Organisational Social Responsibilities
PostgraduateTAS-BFA7582026
Previously TAS-BFA527
Course information for 2026 intake View information for 2025 course intake
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 15 Feb 2026
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Price from
- $3,284
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Organisational Social Responsibilities
About this subject
Upon completion of this subject, the student should be able to:
- Investigate how managers’ perceptions of business responsibilities influence their perceptions of social (sustainable) responsibility and accountability.
- Critically review the relevance of sustainability practices and the role of managers in embracing these practices.
- Evaluate the relevance of different frameworks identifying ways to view business/organizational social responsibility and select and apply them appropriate to business setting.
- Professionally communicate information and recommendations to a range of stakeholders.
- An analysis of the relationship between organisational responsibilities and accountabilities
- The meaning of, and influences upon organisational accountability. The role of (or potential role of) accounting in supporting sustainable development
- The meaning and identification of organisational stakeholders
- A systems based perspective of organisations and the meaning of corporate social responsibility
- The four step accountability model – focus – the ‘why report’
- The four step accountability model – focus - ‘to whom to report?’ ‘what to report?
- The meaning and need for sustainability and sustainable development
- Some challenges to embracing sustainable development
- The meaning and incidence of CSR reporting and sustainable reporting
- Some industry and government based initiatives to address sustainable development
- Accounting for modern slavery
Organisations impact, and are impacted by, the societies in which they operate. That is, they are part of a broader social system. Society generally, and different groups of stakeholders specifically, expect an organisation to accept various responsibilities with respect to how it interacts with, and how it is accountable to, different stakeholders. Failure to comply with particular stakeholders’ expectations can have implications for the survival of an organisation.
Employer groups, professional accounting bodies and course advisory committees have consistently highlighted the need for business students to be critical thinkers; to be able to demonstrate skills that extend beyond technical competencies; and to be able to demonstrate an understanding that organisations are part of a broader social system on which they rely for organisational survival.
This subject responds to this expectation, as it focusses on graduate self-awareness and applied technical and professional ‘soft’ skills in the following key areas:
• Provides insight into identifying stakeholders and their expectations
• Emphasises the relevance of sustainability to organisational success
• Provides a background to enable the determination of relevant frameworks to apply in order to improve an organisation’s social and environmental performance
• Provides insights into applying an accountability model to guide organisational reporting decisions
- Individual Assignment (30%)
- Individual Assignment (Video and Written Report) (35%)
- Individual/Team Project (negotiated) (35%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
Wherever you are, the University of Tasmania brings its island campus to you through a growing range of online programs across art and design, business, education, health, science, sustainability, technology, and more. It’s never too late to switch things up. Kickstart that career you’ve been dreaming about, or upskill for the one you’re in. You’ll also become a part of the world's leading university on climate action.
Learn more about UTAS.
Explore UTAS courses.
- QS World University Ranking 2026, within Australia:
- 20
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2026, within Australia:
- 14
Entry requirements
Part of a degree
To enrol in this subject you must be accepted into one of the following degrees:
Core
- TAS-SBS-GCE-2026 - Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Business
Elective
- TAS-MPA-MAS-2026 - Master of Professional Accounting
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
Related degrees
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Business
PostgraduateTAS-SBS-GCE
Master of Professional Accounting
PostgraduateTAS-MPA-MAS