Course Title: Business Information
Part A: Course Overview
Course Title: Business Information
Credit Points: 12
Course Code |
Campus |
Career |
School |
Learning Mode |
Teaching Period(s) |
LIBR1023 |
City Campus |
Postgraduate |
620H Business Info Technology |
Face-to-Face |
|
LIBR1093 |
City Campus |
Undergraduate |
620H Business Info Technology |
Face-to-Face |
Course Coordinator: Kerrie Carstensen
Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3
Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities
Nil
Course Description
This course will enable students to develop their understanding of business and statistical information, key resources in the field and how these can assist in meeting the decision making requirements of an organisation.
Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development
This course focuses on business and statistical information and the identification, evaluation and use of business information resources to support business decision making. It builds on the relevant pre-requisite courses, developing the students' understanding and skills in the areas of the nature of business information, resource identification, information analysis and evaluation as well as strategic business reporting. This course aims to develop an understanding of:
* the nature of Australian and international business and statistical information sources, in print and electronic form
* the identification of information relevant to business decision making
* appropriate research and reporting techniques
* the assessment and evaluation of business and statistical information sources
Capabilities
At the conclusion of this course, students will be able to:
* Understand the nature of publishing, both print and electronic, in the field of business and statistical information
* Advise on the use and relevance of key business and statistical information sources
* Systematically gather and present relevant information after researching, assessing and evaluating the best business and statistical information sources for a particular business need
* Prepare a business report to communicate strategic business information
* Make a presentation to a target group on strategic business topics
* Make effective spontaneous and planned presentations to groups
Overview of Learning Activities
Through seminars, guided reading, practical exercises, presentations to peers and exposure to a broad range of key business and statistical resources the students will develop research, analytical, evaluative and practical problem-solving skills. Students will also develop an awareness of appropriate communication methods for the outcomes of their business research. As well they will develop an appreciation of the nature and demands of working with business information in the business environment and the issues relating to the provision of fee based information services.
A combination of lectures, workshops, practical exercises, guest lectures, student presentations, written reports and cooperative learning activities will be utilised. Classes will be held at State Library of Victoria, 328 Swanston Street, Melbourne and the RMIT campus. Session locations will be indicated at the first class.
Overview of Learning Resources
Appropriate readings and learning resources will be advised during the semester
Overview of Assessment
Assessment will consist of three pieces of work plus ongoing evaluation of seminar participation.
* Analytical report on a prescribed topic (15% - Presentations in Weeks 5 and 6)
Students are required to prepare a synthesis of a key management topic using appropriate articles and present to class the outcomes in verbal and written format.
* Statistics Resource Guide (25% - Written report due Week 9)
The creation of this guide will develop skills in locating appropriate resources, evaluation, description and reporting of these resources on a specified subject.
* Industry Study (40% Due Week 14)
This assessment builds on the knowledge and skills acquired in previous pieces of assessment and will include a detailed analysis of the structure, output, market position, major players, legislation, major resources, statistics etc covering a given industry. Assessment will consist of: 1) a preliminary presentation to colleagues in weeks 11 and 12 worth 10% and 2) a final written report due in Week 14 incorporating feedback from the presentations worth 30%.
* Seminar Input (20% Ongoing)
Students will be assessed on their approach to information seeking, their evaluative capacity when dealing with resources and their presentation skills during seminars.
More detailed descriptions of assessment tasks will be distributed and discussed in class.