Course Title: Knowledge Network Team Project

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Knowledge Network Team Project

Credit Points: 24

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
COMM2241	City Campus	Postgraduate	345H Media and Communication	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2006

Course Coordinator: Dr Fiona Peterson

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 9782

Course Coordinator Email:fiona.peterson@rmit.edu.au

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

All first year courses or equivalent

Course Description

The focus of this course is on managing knowledge and relationships in global networks. Strategic communication is also linked to outcomes of new knowledge, new practice, innovation and competitiveness in a network.

The following themes are developed:

· collaborative models
· establishing and managing global knowledge networks
· the ‘network advantage’
· knowledge and relationship management, and innovation
· regional commercial cultures and cross-cultural communication
· story-telling and social capital within organisations and networks
· international brokering for collaborative projects
· virtual project teams within and between organisations
· commercial, competitive intelligence and strategic communication
· emerging technologies and implications for knowledge networks and communication strategies

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

On successful completion of this course you will be able to:

· examine the context for knowledge sharing and collaboration in the global business society
· analyse a range of collaborative models that may be relevant to a specific global knowledge network
· propose and adopt methodology for commercial, competitive intelligence
· research and evaluate communication technology infrastructure, communication channels and networking opportunities in the distributed organisation or network
· research, propose and evaluate approaches and strategy for building intellectual and social capital within networked organisations; and for creating the ‘network advantage’
· analyse and apply the elements of a successful e-communication strategy, linking corporate vision and objectives to the strategy
· design, develop, present and justify a knowledge network e-communication strategy within a collaborative research report and international virtual presentation
· evaluate how the project may advance extant practices for collaboration, knowledge management and relationship management within knowledge networks

On successful completion of this course you will develop capabilities; for example:

· ability to synthesise how and why global networks are established and managed within and between organisations
· ability to research and synthesise industry trends and innovative applications in multimedia and internet management relevant to global knowledge networks
· ability to research the core business and background of the distributed organisation or network in relation to competitors
· professional practice skills to develop a communication strategy for positioning the organisation to influence; or win, maintain and build business in a competitive global market
· reflective practice skills to evaluate e-communication strategy and international virtual project performance

Overview of Learning Activities

Underpinning theories, existing models and new paradigms will be explored. You will be expected to exercise the processes of independent analytical and critical thinking for assimilating concepts.

All courses in this program include individual research assignments and collaborative projects in virtual teams, reflecting skills and experience needed in the global workforce. The collaborative project in this course will focus on knowledge networks and e-communication strategy. A virtual project is scoped and implemented with an industry mentor and an academic mentor, culminating in a collaborative research report and international virtual presentation.

Collaborative communication tools will be used to facilitate project work through the Distributed Learning System (DLS), in addition to face-to-face seminar style sessions and workshops. Online and print resources may be used to support instruction and prompt activities such as online discussion. Internet research is a major part of the learning experience.

Overview of Learning Resources

A detailed learning map and guides are in the course area of the DLS. Themes of interest include networks and alliances; global business relationships; international collaboration; strategic planning; and applied research methods.

Overview of Assessment

1. Individual research paper, 2000 words – networks, collaboration and global commercial cultures (20% individual grade)

2. Collaborative project, 2000 words for proposal; with 30-45 minute interim virtual presentation to international mentor; and teamwork/project development (35% shared grade)

3. Collaborative project, 3000 words for individual research paper (25% individual grade); and 1500 words for individual reflective paper (20% individual grade)

Due dates are listed in the learning map in the course area of the DLS.