Course Title: Engage in the business of creative practice

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2017

Course Code: BUSM8795C

Course Title: Engage in the business of creative practice

School: 345T Media and Communication

Campus: City Campus

Program: C6151 - Advanced Diploma of Screen and Media

Course Contact: Program Administration

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4815

Course Contact Email: mcvet@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Maya Toone

maya.toone@rmit.edu.au

 

Nominal Hours: 70

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

In this course you will cover skills and knowledge required to approach the business aspects of working as a creative practitioner in a professional manner.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CUAPPR603 Engage in the business of creative practice

Element:

1. Develop and apply professional work practices

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Develop a professional work ethic to support creative practice

1.2 Collaborate and communicate with other professionals about the business aspects of creative practice

1.3 Determine the skills and knowledge needed to operate as a successful creative practitioner

1.4 Evaluate own current skills and knowledge and the need for related professional development

1.5 Assess potential for using specialist expertise to complement own skills and knowledge

Element:

2. Evaluate different business practices

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Investigate different ways that creative practitioners do business

2.2 Investigate range of business practices, systems and procedures that need to be considered as part of professional creative practice

2.3 Assess relevance and implications of particular business structures

2.4 Identify physical resources required by own creative practice and how they might be accessed

2.5 Develop an overall approach to the business aspects of own practice based on evaluation of relevant information

2.6 Evaluate all aspects of own practice on an ongoing basis, as a key component of business and personal growth

Element:

3. Address financial aspects of creative practice

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Investigate financial considerations for creative practice

3.2 Research and assess different ways of commercialising work and ideas

3.3 Evaluate different ways of costing and selling creative work

3.4 Assess broader financial management requirements and their application to own practice

3.5 Develop and apply individual approaches to financial management of practice

Element:

4. Analyse the rights and obligations of creative practitioners

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Evaluate legal and moral rights and obligations of professional creative practice

4.2 Practise work and business in ways that meet legal and moral obligations

4.3 Pursue own rights as a creative practitioner consistent with own professional and ethical standards

4.4 Establish and maintain sound approaches to safety and sustainability in professional practice

Element:

5. Evaluate professional opportunities

Performance Criteria:

5.1 Evaluate work opportunities within and beyond the creative sectors

5.2 Identify and pursue potential work opportunities beyond established patterns of work

5.3 Identify and access sources of professional advice

5.4 Evaluate local and global opportunities for own practice

5.5 Identify and evaluate opportunities offered by current and emerging trends in the consumption of culture and creative products

5.6 Analyse the experiences of others as a way of discovering different opportunities


Learning Outcomes


On successful completion of this competency, you will have developed and applied skills and knowledge required to approach the business aspects of working as a creative practitioner in a professional manner.


Details of Learning Activities

In class learning activities include, but are not limited to:
lectures
group discussion
teacher directed group activities/projects
workshops

Out of class activities include, but are not limited to:
online research
independent project based work


Teaching Schedule

 

 

Date

 

Class Content

Due

Elements

Elements

 

Week 1

Business basics

 

  • Welcome/housekeeping
  • Intro to Blackboard
  • How to decide on a business idea
  • Registering for an ABN, business and domain name
  • Different business models explained

Activity: Brainstorm and discuss business ideas and set business goals.


*Assessment 1 assigned

 

1,2

 

Week 2

Networking

 

  • How to collaborate with other creative professionals
  • Networking opportunities (events and organisations)
  • Research techniques

 

Activity: Identify 3 creative professionals to interview and key questions to ask.

 

 

1, 2

 

Week 3

Business Resources

 

  • What do I need to operate my business? (equipment, documentation, systems)
  • Where will I operate my business?
  • How will I operate my business?
  • Resources and organisations to assist startups
  • Activity: Create a spreadsheet of resources required to operate creative business
 

2

Week 4

Assessing your own skills and knowledge

  • What skills and knowledge do I need to be successful?
  • What skills and knowledge do I currently have?
  • Professional development opportunities

 

Activity: skills comparison

 

1

 

Week 5

Legal and moral rights and obligations of creative practice

  • Legal and moral rights and obligations of creative practice
  • Ethics

 

Activity: Sample code of ethics


*Assessment 2 assigned

Assessment 1 DUE

 

4

 

Week 6

Safety and sustainable business practice

 

  • What is WHS?
  • Legal safety obligations
  • How to work safely
  • Sustainable work practices
  • How to write a WHS policy
  • Activity: draft a WHS policy, working from a sample provided by teacher

 

4

Week 7

Costing your products and services

 

  • What is your product and/or service?
  • Costing structures
  • What am I worth?

 

  • Activity: case study

*Assessment 3 assigned

Assessment 2 DUE

3

 

Week 8

Business financials


 

  • What does it cost to start my business?
  • Where can I get the money to fund my business?
  • Crowdfunding, grants and loans

Activity: Group activity - analyse and discuss successful crowdfunding projects

Video: Capital C.

 

3

Week 9

Finding business opportunities


 

  • Evaluate work opportunities within creative field
  • Evaluate work opportunities outside creative field
  • Identify opportunities provided by both current and emerging trends
  • How to write an elevator pitch

 

Activity: case studies / write your elevator pitch

 

 

5

 

Week 10

Marketing strategies

 

  • How to market your business?
  • Traditional marketing ideas
  • Using social media
  • Using your networks and industry contacts
  • Activity: Analyse a sample marketing strategy.

 

5

 
  • BREAK
   

 

Week 11

What makes a successful creative business?

  • Evaluating a range of creative business practices and case studies (those that flopped and those that were successful)

 

 

5

 Week 12

Final assessment 

Work on final assessment

One on one coaching with teacher. 

 

 

 Week 13

Final assessment

Work on final assessment

One on one coaching with teacher.

 

 

 Week 14

Final assessment

Work on final assessment

One on one coaching with teacher.

 

 

Week 15

Final assessment

Work on final assessment

One on one coaching with teacher.

Assessment 3 DUE

 

 




Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources


Overview of Assessment

Assessment for this course is ongoing throughout the semester. Your knowledge of course content is assessed through participation in practical exercises, knowledge assessment tasks and practical projects.


Assessment Tasks

To demonstrate competency in this course you will need to complete the following assessment to a satisfactory standard.
You will receive feedback on all assessment and once you have demonstrated competency, you will receive a grade (refer to MyRMIT for grading rubric).
 

Assessment Tasks

This is the first of three assignments that together will create a business plan for the student’s chosen creative practice. This section of the business plan will focus on evaluating, developing and applying professional work practices.
Due week 5

2 This is the second of three assignments that together will create a business plan for the student’s chosen creative practice. This section of the business plan will focus on legal rights and obligations of professional creative practice.
Due week 7 

3 This is the third of three assignments that together will create a business plan for the student’s chosen creative practice. This section of the business plan will focus on financial aspects and business opportunities of professional creative practice.
Due week 15

 

For further information on the grading system and criteria used, please refer to the course blackboard site.
Grades which apply to courses delivered in accordance with competency-based assessment, but which also use graded assessment:

CHD - Competent with High Distinction
CDI - Competent with Distinction
CC - Competent with Credit
CAG - Competency Achieved - Graded
NYC - Not Yet Competent
DNS - Did Not Submit for Assessment


Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant unit of competency. The assessment matrix for this course can be found on Blackboard or from your teacher.

Other Information

Please refer to the RMIT student page for extensive information about study support, assessment, extensions, appeals and a range of other matters: http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students

Cover Sheet for Submissions:

You must complete and sign a submission cover sheet for every piece of submitted work, including online submissions.

http://mams.rmit.edu.au/s1llva641yxuz.pdf

Attendance:

Your learning experience will involve class-based teaching, discussion, demonstration and practical exercises

It is strongly advised that you attend all timetabled sessions. This will allow you to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring you the maximum opportunity to complete this course successfully.

Assessment Feedback:

You will receive spoken and written feedback on all your work.  Where relevant, this feedback will also include suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your projects.

http://www1.rmit.edu.au/policies/assessment-policy

Student Progress:

Monitoring academic progress is an important enabling and proactive strategy designed to assist you in achieving your learning potential.

http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/acadprogress

Adjustments to Assessment (eg. applying for an extension of time):

If you are unable to complete any piece of assessment satisfactorily by the due date, you can choose to apply for an adjustment to your assessment. RMIT University offers a range of adjustments designed to support you in your studies, including an extension of time to complete the assessment.

http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/assessment/adjustment

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism:

RMIT University has a strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy.

http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/academic-integrity

Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning:

Credit transfer is the recognition of previously completed formal learning (an officially accredited qualification).

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is an assessment process that allows you to demonstrate competence using the skills you have gained through experience in the workplace, voluntary work, informal or formal training or other life experiences.

Recognition of Current Competency (RCC) RCC applies only if you have previously successfully demonstrated competence in a unit of competency, and now require to be reassessed to ensure that the competence is being maintained.

Please speak to your teacher if you wish to discuss applying for Credit Transfer, RPL, or RCC for the unit(s) of competency addressed in this course.

http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/enrolment/credit

 

Course Overview: Access Course Overview