AMB330 Digital Optimisation


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Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Gardens Point, Internal

Unit code:AMB330
Credit points:12
Pre-requisite:144 credit points of completed studies.
Equivalent:AMX330
Coordinator:Robert Mitchell | r20.mitchell@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

Digital has changed the way we think, communicate and purchase as consumers. The digital environment permeates our decision making as advertising and marketing communication professionals. Hence, an understanding of how to optimise an organisation's digital offerings and how to measure its performance is a critical vocational skill. In this unit, students work with a real world client to integrate digital tools into customer journey mapping. These tools include search engine optimisation (SEO), Google Ads, organic social and paid social. 

Learning Outcomes

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

  1. Use theory to understand and critically evaluate the digital environment. [HO 2.1]
  2. Apply research and interpretation skills to formulate consumer insights, plan the digital campaign and measure its outcomes. [HO 2.2]
  3. Develop and demonstrate a set of digital skills by applying them to real-world briefs. [KS 1.2]
  4. Develop professional, logical, and informative content free from technical errors. [PC 3.1]
  5. Provide evidence-based, insightful, and ethical recommendations to resolve identified issues. [SE 5.2]

Content

This unit unfolds across several modules. In the first module, the digital environment is explored through the modern customer decision journey featuring the shift from the mass-communication, mass-media paradigm to the consumer-controlled push-pull model. Subsequent modules involve undertaking a digital audit, touchpoint mapping, search engine optimisation, Google Ads, organic social and paid social. Every module is accompanied by both theory and industry sources and hands-on exercises to develop digital skills.


QUT Business Capabilities (Undergraduate)

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 and Technological Skills (KS)
1.1 Demonstrate and apply integrated discipline (including technical) knowledge across the broad field of business with depth in one or more core business disciplines.
1.2 Apply technical and technological skills appropriate and effective for real world business purposes and contexts.

Higher Order Thinking (HO)
2.1 Investigate real world business issues and situations through the effective analysis, evaluation and synthesis of theory and practice.
2.2 Exercise independent judgment and initiative in adapting and applying knowledge and skills for effective planning, problem solving and decision making in diverse contexts.

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

Teamwork and Self (TS)
4.1 Exercise self-reflection, responsibility and accountability in relation to own learning and professional practice.
4.2 Apply teamwork knowledge and skills for effective collaboration across diverse purposes and contexts.

Social, Ethical and Global Understanding (SE)
5.1 Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices in analysing and responding to business issues.
5.2 Demonstrate and apply knowledge of socially responsible behaviour in analysing and addressing business issues in national and international business contexts.

Learning Approaches

A multi-disciplinary teaching team leads this unit, which incorporates an experiential learning approach implemented through practitioner-led skills development and client-based projects, culminating in a digital portfolio. Important critical thinking and problem-solving skills are nurtured and theory is introduced to explore innovation in this critical digital platform. Hence, the online environment is not only incorporated into content, but digital skills are required and demonstrated through the assessment regime.

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

Students may be required to attend campus or an assessment centre for the purposes of assessment, regardless of the attendance mode for the unit.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Digital Audit

In response to the client brief presented in W1 lecture, you are to research and prepare a Digital Audit. You are to analyse the client’s digital offerings by evaluating its digital strategies (i.e., the extent to which it has effectively utilised its digital offerings), create a customer persona, develop a consumer insight, conduct a product and competitor overview and provide recommendations as to how the client's website can be improved using on-page and off-page search engine optimisation (SEO). 

Formative or Summative: Formative and Summative

Business Capabilities (AoL goals): KS (1.2), HO (2.1), PC (3.1), SE (5.2)

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

Weight: 40
Length: 2000 words
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 6
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 3, 4, 5

Assessment: Digital Optimisation Strategy

Building on your findings from Assessment #1, you are to develop a Digital Optimisation Strategy for the client. The strategy consists of two parts: a Google Ads strategy and a social media strategy that consists of both paid and organic social.

Formative or Summative: Summative

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

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

Weight: 60
Length: 3000 words
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 13
Related Unit learning outcomes: 2, 3, 4

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

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.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Resource Materials

Prescribed text(s)

There is no required textbook for this unit. Readings will be recommended and/or supplied.

Risk Assessment Statement

There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with lectures or tutorials in this unit. You should, however, familiarise yourself with evacuation procedures operating in the buildings in which you attend classes and take the time to
view the Emergency video.

Standards/Competencies

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

QUT Business Capabilities (Undergraduate)

HO (2.1): Critical Analysis

Relates to: ULO1, Digital Audit

HO (2.2): Independent Judgement and Decision-Making

Relates to: ULO2, Digital Optimisation Strategy

KS (1.2): Technical and Technological Skills

Relates to: ULO3, Digital Audit, Digital Optimisation Strategy

PC (3.1): Professional Communication (Written)

Relates to: ULO4, Digital Audit, Digital Optimisation Strategy

SE (5.2): Global Social Responsibility

Relates to: ULO5, Digital Audit

Course Learning Outcomes

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

BS05 Bachelor of Business

  1. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of socially responsible behaviour in analysing and addressing business issues in national and international business contexts.
    Relates to: ULO5, Digital Audit
  2. Apply technical and technological skills appropriate and effective for real world business purposes and contexts.
    Relates to: ULO3, Digital Audit, Digital Optimisation Strategy
  3. Investigate real world business issues and situations through the effective analysis, evaluation and synthesis of theory and practice.
    Relates to: ULO1, Digital Audit
  4. Exercise independent judgement and initiative in adapting and applying knowledge and skills for effective planning, problem solving and decision making in diverse contexts.
    Relates to: ULO2, Digital Optimisation Strategy
  5. Use information literacy skills, and communicate effectively and professionally in written forms and using media appropriate for diverse purposes and contexts.
    Relates to: ULO4, Digital Audit, Digital Optimisation Strategy

BS06 Bachelor of Business

  1. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of socially responsible behaviour in analysing and addressing business issues in national and international business contexts.
    Relates to: ULO5, Digital Audit
  2. Apply technical and technological skills appropriate and effective for real world business purposes and contexts.
    Relates to: ULO3, Digital Audit, Digital Optimisation Strategy
  3. Investigate real world business issues and situations through the effective analysis, evaluation and synthesis of theory and practice.
    Relates to: ULO1, Digital Audit
  4. Exercise independent judgement and initiative in adapting and applying knowledge and skills for effective planning, problem solving and decision making in diverse contexts.
    Relates to: ULO2, Digital Optimisation Strategy
  5. Use information literacy skills, and communicate effectively and professionally in written forms and using media appropriate for diverse purposes and contexts.
    Relates to: ULO4, Digital Audit, Digital Optimisation Strategy

BS08 Bachelor of Business - International

  1. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of socially responsible behaviour in analysing and addressing business issues in national and international business contexts.
    Relates to: ULO5, Digital Audit
  2. Apply technical and technological skills appropriate and effective for real world business purposes and contexts.
    Relates to: ULO3, Digital Audit, Digital Optimisation Strategy
  3. Investigate real world business issues and situations through the effective analysis, evaluation and synthesis of theory and practice.
    Relates to: ULO1, Digital Audit
  4. Exercise independent judgement and initiative in adapting and applying knowledge and skills for effective planning, problem solving and decision making in diverse contexts.
    Relates to: ULO2, Digital Optimisation Strategy
  5. Use information literacy skills, and communicate effectively and professionally in written forms and using media appropriate for diverse purposes and contexts.
    Relates to: ULO4, Digital Audit, Digital Optimisation Strategy

KC40 Bachelor of Communication

  1. Demonstrate capacity to understand and critique the historical, cultural, technological, and regulatory implications of digital media, entertainment, communication, and news industries.
    Relates to: ULO1, Digital Audit, Digital Optimisation Strategy
  2. Demonstrate capacity to engage with and apply specialised knowledge of one or more areas of digital media, entertainment, communication, and news industries, including the relationship between disciplinary theory, research methodologies, and professional practice.
    Relates to: ULO1, Digital Audit, Digital Optimisation Strategy
  3. Demonstrate effective communication skills with the ability to adapt strategies across different media and professional settings and for diverse audiences.
    Relates to: ULO3, Digital Audit, Digital Optimisation Strategy
  4. Critically analyse, evaluate and synthesise complex forms of information and evidence to inform decision-making, problem solving and argumentation.
    Relates to: ULO2, Digital Audit
  5. Demonstrate critical digital literacy skills across diverse platforms and technologies, including familiarity with analytic tools to effectively and responsibly interpret data in the media, communication, and news industries.
    Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Digital Audit, Digital Optimisation Strategy