26839 Strategy and Risk

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
Credit points: 3 cp

Subject level:

Postgraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.

Description

Indigenous peoples, nations, and corporations continuously monitor and evaluate risk and develop mitigation and other strategic approaches. This course recognises that Indigenous people undertake these processes among ourselves, and on behalf of our nations, communities and corporations as we negotiate with the settler colonial state. The course considers both the standards used by government and industry, and methods adopted by Indigenous peoples here and overseas, to apply risk assessment and strategic approaches. Our approach recognises that Indigenous nations and communities are in almost constant negotiation with settler-colonial governments, industry, the resources sector, business, developers and the non-profit sector about use of their lands and waters. Inherent in these negotiations are questions about the nature of power, decision-making authority and the dynamics of the relationships between the parties.

These interactions raise crucial questions: How can Indigenous Nations exercise their right to self-determination and what kinds of risk assessment processes and strategic planning can be effective for Indigenous political leaders striving to assert their authority? What do settler-colonial governments and other agents need to consider to facilitate Indigenous self-determination in negotiation settings and the non-profit sector about use of their lands and waters? Inherent in these negotiations are questions about the nature of power, decision-making authority and the dynamics of the relationships between the parties. These interactions raise crucial questions: How can Indigenous Nations exercise their right to self-determination and what kinds of risk assessment processes and strategic planning can be effective for Indigenous political leaders striving to assert their authority? What do settler-colonial governments and other agents need to consider to facilitate Indigenous self-determination in negotiation settings?

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

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

1.	compare and contrast standard and Indigenous ways of assessing, articulating and managing risk and setting strategic approaches
2.	critically analyse cultural, social, political, environmental, and economic risks utilising Indigenous values and perspectives, respecting difference, valuing sustainability and responsibility
3.	identify and develop participative processes for inclusion of Indigenous values and interests in risk frameworks, assessments and planning

Contribution to the development of graduate attributes

This subject enables students to critically engage with risk assessment and strategic planning applying a complex understanding of Indigenous values, interests and nation (re)building practices. This will be achieved by the development of capabilities to identify and develop participative processes for inclusion of Indigenous values and interests in risk frameworks, assessments and planning.

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

Social responsibility and cultural awareness
Professional and technical competence

Teaching and learning strategies

The subject is offered in blended learning mode during the short teaching periods of six weeks duration. The teaching and learning approach is a mix of online learning and in-class seminars.

Classes are based on blended and flipped learning approaches: students engage with learning materials (including papers, book extracts, videos, etc.) before attending seminars. Seminars include guided critical discussion of learning materials, group work on contemporary case studies, scenarios, workshops, peer discussions and learning from students own professional experiences. Discussions and application of theory, case studies and best practices are supported by online learning and communication tools and the UTS learning management system.

A formative assessment provides students with feedback to direct their self-study. Ongoing general and individual feedback will be provided throughout the subject via consultation seminars. A summative assessment provides feedback on students' comprehension and application of learning. Students also receive formal feedback on assessment tasks.

Content (topics)

Critical understanding of mainstream strategic planning and risk assessment
Indigenous innovations and approaches to strategic planning and risk assessment
An understanding of the relationship between colonialism, racism, and opportunity for Indigenous people and First Nations
Synergies between emerging trends in strategic planning and risk assessment and First Nation creativity, strategic planning, and assessment

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Applied Reflection (Individual)

Objective(s):	This addresses subject learning objective(s): 1 and 2
Weight:	60%
Criteria:	Depth of critical reflection and self-reflexivity Development of new skills in translation, connection and transformation Ability to link international instruments, policies and trends to the emerging agendas and contribution of First Nations

Assessment task 2: Strategy and Risk Assessment (Individual)

Objective(s):	This addresses subject learning objective(s): 2 and 3
Weight:	40%
Criteria:	Evidence of clear rationale for critical analysis Coherence of articulation of Indigenous risk assessment and strategic management Comprehensiveness of identification and analysis of contextual factors Suitablity of recommendations

Minimum requirements

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

Required texts

Nikolakis, W., Cornell, S. & Nelson, H. (eds.) 2019 Reclaiming Indigenous Governance: Reflections and Insights from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States, University of Arizona Press, Tucson.

References

The Australian Business Guide to Implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Nov 2020, Global Compact Development Australia, KPMG Australia and the University of Technology Sydney, Global Compact Network Australia.

Bouchard, K., Perry, A., West-Johnson, S., Rodon, T., Vanchu-Orosco, M. 2021 ‘Measuring what counts to advance Indigenous self-determination: A case study of the Nsga’a Lisims government’s quality of life framework and survey’, International Journal of Community Wellbeing, 4, 415-441. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42413-020-00088-1

DeLancey, D. 2020 ‘Indigenous Evaluation in the Northwest Territories: Opportunities and Challenges’, Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation, 34(3): 492-512.

Hemming, S., Rigney, D. & Berg, S. 2011 ‘Ngarrindjeri futures: negotiation, governance and environmental management’, in Unsettling the Settler State: Creativity and Resistance in Indigenous Settler-State Governance, S. Maddison & M. Brigg (eds) Federations Press, Sydney, 98-113.

Hemming, S., Rigney, D., Grant, R., Sutherland, L., Wilson, H. Overdevest, N. Della-Sale, A. & Maxwell, S. 2020 Translating Ngarrindjeri Yannarumi into water resource risk assessments, Goyder Institute for Water Research Technical Report Series No. 20/09, Adelaide, South Australia. ISSN: 1839-2725.

Jorgensen, M. 2007 (ed) Rebuilding Native Nations: Strategies for Governance and Development, University of Arizona Press, Tucson, Arizona.

Rigney, D., Rose, D., Vivian, A., Jorgensen, M., Hemming, S. & Berg, S. (2022) ‘Gunditjmara and Ngarrindjeri: Case Studies of Indigenous Self-Government’, in Cane, P., Ford, L. & MacMillan, M. (eds) Cambridge Legal History of Australia, University Press, Cambridge, Cambridge.

Rigney, D., Vivian, A., Hemming, S., Berg, S., Bignall, S. & Bell, D. (2021) ‘Treaty as a Technology for Indigenous Nation Building’ in Developing Governance and Governing Development: International Case Studies of Indigenous Futures, Smith, D., Wighton, A., Cornell, S. & Delany, A.V. (eds) Rowman and Littlefield, New York, 119-140.

Smith, D., Wighton, A., Cornell, S. & Delany, A.V. (eds) 2021 Developing Governance and Governing Development: International Case Studies of Indigenous Futures, Rowman and Littlefield, New York.

Vivian, A., Jorgensen, M., Reilly, A. Reilly, McMillan, M., NcRea, & McMinn, J. 2017 ‘Indigenous Self-government in the Australian Federation’, Australian Indigenous Law Review, 20: 215-242.