Welcome

Hi. I'm Tabitha Merrell, your embedded librarian and I've created this guide to help you with your research for MGT501. 

Each section introduces the steps you should take when researching for an assessment. You'll find links to videos and resources that will give you the tools to find great information. Use the activities on the Test your knowledge tab to see what you need to revise.

Getting started with your assessment

The first thing is to make sure you clearly understand the task and what topic you are seeking information for, this is called topic analysis. Check your assessment task details in your Subject Outline. If you are confused or unsure about the assessment topic, ask your lecturer or tutor who will be happy to talk it through with you.

In Assessment 2 you need to create a critical annotated bibliography, while Assessment 3 is a business report on Responsive Management Practices.

In Assessment 4 you will create a presentation on managers engaging people in organisational change within VUCA business environments.

With an understanding of your task you then need to plan how you will search for information. This starts with identifying and brainstorming keywords.

From your assessment tasks:

Keywords Synonyms or related terms
agile mindset/philosophy flexible, adaptable, learning, empathy, collaboration, innovation, responsive, methods
organisational planning strategy, goals, strategic planning
VUCA environments volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous, disruption, technology, sustainability

Does your task place any limits?  Look for these limits in your subject outline -  last 7 years,  VUCA business environments

For guidance in topic analysis check out:

Choose the right place to search

Before you start searching, think about what types of information you need and where you can search to find those types of resources.

Primo Search

Primo Search is a good place to start as it allows you to use one search box to bring back results from most of our Library collection including books, eBooks, journal articles, newspaper articles and more. You may get a large number of results and some of these will be from outside your subject/discipline area. Check the content is relevant to your assessment task before you use it.

Library databases

Databases will help you find academic resources and are often subject specific. You will get fewer results than Primo, but they will be more relevant to your subject/discipline. 

I recommend trying the following databases:

The Business, Management, Marketing & WHS list has more databases you can search.

Remember! When looking for information on your specific industry you may need to explore some of the other topic lists in the A-Z databases

Learn how to search efficiently in Primo and Library databases:

Other Sources

In your assessment you've been asked to use websites and videos. See the links below for more information.

Create a search strategy

When you search using Primo Search or a library database use the keywords and limits you identified above to create your search. Combine the keywords with search operators, rather than searching with a whole sentence or question. Search operators tell Primo or the database how to search with your keywords.

For your assessment topic potential search strings could include:

  • agile AND management
  • (organisation OR corporation) AND strategy
  • "agile philosophy" AND culture AND (organisation OR corporation)

Remember: you will need to try a range of searches. Don't stop after just one.

To understand how search operators work check out:

Evaluate

Using credible information will improve the quality of your assessment and may result in better marks, but how can you tell whether the resources you've found are credible and suitable for your assessment? Have you been asked to use peer reviewed, academic or refereed articles? Are you using authoritative websites?

In Assignment 2 you will be asked to use the CRAP test to help you evaluate your nominated resources.  The CRAP (Currency, Reliability, Authority, Purpose) test can help you quickly and easily evaluate any piece of information.  The links below will provide you with further information, look for the video on Applying the CRAP test.

 

Keen for more?

If you're interested in finding out more, check out the following:

Reading, writing, and referencing

The Academic Skills team help you build your writing, referencing and reading skills to be successful at Uni.

Check out their support and resources under Learning Skills in the Student Portal.

Here are some pages to get you started:

Your textbook

Good news!

Your textbooks are available online through the library!

However access to your textbook is limited. Follow the best practice in the video below to ensure you have access to what you need without disadvantaging other students in your subject.

Search skills demonstration

Watch this video for an overview of the CRAP test and how to apply it for your assignment.

Using AI

Have you been asked to use Generative AI Tools (GAITs) in your assessment? Or are you thinking of using GAITs for research and study? 

Make sure you are aware of the risks associated with using GAITs:

  • Academic integrity
  • Plagiarism
  • Inaccurate content
  • Intellectual property
  • Privacy concerns.

For more information see:

Microsoft Copilot

Microsoft Copilot is a chat interface that uses ChatGPT 4 to generate answers based on questions or prompts that you write.

Copilot is free, does not require a login and provides real-time information and citations. To learn more check out the Digital Skills modules.