatisation and the use of IT in the public sector.

In this specialisation you will study subjects in the areas of financial accountability in the public sector, business economics, administrative law and public sector management. For specific subject listings, please view the course structure.

Strategic management is an ongoing process which is critical to the overall successful performance of a business or organisation. As defined by David, F (2010), strategic management is the art and science of formulating, implementing and evaluating cross-functional decisions that enable an organisation to achieve its objectives. This implies strategic management focuses on integrating a number of disciplines to achieve organisational success. The purpose of strategic management is to exploit and create new and different opportunities for long range planning, optimising for tomorrow the trends of today.

The Strategic Management specialisation commences with studies into the theory and practice of management and how they affect organisational activities, events, strategies and success. Students have the option to choose three subjects from four offerings relating to strategic management.

In this specialisation you will have a choice of subjects in the areas of management theory and practice, strategic management, operations management, forecasting and risk assessment and management of change. For specific subject listings, please view the course structure.

Strategic innovation is the creation of growth strategies for product categories, services or business models that change the market and generate significant new values for consumers, customers and the organisation. The innovation process challenges an organisation to look beyond its established business boundaries and models to create possibilities.

In undertaking this specialisation, students are given the opportunity to develop critical reasoning skills; understand current thinking in strategy and strategy innovation; and understand the dimensions of structure, process, control and leadership critical for implementation success in an organisation or business.

In this specialisation you will study subjects in the areas of strategic management, management of change, marketing strategy and critical reasoning. For specific subject listings, please view the course structure.