21603 Advocacy and Social Change

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 2025 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.

Description

This subject explores the theoretical frameworks related to advocacy and activism. Organisations with a social purpose must engage with forms of advocacy to achieve their mission. Advocacy may relate to sustainability, social impact, and innovation. The subject explores advocacy in the Australian and global context. Advocacy and Social Change examines a variety of useful advocacy strategies for engaging with businesses, government, the public, Indigenous peoples, and individuals. Many innovative products, services, or ideas could be restricted by regulations that hinder development, the subject addresses how advocacy supports innovation and social entrepreneurship.

The alignment of different advocacy strategies with an organisation’s mission is explored, as are legal and ethical issues related to advocacy. Students develop a suitable advocacy strategy to achieve objectives related to a specific social issue. In developing the strategy appropriate tactics are identified along with a plan to communicate impactful messages relating to key stakeholders who influence the social cause.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

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

1.	Analyse current issues in advocacy that relate to sustainability, social impact, and innovation
2.	Critically reflect on the relationship between advocacy groups, such as not-for-profits and social enterprise, and government, business, Indigenous peoples, and the public
3.	Plan and communicate targeted advocacy strategies and tactics to address equity and intersecting social and organisational issues
4.	Collaborate with peers to communicate information effectively and engage a targeted audience in advocacy campaigns

Contribution to the development of graduate attributes

Program Learning Objectives and Graduate Attributes are developed during in class activities and within assessment items. Students apply critical thinking to demonstrate ethical principles to justify innovative solutions to complex social problems. Students will demonstrate advocacy strategies, including how to effectively communicate and collaborate with appropriate stakeholders.

This subject contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes:

Intellectual rigour and innovative problem solving
Communication and collaboration
Social responsibility and cultural awareness

This subject also contributes specifically to the development of the following Program Learning Objectives for the Bachelor of Management:

Evaluate and implement ethical principles in respect of managing for social responsibility, including knowledge of cultural diversity, economic equity, and environmental sustainability as they relate to professional practice (3.1)
Execute managerial capabilities and technical skills that are critical to professional practice in a specialised industry sector (4.1)

Teaching and learning strategies

The subject will be delivered weekly including online lecture covering theory and examples of advocacy and social change and face-to-face tutorials where students apply the theory to analysis of cases. Students will collaborate with their peers by discussing case studies in the weekly tutorials and work in groups to complete their group presentations. Weekly tutorial activities will also provide the opportunity for pre-assessment feedback. Students will receive final feedback on their assessment items once submitted.

Content (topics)

Third sector organizations, social enterprise, and social and political change
Theories of civil society, democracy, and collective action
Advocacy strategies and campaigning
Government, social enterprise, and third sector in relation to advocacy
The relationship between business, social enterprise and third sector in relation to advocacy
Individual and systemic advocacy including the role of social entrepreneurs Institutional and non-institutional forms of advocacy
Indigenous rights movement in Australia and advocacy with Indigenous peoples

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Advocacy Communication (Individual)

Objective(s):	This addresses subject learning objective(s): 3
Weight:	30%
Length:	500-800 words
Criteria:	Clearly identifies the issue, demonstrates understanding of the issue and makes a persuasive case for change. Demonstrates knowledge of what action can be taken to address this issue and makes clear recommendations Clearly written expression that is appropriate to the audience

Assessment task 2: Advocacy Issue Report (Individual)

Objective(s):	This addresses subject learning objective(s): 1 and 2
Weight:	40%
Length:	1400-1600 words
Criteria:	Clearly identifies the issue, demonstrates understanding of the issue Demonstrates knowledge of different stakeholders’ points of view and motivations Demonstrates knowledge of key stakeholders’ advocacy strategies Critically reflects on the contributions and perspectives of Indigenous peoples in relation to the advocacy issue Acknowledges all academic sources (books, chapters and peer-reviewed journal articles), as well as any other sources (official reports, organisation websites, ABS data, media articles, etc.) drawn upon in the report Clearly written expression that is appropriate to the audience with correct grammar, a professional and authoritative tone that is concise and readable

Assessment task 3: Presentation (Group)*

Objective(s):	This addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 3 and 4
Weight:	30%
Length:	10 minute presentation
Criteria:	Clearly identifies the issue, demonstrates understanding and importance of the issue Clearly identifies and provides a rationale for an alternative course of action Presentation structure: e.g. clear and appropriate slides, structure and appropriate headings Effective presentation of data in graphs and figures *Note: Late submission of the assessment task will not be marked and awarded a mark of zero.

Minimum requirements

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

Required texts

No required text

References

Clear, A., Paull, M., & Holloway, D. (2018). Nonprofit Advocacy Tactics: Thinking Inside The Box? VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, 29(4), 857-869.

Dempsey, S., Kirby, E., & Koschmann, M. (2012). Nonprofits as Political Actors. Management Communication Quarterly, 26(1), 147-151.

Edwards, M, Onyx, J, Maxwell, H, Darcy, S, Bullen, P & Sherker, S 2015, 'A Conceptual Model of Social Impact as Active Citizenship', Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, vol. 26, no. 4, pp. 1529-1549

McPhail-Bell, K., Bond, C., Brough, M., & Fredericks, B. (2015). ‘We don’t tell people what to do’: Ethical practice and Indigenous health promotion. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 26(3), 195-199.

Diochon, M., & Anderson, A. (2011). Ambivalence and ambiguity in social enterprise; narratives about values in reconciling purpose and practices. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 7(1), 93-109.