Course Title: Economic Foundations of the Digital World
Part A: Course Overview
Course Title: Economic Foundations of the Digital World
Credit Points: 12.00
Course Coordinator: Darcy Allen
Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 99251578
Course Coordinator Email: Darcy.Allen@rmit.edu.au
Course Coordinator Location: City Campus
Course Coordinator Availability: Appointment by email
Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities
No Prerequisites
Course Description
This course examines how technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, augmented/virtual reality, quantum computing, satellite constellations, and advanced encryption are fundamentally reshaping economic mechanisms and market structures. You will use theoretical frameworks and case studies to evaluate how these technologies enable novel business models and challenge existing economic thinking. The course emphasises both the individual impact of each technology and their combined effects on markets, competition, and economic organisation.
Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development
.
On successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
CLO1: Explain how frontier technologies drive economic transformation and impact global market structures.
CLO2: Critically analyse how emerging technologies enable new business models, digital economies, and policy challenges.
CLO3: Apply economic frameworks to evaluate the impact of digital technologies on competition, innovation, and organizational strategy.
CLO4: Examine and evaluate historical and current trends in technological disruption and assess their implications for economic policymaking.
CLO5: Develop effective methods to communicate insights on the intersection of digital technology, economic structures, and business strategy.
Overview of Learning Activities
In this course, you will be encouraged to be an active learner. Your learning will be supported through various in-class and online activities comprising individual and group work. These may include participating in interactive class sessions such as group discussions, debates, and technology simulations; watching asynchronous multimedia resources like videos and podcasts; engaging in critical analysis of academic literature, industry reports, and policy documents; completing practical scenario-based exercises; regularly reflecting on your learning experiences through written reflections and peer feedback; and collaborating with peers on projects that simulate real-world digital economy challenges. These diverse activities aim to develop your technical proficiency, strategic thinking, and adaptability, preparing you for professional success in the rapidly evolving digital economy.
The delivery of this course is blended comprising of face-to-face and online learning.
Overview of Learning Resources
Various learning resources are available online through MyRMIT Studies\Canvas. The lecture notes and workshop notes are posted on Canvas.
Resources are also available online through RMIT Library databases and other facilities. Visit the RMIT library website for further details. Assistance is available online via our chat and email services, face to face at our campus libraries or via the telephone on (03) 9925 2020.
Additional resources and/or sources to assist your learning will be identified by your course coordinator and will be made available to you as required during the teaching period.
Overview of Assessment
The assessment tasks, their weighting and the course learning outcomes to which they are aligned are as follows:
Assessment Task 1: 30%
Linked CLOs: 1, 2, 3, 5
Assessment Task 2: 40%
Linked CLOs: 1, 2, 3, 5
Assessment Task 3: 30%
Linked CLOs: 3, 4, 5
Feedback will be provided throughout the semester in class and/or in online forums through individual and group feedback on practical exercises and individual consultation.