Contemporary Commerce and Digital Technology

Unit Description

To prepare students with a working understanding of the technological world of contemporary commerce, this unit begins by considering the broad scope of the digital landscape. It develops this consideration by looking at the history, architecture and social impact of the internet and digital technology, grounding this is a consideration of the way technological tools and applications shape a digital life. The unit then considers the future life of the internet and digital technology and the impact it may have on interaction and business.

Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO)

On successful completion of this unit students will be able to:

a. Describe how the rapid development of internet based technologies has shaped the digital economy and contemporary business practices.

b. Explain the technology roadmap that underpins the digital economy and apply technology adoption theories.

c. Analyse emerging technologies and their implications for business and financial transaction processes in the future.

Assessment 1: Analysis 

Provide potential solutions for the following challenge that IT companies are facing nowadays:

Information Technology (IT) companies in 21^st century are more agile, quicker to react, and more effective. They want to deliver great customer experiences, take advantage of new technologies to cut costs, improve quality and transparency, and build value. The problem is that while most companies are trying to get better, the results tend to fall short: one-off initiatives in separate units that don’t have a big enterprise-wide impact; adoption of the improvement method of the day, which almost invariably yields disappointing results; and programs that provide temporary gains but aren’t sustainable.

Assessment 2: Essay

Students will be required to present a written gap analysis for any chosen Information Technology (IT) company.  In a gap analysis, the gap is described simply as “the space between where we are, and where we want to be.” To write this assessment, you must consider the present situation of your chosen IT Company. Important current factors such as attributes, performance, and employee competencies play into the overall productiveness of a business. Refer to the marking rubric for detail. All assignments with the standard assignment cover sheet must be submitted through MyCIHE in MS Word format. Email/hard copy submission will not be accepted.

Assessment 3: Presentation and summary

A 5-minute presentation to the Assessment 2 proposing the ways in which business might be conducted in the future. Each student will be required to prepare and submit a 1000-word presentation summary. When writing the summary, consider how the topic/ideas you analysed and discussed in the presentation reflected the relevant contents/topics /readings. Refer to the marking rubric for detail.

Assessment 1, involves applying knowledge of the digital economy to researching and reporting on the professional impacts of technology. It, therefore, requires the description of the rapid development of the internet and its impacts on business, an explanation of the technology roadmap and an analysis of emerging technologies, ensuring of ULOs a. b. & c.

Assessment 2 As this assessment requires students to respond to an argument that considers the impacts of technology on business using both the theoretical and conceptual content taught in the unit and their own critical and personal reflections, it ensures the conceptual work and control of knowledge and the demonstration of analytical skills which underpin ULOs b. c. and e.

Assessment 3, provides students an opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of and capacity to apply the knowledge taught in the unit through analysis, interpretation and logical explanation. In requiring the application of knowledge about the impact of digtalisation on business, specifically the technology roadmaps reshaping of business processes, it ensures ULOs a. b. & c. This assessment also embeds CLO 5 - Communicate and negotiate clearly to achieve interpersonal and commercial outcomes and GA5 - Engage with others proactively and collaboratively for continued personal and professional development, into the processes of classroom interaction and assessment.

Course learning outcomes

On completion of the course the student should be able to:

CLO 1 Apply knowledge of the concepts and theories of entrepreneurship and innovation.

CLO 4 Apply knowledge of industrial, commercial and financial principles to inform and drive successful entrepreneurial activities.