GE1204

GE1204 Living with the Unexpected and Unknown in Modern Society

Part I

Course Duration: one semester
Area: Study of Societies, Social and Business Organizations
Credit Units: 3
Level: A1, B1
Medium of Instruction: English
Prerequisites: Nil
Precursors: Nil
Equivalent Courses: Nil
Exclusive Courses: Nil

Part II

1. Course Aims

This course aims to:

Provide students with knowledge about the "risk environment" in modernsociety which comprises of perceptions about the loss potential associated with the interrelationship among humans, and between humans and their natural (physical), biological, technological, behavioral and financial environments.
Develop students' ability to assess risk from multiple perspectives including economics, sociology, psychology, engineering, law, political science and geography.
Improve students' Risk Intelligence (Risk IQ, Apgar 2006), i.e. ability to manage what we don't know; it consists of whatever collective experience which can help determine the evolving drivers of a risk.
Develop students' ability to engage in debates of major risk management doctrines and issues in modern society, both verbally and in written form, with the appropriate supporting reasons and analyses, individually and in a team environment.

2. Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs)
Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

No.	CILOs	Weighting (if applicable)
1.	Describe and explain the concepts of risk and risk management in modern society from a social science perspective applied at different scales – individual, societal, and global.
2.	Identify and discuss the psychological and behavioural attributes that derail human's rational behaviour: loss aversion, value attribution and diagnosis bias; ego, fear and greed.
3.	Apply and reflect risk management strategies and live with the unexpected and unknown in everyday lives, e.g. health, crime, media; businesses and international and global affairs, e.g. terrorism, environment, international relations; discuss the high-stake, i.e. catastrophic, terminal risk decision criteria and process.
4.	Better explain the complexities of and controversies in risk management and that there is no single doctrine which can be applied in all situations.
5.	Critically evaluate the moral aspects of risk management in modern society; demonstrate an understanding of cultural differences across national boundaries in the context of risk management.
6.	Write structured reports and make oral presentations in a precise and concise manner with appropriate supporting materials, individually and in a team environment.

Please explain the alignment of CILOs to the GE Programme Intended Learning Outcomes (PILOs) under Part A of the Annex to this Form.

3. Teaching and Learning Activities (TLAs)
Please be sure to consider how the TLAs align with the desired characteristics of GE courses (c.f. explanatory note 10).

ILO No.	TLAs	Hours/week (if applicable)
CILO 1,2,3,4,5,6	1. Interactive Seminar The lecturer will play a facilitating role which may involve:- briefly lecture on the subject material of the week;- setting the agenda for weekly class discussion one week ahead;- setting the questions to be discussed in weekly class meetings one week ahead and these become the individual written report to be submitted as homework; - moderating class discussions;- encouraging and evaluating student participation, both in-class and in e-platforms.	3
CILO 1,2,3,4,5,6	2. Group presentation and/or debates - Students will work in groups to lead weekly class discussions;- there will be formal group debates on risk management topics assigned by the lecturer.	1.5 (part of TLA1)
CILO 3,4,5	3. Guest Speakers - Guest speaker from the teaching staff in CB and/or other colleges/schools will be invited to present special topic of interest in risk management;- Practitioner in industry will be invited as guest speaker to attest the practice of risk management in real life.	1-2 per semester(part of TLA1)
CILO 1,2,3,4,5,6	4. Outside regular class hours - Online Discussion Board and Facebook will be created for the course; - students are encouraged to engage infurther discussions and/or comments outside the classroom;- participation in these activities will count towards the total participation assessment.	No limit

4. Assessment Tasks/Activities

ILO No.	Type of Assessment Tasks/Activities	Weighting (if applicable)	Remarks
CILO 1,2,3,4,5,6	AT1: Weekly individual written report (homework)	15%
CILO 1,2,3,4,5,6	AT2: Group presentations	15%
CILO 1,2,3,4,5,6	AT3: Participation including in-class and outside classroom	10%
CILO 1,2,3	AT4: Mid-term test (open book)	20%
CILO 1,2,3,4,5	AT5: Final examination (open book)	40%

Important note: Students must pass BOTH coursework and final examination in order to get overall pass in this course.

5. Grading of Student Achievement:

	Excellent(A+, A, A-)	Good(B+, B, B-)	Adequate(C+, C, C-)	Marginal (D) and Failure (F)
CILO1	Demonstratesexcellent ability in describing and explaining the concepts of risk and risk management; superior grasp of the risk management process; evidence of extensive knowledge base in utilizing the basic principles of risk management.	Demonstratessound ability in describing and explaining the concepts of risk and risk management; good grasp of the risk management process; evidence of sound knowledge base in utilizing the basic principles of risk management.	Demonstratesadequate ability in describing and explaining the concepts of risk and risk management; reasonable grasp of the risk management process; evidence of adequate knowledge base in utilizing the basic principles of risk management.	Demonstratessome ability in describing and explaining the concepts of risk and risk management; sufficient grasp of the risk management process; evidence of some knowledge base in utilizing the basic principles of risk management.Students who exhibit little evidence of familiarity with the subject matter will be given ‘F’ grade.
CILO2	Strong evidence of original thinking in identifying and discussing the psychological and behavioural attributes in human’s rational thinking and decision process; display excellent organization and capacity in analyzing and synthesizing; superior grasp of subject matter with evidence of extensive knowledge base.	Good grasp of subject matter; sound critical capacity and analytical ability; evidence of good understanding of issues and familiarity with related literature.	Adequate grasp of subject matter; reasonable critical capacity and analytical ability; some understanding of issues.	Sufficient familiarity with the subject matter; able to discuss simple issues.Students who exhibit little evidence of familiarity with the subject matter ; and limited or irrelevant use of literature will be given ‘F’ grade.
CILO3	Demonstrates excellent ability in applying and reflecting risk management in everyday lives, businesses and in international and global affairs; excellent articulation of terminal risk decision criteria and process.	Demonstrates sound ability in applying and reflecting risk management in everyday lives, businesses and in international and global affairs; sound articulation of terminal risk decision criteria and process.	Demonstrates adequate ability in applying and reflecting risk management in everyday lives, businesses and in international and global affairs; adequate articulation of terminal risk decision criteria and process.	Demonstrates some ability in applying and reflecting risk management in everyday lives, businesses and in international and global affairs; minimal articulation of terminal risk decision criteria and process.Students who exhibit little evidence of familiarity with the subject matter ; and limited or irrelevant use of literature will be given ‘F’ grade.
CILO4	Strong evidence of original thinking in debating controversies in risk management doctrines; display excellent organization and capacity in analyzing and synthesizing; superior grasp of subject matter with evidence of extensive knowledge base.	Good grasp of subject matter; sound critical capacity and analytical ability; evidence of good understanding of issues and familiarity with related literature.	Adequate grasp of subject matter; reasonable critical capacity and analytical ability; some understanding of issues.	Sufficient familiarity with the subject matter; able to discuss basic issues.Students who exhibit little evidence of familiarity with the subject matter ; and limited or irrelevant use of literature will be given ‘F’ grade.
CILO5	Strong evidence of critical thinking in evaluating the moral issues surrounding risk management in modern society; display excellent organization and capacity in analyzing and synthesizing cultural differences across national boundaries in the context of risk management; superior grasp of subject matter with evidence of extensive knowledge base.	Good grasp of subject matter; sound critical capacity and analytical ability; evidence of good understanding of issues and familiarity with related literature	Adequate grasp of subject matter; reasonable critical capacity and analytical ability; some understanding of issues.	Sufficient familiarity with the subject matter; able to discuss basic issues.Students who exhibit little evidence of familiarity with the subject matter ; and limited or irrelevant use of literature will be given ‘F’ grade.
CILO6	Demonstrates excellent ability in writing structured reports and making oral presentations, individually and in collaboration with team members; instil a high level of understanding and retention by the target audience.	Demonstrates sound ability in writing structured reports and making oral presentations, individually and in collaboration with team members; instil a high level of understanding and retention by most of the target audience most of the time.	Demonstrates adequate ability in writing structured reports and making oral presentations, individually and in collaboration with team members; instil an adequate level of understanding and retention by most of the target audience most of the time.	Demonstrates some ability in writing structured reports and making oral presentations, individually and in collaboration with team members; instil an adequate level of understanding and retention by at least some of the target audience some of the time.Students who exhibit little evidence of familiarity with the subject matter ; weakness in critical and analytic akills; and limited or irrelevant use of literature will be given ‘F’ grade.

Part III

Keyword Syllabus:

Social science theories of risk and concepts of risk management.
Risk management process – living with the unexpected and unknown.
Individual Risk
- Psychological and behavioral aspects of living with the unexpected and unknown in modern society;
- Living with the unexpected and unknown in everyday lives.
Society Risk
- Risk management in business;
- Living with the unexpected and unknown in high-stake terminal situations;
- Controversies of major risk management doctrines in modern society.
Global Risk
- Risk management in international and global affairs;
- Moral and cultural aspects of risk management decisions.
Living with the unexpected and unknown: an integration - how, then, shall we live?