AMN401 Integrated Marketing Communication


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Unit Outline: Semester 1 2027, Gardens Point, Internal

Unit code:AMN401
Credit points:12
Equivalent:AMX401
Anti-requisite:CON421
Coordinators:Edwina Luck | e.luck@qut.edu.au
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.

Overview

This unit represents a new way of thinking about IMC. Driven by the idea that everything is digital, this unit enhances traditional concepts of integration and synergy with new touchpoints of communication and new tools of measurement to deliver and optimise the ultimate customer experience.

Learning Outcomes

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

  1. Integrate advanced IMC theories, principles, and practices to analyse and address communication challenges in contemporary business contexts. [KS 1.1, HO 2.1]
  2. Interpret and critically analyse customer and organisational data to evaluate integration quality and inform evidence-based IMC strategy. [KS 1.2, HO 2.2]
  3. Draw on relevant research to develop a customer persona and map its end-to-end journey across brand touchpoints for a specified client. KS 1.2, HO 2.2]
  4. Communicate professionally and translate complex IMC concepts into clear, concise, and visually engaging formats suitable for diverse stakeholders. [PC 3.1, 3.2]

Content

This unit consists of two modules.

Module 1: Understanding IMC, explores IMC through its definition, evolution and reinvention by digital. It also investigates the importance of integrating the message, strategy and even the whole organisation.

Module 2, Practicing IMC, applies this understanding to investigate the customer experience and how it might be optimized through IMC strategy.

QUT Business Capabilities (Postgraduate)

The content and assessment in this unit are aligned to a selection of the following set of QUT Business Capabilities, also known as Assurance of Learning Goals (AoLs). Developing these capabilities will assist you to meet the desired graduate outcomes set at QUT and equip you with the knowledge and skills to succeed in your chosen career.

Knowledge & Technical Skills (KS)
1.1 Demonstrate and apply advanced, integrated discipline and professional practice knowledge, including relevant research principles and methods, to address complex and evolving business challenges.
1.2 Leverage digital technologies, data-driven tools, technical and research skills to organise, interpret and extend discipline and professional practice knowledge to investigate digitally enhanced business environments.

Higher Order Thinking Skills (HO)
2.1 Critically investigate complex, real-world business problems by analysing, evaluating, and synthesising discipline and professional practice knowledge.
2.2 Exercise creativity and intellectual independence and make evidence-based decisions and judgements in planning, designing, and executing strategic responses to address real world business challenges.

Professional Communication (PC)
3.1 Use information and digital literacy skills to communicate effectively and professionally in written forms, using appropriate technologies and media for diverse purposes, audiences, and business contexts.
3.2 Use information and digital literacy skills to communicate effectively and professionally in oral forms, using appropriate technologies and media for diverse purposes, audiences, and business contexts. 

Teamwork & Self (TS)
4.1 Exercise self- reflection and accountability in applying knowledge and skills to support continuous learning, adaptability and effective professional growth.
4.2 Apply collaborative capabilities to work effectively in diverse teams and across complex, interdisciplinary business environments.

Social, Ethical & Global Understanding (SE)
5.1 Demonstrate ethical reasoning and apply legal and governance principles to critically evaluate and respond to complex business decisions and practices.
5.2 Apply socially responsible and sustainability-focused thinking to analyse business issues and reflect on the broader impact of organisations in national and global contexts.

 

Learning Approaches

As an integrated learning experience, you chose how you want to learn, the platforms you want to learn from and when you want to learn, according to your learning style and personal situation. To facilitate this, your student experience is built in three parts.

  • Learn involves by accessing the specially developed learning content to understand the key concepts (which comprise the topic area of the unit) and the main theories (which explain these concepts).
  • Apply your learning (key concepts and theories) and develop understanding through interactive workshops in-class and online.
  • Practice your learning and develop competence in the assessment tasks in your tutorials – in class or online.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester which may include:

  • Informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback in class, personal consultation
  • Formal: in writing, such as checklists (e.g. criteria sheets), written commentary
  • Direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation
  • Indirect: to the whole class

Assessment

Overview

This unit has two assessment items that contribute to the development of your business capabilities.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Integration Analysis

You will research and demonstrate understanding of the importance of integration and strategic consistency in marketing communication. Based on this premise, you will apply the Strategic Consistency Triangle to evaluate the integration and strategic consistency of our client's messages. This involves (1) an analysis of what our client says in paid and owned media (2) a Social Media Listening study to find out what is being said as earned messages (3) applying this to the Strategic Consistency Triangle (4) making some recommendations for IMC Strategy.

The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Formative or Summative: Formative and Summative

Business Capabilities (AoL goals): KS (1.1, 1.2), HO (2.1, 2.2), PC (3.1)

Weight: 50
Length: 2,500 words
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 6
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2, 4

Assessment: IMC Strategy Presentation

You will investigate a target customer experience using research evidence, personas, and customer journey mapping. Based on your analysis, you will design an integrated marketing communications (IMC) strategy and develop supporting tactical recommendations. You will present and justify your strategy in a professional client-style presentation, demonstrating how your research insights inform channel choices, messaging, and tactical priorities. You will be expected to defend your recommendations and respond to questions regarding your analytical approach and strategic decisions.

The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

This assessment item is Verified Identity Assessment. Requirements are provided on the Unit Canvas site.

Formative or Summative: Formative and Summative

Business Capabilities (AoL goals): KS (1.1, 1.2), HO (2.1, 2.2), PC (3.1, 3.2)

Weight: 50
Length: 5 min plus Q&A
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 13
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 4

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.

The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Resource Materials

Recommended text(s)

Belch, Belch, Kerr, Powell and Waller (2020). Advertising: An Integrated Marketing Communication Perspective (4th ed.). McGraw-Hill Australia Pty Ltd

Risk Assessment Statement

There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with learning and teaching activities in this unit. 

Standards/Competencies

This unit is designed to support your development of the following standards\competencies.

QUT Business Capabilities (Postgraduate)

HO (2.1): Critical Analysis

Relates to: ULO1, Integration Analysis, IMC Strategy Presentation

HO (2.2): Independent Judgement and Decision-Making

Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Integration Analysis, IMC Strategy Presentation

KS (1.1): Discipline and Professional Practice Knowledge

Relates to: ULO1, Integration Analysis, IMC Strategy Presentation

KS (1.2): Technical, Technological and Research Skills

Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Integration Analysis, IMC Strategy Presentation

PC (3.1): Professional Communication (Written)

Relates to: ULO4, Integration Analysis, IMC Strategy Presentation

QUT Business Capabilities (Postgraduate) 2027

HO (2.1): Critical Analysis

Relates to: ULO1, Integration Analysis, IMC Strategy Presentation

HO (2.2): Independent Judgement and Decision-Making

Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Integration Analysis, IMC Strategy Presentation

KS (1.1): Discipline Knowledge

Relates to: ULO1, Integration Analysis, IMC Strategy Presentation

KS (1.2): Technical and Technological Skills

Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Integration Analysis, IMC Strategy Presentation

PC (3.1): Professional Communication (Written)

Relates to: ULO4, Integration Analysis, IMC Strategy Presentation

PC (3.2): Professional Communication (Oral)

Relates to: ULO4, IMC Strategy Presentation

Course Learning Outcomes

This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.

BS11 Master of Business

  1. Demonstrate and apply integrated and advanced discipline and professional practice knowledge, including knowledge of relevant research principles and methods.
    Relates to: ULO1, Integration Analysis, IMC Strategy Presentation
  2. Apply technical, technological and technical research skills to organise and interpret discipline knowledge, including theory and practice, to investigate business issues.
    Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Integration Analysis, IMC Strategy Presentation
  3. Critically investigate real world business issues and problems drawing on analysis, evaluation and synthesis of discipline knowledge, including theory and practice.
    Relates to: ULO1, Integration Analysis, IMC Strategy Presentation
  4. Exercise creativity and intellectual independence and make informed decisions and judgements in planning, designing, and executing strategic and research-based responses to address real world issues and problems.
    Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Integration Analysis, IMC Strategy Presentation
  5. Use information literacy skills and communicate effectively and professionally in written forms and using media appropriate for diverse purposes, contexts and audiences.
    Relates to: ULO4, Integration Analysis, IMC Strategy Presentation

BS12 Master of Business

  1. Demonstrate and apply advanced, integrated discipline and professional practice knowledge, including relevant research principles and methods, to address complex and evolving business challenges.
    Relates to: ULO1, Integration Analysis, IMC Strategy Presentation
  2. Leverage digital technologies, data-driven tools, technical and research skills to organise, interpret and extend discipline and professional practice knowledge in digitally enhanced business environments.
    Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Integration Analysis, IMC Strategy Presentation
  3. Critically investigate complex, real-world business problems by analysing, evaluating, and synthesising discipline and professional practice knowledge.
    Relates to: ULO1, Integration Analysis, IMC Strategy Presentation
  4. Exercise creativity and intellectual independence and make evidence-based decisions and judgements in planning, designing, and executing strategic responses to address real world business challenges.
    Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Integration Analysis, IMC Strategy Presentation
  5. Use information and digital literacy skills to communicate effectively and professionally in written forms, using appropriate technologies and media for diverse purposes, audiences, and business contexts
    Relates to: ULO4, Integration Analysis, IMC Strategy Presentation
  6. Use information and digital literacy skills to communicate effectively and professionally in oral forms, using appropriate technologies and media for diverse purposes, audiences, and business contexts.
    Relates to: ULO4, IMC Strategy Presentation

BS39 Graduate Certificate in Business

  1. Demonstrate and apply integrated and advanced discipline knowledge, including knowledge of relevant research principles and methods.
    Relates to: Integration Analysis, IMC Strategy Presentation
  2. Apply technical, technological or technical research skills to organise and interpret discipline knowledge, including theory and practice, to investigate business issues.
    Relates to: Integration Analysis, IMC Strategy Presentation
  3. Critically investigate real world business issues and problems drawing on analysis, evaluation and synthesis of discipline knowledge, including theory and practice.
    Relates to: Integration Analysis, IMC Strategy Presentation
  4. Exercise creativity and intellectual independence and make informed decisions and judgements in planning research-based responses to address real world issues and problems.
    Relates to: Integration Analysis, IMC Strategy Presentation
  5. Use information literacy skills and communicate effectively in written forms and using appropriate media for diverse audiences.
    Relates to: Integration Analysis, IMC Strategy Presentation

BS68 Graduate Diploma in Business

  1. Apply advanced interdisciplinary knowledge, including relevant research principles and methods to understand and respond to professional challenges.
    Relates to: ULO1, Integration Analysis, IMC Strategy Presentation
  2. Apply technical, digital, and research skills to organise, interpret, and evaluate discipline knowledge and practice to investigate business issues in digitally enhanced environments.
    Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Integration Analysis, IMC Strategy Presentation
  3. Critically investigate real-world business issues and challenges using analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of interdisciplinary knowledge, including theory and practice.
    Relates to: ULO1, Integration Analysis, IMC Strategy Presentation
  4. Exercise innovative thinking and intellectual independence to make informed decisions and judgements in planning evidence-based responses to complex and evolving business contexts.
    Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Integration Analysis, IMC Strategy Presentation
  5. Use information literacy skills to communicate effectively in written forms and through appropriate digital media, tailored to diverse professional and organisational audiences.
    Relates to: ULO4, Integration Analysis, IMC Strategy Presentation