Course Title: The Business and Economic Environment

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: The Business and Economic Environment

Credit Points: 12

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
COMM1174	City Campus	Undergraduate	335H Applied Communication	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2006, Sem 1 2007, Sem 1 2008

Course Coordinator: Grant Roff

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 3129

Course Coordinator Email:grant.roff@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 6.2.24

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None

Course Description

This course introduces concepts of economic structures and business practices to students with an arts/communications agenda. It contextualizes communications practice inside the dominant global economic model of capitalism. It examines the relationships between economic power,cultural hegemony, globalisation and the narratives that accompany them. Topic areas include historical developments of economic models, contemporary business practices (how the stock market works, business structures, industry sectors including the finance sector); the role of government; the role of communication and its applications; globalisation and the implications of the commercialization of mass media. Theories and modes of international business practice are examined through selected contemporary case studies.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

The course aims to provide an understanding of contemporary business practice, its relationship with the economic models which drive globalisation and the role of communications and communicators. At the conclusion of this course, participants should be able:
To identify the economic fundamentals underpinning the contemporary business environment;
To understand the structure and inter-relationship of business, the economy, industry sectors, the public sector, the private sector,business reporting requirements, business regulation and business-related financial issues;
To reflect in an informed manner on globalisation and its implications;
To understand the relationships which exist in a global economy between business, governments, special interest groups, non-government organisations (NGOs) and the stock market;
To identify aspects of a developing role for communication practitioners in the process of globalisation.

Overview of Learning Activities

Lectures will introduce participants to the key issues of the course. These will be delivered by both the course coordinator and selected guest lecturers. The lecture period will also feature video presentations.Tutorials offer an occasion for detailed examination of the course material and relevant readings, and participants will have the opportunity to lead discussion.

Overview of Learning Resources

Readings will be available so participants will be able to prepare for lectures and tutorials. Where possible, "further readings" have been restricted to what’s available in RMIT’s city campus library, although students are recommended to obtain a CAVAL card which allows borrowing rights from other university libraries. Resourses will also be available on the course blackboard.

Overview of Assessment

Participants will demonstrate their learning through leading a tutorial, the writing of an essay, the completion of a research exercise and by sitting a test. All assessment requirements must be completed to attain a grade for the course.