University of Technology Sydney

21644 Law and Ethics for Managers

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2024 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Business: Management
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level:

Undergraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Anti-requisite(s): 21665 Managing Legal Issues AND 27628 Law for Leisure, Sport and Tourism AND 70102 Foundations of Law

Description

This subject introduces students to a range of legal and regulatory topics relevant to management. These include legal business structures, contract law, negligence, consumer protection and intellectual property. It aims to equip students with the ability to identify and manage legal risks in a variety of management contexts.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
1. identify legal and regulatory issues relevant to the professional manager or business administrator
2. analyse management contexts across a variety of industries in terms of potential legal risks
3. explain how legal protections, responsibilities and liabilities can arise and how they can be managed
4. explain the implications of different sources of law and regulation including ethical or voluntary standards

Contribution to the development of graduate attributes

This subject is aligned with the graduate attributes of social responsibility and cultural awareness, and professional and technical competence.

This subject provides an understanding of the legal and regulatory issues that can face a manager across different contexts. It develops business practice-oriented skills around identifying and understanding legal risks, obligations, and protections. It raises awareness of potential legal issues and the circumstances in which business practitioners ought to seek legal advice. Students will become more confident communicating in legal terminology. They will be encouraged to use critical thinking and logical reasoning to assess and analyse management situations from a legal and regulatory perspective.

Teaching and learning strategies

Typically, there will be a lecture and tutorial discussion on the weekly topic. The UTS Learning Management System will be used to provide resources and activities to assist in preparing for participation in lectures and tutorials. The lectures and tutorials will incorporate a range of teaching and experiential learning strategies including: revision quizzes, collaborative discussion groups, problem questions based on management contexts, news articles and videos, role plays and presentations. Feedback on learning progress will be provided through quizzes, tutorial exercises and assessment tasks.

Students are required to complete all assigned preparation tasks, and to attend and participate in lectures and tutorial activities. Assessment is designed to be authentic and to develop business practice oriented skills around understanding legal issues relevant to management as well as developing general communication, critical analysis and teamwork skills.

Content (topics)

  • Sources of law and regulation
  • Business structures and governance
  • Contracts and agency
  • Negligence and risk management
  • Consumer protection
  • Intellectual property
  • Ethics, soft law and voluntary codes

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Report (Individual)

Objective(s):

This addresses subject learning objective(s):

1 and 2

Weight: 25%
Length:

1000-1200 words excluding references

Criteria:

The assessment will be graded on the following criteria:

  • Identification of legal and regulatory issues - application of knowledge to a unique context
  • Analysis of the management context - depth of research and clarity of communication

Assessment task 2: Presentation (Group)*

Objective(s):

This addresses subject learning objective(s):

2 and 3

Weight: 25%
Length:

Presentation of maximum 20 minutes (approx 8-12 slides)

Criteria:

The assessment will be graded on the following criteria:

  • Analysis of legal risks in a management context - including logical reasons for risk-prioritisation
  • Explanation of how to manage/mitigate legal risks - including clarity of communication

*Note: Late submission of the assessment task will not be marked and awarded a mark of zero.

Assessment task 3: Final Exam (Individual)

Objective(s):

This addresses subject learning objective(s):

2, 3 and 4

Weight: 50%
Length:

The exam will be two hours duration.

Criteria:

The assessment will be graded on the following criteria:

  • Analysis of management contexts - application of legal principles to a given factual scenario
  • Explanation of legal causes of action and defences
  • Demonstration of understanding of core legal and regulatory concepts - through clear written communication

Minimum requirements

Students must achieve at least 50% of the subject’s total marks.

Required texts

See Canvas.

Recommended texts

Gibson, A. and Osborne, S. 2019 (11th ed) Business Law, Pearson

Barron, M.L. 2014, Fundamentals of Business Law for University of Technology Sydney, McGraw Hill

Kairouz, L. and Hanna, J. 2018 Tourism and Hospitality Law in Australia, Thomson Reuters

Thorpe, D., Buti, A., Davies, C. and Jonson, P. 2017 (3rd ed) Sports Law, Oxford University Press

References

Parker D. and Ward, L. 2020 Business and Law in Australia (3rd ed) Thomson Reuters

Ciro, T., Goldwasser V. and Verma, R. 2014 Law and Business, (4th ed) Oxford University Press

Griggs, L., Clark, E. and Iredale, I. 2009 Managers and the Law, (3rd ed), Lawbook Co.

Latimer, P. 2016 Australian Business Law, (35th ed), CCH

Lindgren, K.E. 2011 Business Law of Australia, (12th ed) Lexis Nexis Butterworths

Turner C., Trone, J. and Gamble R. 2021 Concise Australian Commercial Law (6th ed) Lawbook Co.

For Chinese-speaking students: Li E. 2018 Business and Corporate Law Guidebook, Lawbook Co.