MBA9002 - The legal environment of business

Leader: Mr Abe Herzberg

Offered

Caulfield First semester 2008 (Evening)
Caulfield Second semester 2008 (Day)
Caulfield Second semester 2008 (Evening)

Synopsis

This unit provides an introduction to key aspects of the legal environment in which business operates. Topics include an introduction to law and the Australian legal system, manufacturers' product liability law, the law of contract and consumer protection laws, intellectual property law (patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade secrets), competition law, directors' duties and corporate governance. The main focus is how managers can use knowledge of law to capture value and manage business risk. While Australian laws and the Australian legal system are the focus, students have the opportunity to compare and contract equivalent laws in other countries. No prior legal training is assumed.

Objectives

The learning goals associated with this unit are to:

• demonstrate a sound knowledge of key legal and regulatory issues that affect the legal environment of business and critically evaluate how managers can use knowledge of such issues to capture value and manage business risk
• apply relevant statute and/or case law to analyse a hypothetical case study and communicate the findings to the class clearly and in an organised manner
• critically evaluate a self-selected contemporary law reform proposal or current development in business law and present a research paper on the topic
• further enhance communication, inter-personal, problem solving and critical thinking capabilities.

Assessment

Within semester assessment: 50%
Examination (open book): 50%

Contact hours

39 contact hours per semester

Prerequisites

Unit offered to MBA students only

Co-requisites

Students must be enrolled in one of the following courses to undertake this unit: 3183, 3184, 3185, 3189, 3190, 3191, 3195, 3196, 3197, 3198, 3837, 3839 or 0028.

Prohibitions

BTC9110 and BTX9020