Overview

This unit aims to instil an appreciation of how technology can be used to help businesses gain competitive advantage. To that end, students will learn to apply various tools including competitive intelligence tools and business process management. Students will also develop a strong foundation in technology, as information is critical in the Digital Economy. This foundation will be useful in assisting them in developing appropriate technology guidelines and propose possible technological solutions to help improve business bottom line and market share.

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Pathways Teaching 3
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
21-October-2024
31-January-2025
Last self-enrolment date
03-November-2024
Census date
15-November-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
13-December-2024
Results released date
11-February-2025
Pathways Teaching 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
24-February-2025
30-May-2025
Last self-enrolment date
09-March-2025
Census date
21-March-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
02-May-2025
Results released date
10-June-2025
Pathways Teaching 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
23-June-2025
26-September-2025
Last self-enrolment date
06-July-2025
Census date
18-July-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
15-August-2025
Results released date
07-October-2025
Pathways Teaching 3
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
20-October-2025
30-January-2026
Last self-enrolment date
02-November-2025
Census date
14-November-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
12-December-2025
Results released date
10-February-2026

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Select and justify techniques to improve processes and support business strategic goals and increase competitive advantage
  • Use appropriate software tools to analyse data and generate relevant information to support effective business decision making
  • Identify and describe ethical, cultural and security concerns associated with the use of technology within organisations
  • Develop guidelines to improve business operations whilst minimising security threats and supporting sustainability
  • Plan, research and assess new technology and communicate findings to a relevant audience

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Face to Face Contact
(Lecture)		 2  12 weeks  24
Face to Face Contact
(Laboratory)		 3 12 weeks  36
Unspecified Learning Activities
(Independent Learning)		 7.5 12 weeks  90
TOTAL     150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULOs
Case Studies Individual  25 - 35%  1,3,4 
Oral Presentation Group  25 - 35%  3,4,5 
Report Individual  20 - 40%  1,2,5 
Test Individual  10 - 20%  1,2 

Content

  • Organisations in the digital economy
  • Information systems: their evolution to current role and purpose in business & society
  • Data and information management in the digital economy; ethical, cultural and security issues
  • Business processes: evolution and support of information systems
  • E-commerce networks and commercial internet applications
  • Information systems to support business transactions & processes; supply chain management, customer relationship management; enterprise systems
  • Information systems to support managerial decision making, business intelligence, business analytics, and knowledge management

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.