Program Coordinator contact details: MBA Online

Name: Assoc. Prof. Graciela Corral de Zubielqui

Email: graciela.corraldezubielqui@adelaide.edu.au

On successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

1. evaluate how enterprises, public-sector organisations and not-for-profits manage a highly dynamic and competitive economic environment
2. investigate how managers pursue organisational goals, constrained by limited financial and other resources
3. critically apply key economic theories and concepts to the management of an organisation
4. evaluate how key economic data can be applied to achieve organisational objectives
5. measure how the global economic environment influences organisational innovation and strategic managerial decision-making
6. interpret how environmental, social, and other key non-economic indicators can generate organisational innovation and performance.

A Custom Edition eBook has been created: 

https://www.pearson.com.au/9780655704980

This is an online course.

The course is delivered over a 6 week period. ‘Time’ is one of our most precious resources and to cover an MBA Course in that time needs planning. This link provides some ideas on Time Management

The Course is more than absorbing information. The activities and interactions are designed to help you synthesise and be able to apply them. Discussion with other, sharing different perspectives through the tutorials and Discussion Board is a great way to hone your ideas, test interpretations and enjoy the journey.


All relevant video recordings and activities are on the MyUni portal

This is an online course. There are six modules outlined below under "Learning Activities Summary":


1. Introduction to Managerial Economics

2. Organisational Decision Making

3. Market Structure

4. The Role of Government and Managerial Decision-making

5. Economics of Managing Risk

6. Business of the International Economy

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

Students should allocate approximately 25 hours per week to accomplish the Learning Outcomes for this intensive Course. In total the
Course is estimated to require 156 - 160 hours for completion. Roughly one third of that would be taken up by the assessment tasks.

Additional reading is provided for student extension.

Over the next 6 weeks, you will need to work through the 6 modules.
Each week you will need to:

- work through the content
- complete the readings (additional readings are optional)
- participate in the discussion board/s including Zoom discussions
- watch the videos (where available)listen to podcasts (where available)
- complete activities (including quizzes)
- undertake a range of self-assessments and learning reflections (Personal Learning Reflections)
- attend online tutorial (zoom session)
- attend to relevant assessment tasks and
- ensure assessments are submitted by the due dates

The course is broken into six modules:

1. Introduction to Managerial Economics

• Introduction to Managerial Economics
• Why is Economics Important?
• Introduction to Economic Decision Making
• Supply and Demand
• Opportunity Costs
• Valid and Reliable Data
• Readings
  • Keat, Young & Erfle 2014, ‘Introduction’ in Managerial economics: economic Tools for today’s decision makers, 7th Edn pp.27-35.
  • Blair, R. & Rush, M. 2020, ‘Managerial Economics and Decision-making’ in The Economics of Managerial Decisions, pp. 39-44.
  • Brander, J.M & J.A, Perloff 2019, ‘Introduction’ in Managerial Economics and Strategy pp.23-29; 30-61
  • Blair, R & Rush, M (2020) ‘Managerial Economics and Decision-making’ in The Economics of Managerial Decisions. pp.44-65.

2. Organisational Decision Making

• Introduction to Organisational Decision Making
• Elasticity of Demand
• Production and Costs
• Strategies and Increasing Demand
• Readings
  • Keat, Young & Erfle 2014, ‘The Firm and Its Goals’ In Managerial Economics, pp.44-61.
  • Blair & Rush 2020, ‘Production and Costs’ in The Economics of Managerial Decisions, pp.176-212.
  • Blair & Rush 2020, ‘Perfection Competition’ in The Economics of Managerial Decisions, pp.224-256.

3. Market Structure

• Introduction to Market Structure
• Economic Decision-making
• Market Principles to Industries
• Readings
  • Brander & Perloff 2019, ‘Firm Organisation and Market Structure’ in Managerial Economics and Strategy, pp.216-250.
  • Blair & Rush 2020, ‘Monopoly and Monopolistic Competition’ in The Economics of Managerial Decisions pp. 265-300.
  • Brander & Perloff 2019, ‘Pricing with Market Power’ in Managerial Economics and Strategy, pp. 338-376.
  • Porter 1980, ‘Industry Structure and Competitive Strategy: Keys to Profitability’, Financial Analysts Journal, Jul-Aug., 1980, Vol. 36, No.4 (Jul.-Aug., 1980), pp30-41.
  • Porter 2008, ‘The Five Competitive Forces that Shape Strategy’, Harvard Business Review, January 2008, pp. 78-93.

4. The Role of Government and Managerial Decision-making

• Introduction to The Role of Government and Managerial Decision-making
• Rationale for Government Involvement in Market Economy
• Competition Policy
• Game Theory
• Readings
  • Brander & Perloff 2019, ‘Government and Business’ in Managerial Economics and Strategy pp. 566- 602.
  • Feldman 1971, ‘Efficiency, Distribution, and the Role of Government in a Market Economy’, Journal of Political Economy.pp.508–526.
  • Miliband 2012, ‘Building a Responsible Capitalism’ in Public Policy Research, Volume 19, iss 1, 17-25.
  • Foreign investment Review Board (2020) "Annual Report 2018–19", Government of Australia 2020
  • Blair & Rush 2020, ‘Game Theory and Oligopoly’ in The Economics of Managerial Decisions. Pp. 356 – 406.

5. Economics of Managing Risk

• Introduction to the Economics of Managing Risk
• Business Decisions Under Uncertainty
• Readings
  • Keat, Young & Erfle 2014, ‘Capital Budgeting and Risk’ in Managerial Economics Economic Tools for Today's Decision Makers, 7th Edition, pp. 487-524.
  • Blair & Rush 2020, ‘Business Decisions under Uncertainty’ in The Economics of Managerial Decisions, pp. 625-661.

6. Business of the International Economy

• Introduction to the Business of the International Economy
• Global Business and Trade
• Trade Restrictions and Opportunities
• Global Value Chains
• Challenges and Opportunities for Managers of the 21st Century
• Readings
  • Brander & Perloff 2019, ‘Global Business’ in Managerial Economics and Strategy, pp.608 - 640.
  • Keat, Young & Erfle 2014, ‘The Multinational Corporation in a Global Setting’ in Managerial Economics Economic Tools for Today's Decision Makers, 7th Edition, pp. 535- 556.
  • Porter 1990, ‘Competitive Advantage of Nations’, Harvard Business Review, pp. 1-43.
  • Keat, Young & Erfle 2014, ‘Government and Industry: Challenges and Opportunities for Today's Manager’ in Managerial Economics Economic Tools for Today's Decision Makers, 7th Edition, pp. 559–580.

Students will need to be able to;

- Navigate their way around this course environment.
- Use search engines to locate designated content on the Internet.
- Download software applications to your computer.

Assessment Task	Task Type	Weighting	Learning Outcome
Executive Briefing Paper		20%	2, 3, 4
Economic Situation Analysis		30%	1, 3, 4, 5
Strategic Growth Proposal		40%	2, 3, 5, 6
Critical Business Reflection		10%	2, 3, 4, 6

The submission of all the assessments is a requirement to pass the course.

Activities leading into the assignments are built into the Course, which will take approximately 40% of your time.

Within this Course you have the opportunity to capture your personal reflections. These are not assessed.

The University Assignment Cover sheet with student details and the signed student declaration that the work is their own, and that the University has the right to access the electronic version of the assignment must be submitted with each assignment.

Applications for extensions must comply with University policy and submitted prior to the due date late submissions will be subject to University policy



ASSESSMENT 1

Requirements
This assessment will be written using a briefing paper format. This format will include a Summary, Background, Key considerations, Recommendations, and Implementation sections to the paper.

The paper will be submitted through MyUni/Canvas as a text document (doc, docx, pdf), and will be 1200 words.

ASSESSMENT 2

Requirements
This assessment will be written using a technical report format. This format will include an Executive Summary, Introduction, Methodology, Modelling findings, and Conclusion sections to the paper.

The paper will be submitted through canvas as a text document (doc, docx, pdf), and will be 2000 words.

ASSESSMENT 3

Requirements
This assessment will be written using a technical report format. This format will include an Executive Summary, Introduction, Company Position, Economic Analysis, Forecasting, Recommendations, and Implementation sections to the report.

The paper will be submitted through canvas as a text document (doc, docx, pdf), and will be 2500 words.

ASSESSMENT 4

Requirements
This will be written using a briefing paper format. This format will include a Summary, Background, Key considerations, Recommendations and Implementation sections.

Note: You will also need to include your reflective journal as an appendix along with your briefing paper.

The paper will be submitted through canvas as a text document (doc, docx, pdf), and will be 800 words.

Assessment 1 — Executive Briefing Paper

Description
You will develop an Executive Briefing Paper for the CEO and Board to identify how your firm/organisation can use and analyse economic data to improve performance.

This paper will be a short, but detailed, technical paper highlighting the benefits and costs of incorporating economic data and analysis that will be relevant to the future success of your firm/organisation. This proposal to the CEO and Board will demonstrate future economic analysis that will be undertaken within your firm/organisation.

You should reference Module 1 and Module 2 topics covered in the course, and incorporate topics that are relevant to your firm/organisation and industry.

Purpose
The purpose of this assessment is to demonstrate how application of critical economic tools and analysis can improve organisational performance.

Outcomes
This assessment maps to the following course learning outcomes:

CLO2 Investigate how managers pursue organisational goals, constrained by limited financial and other resources.
CLO3 Critically apply key economic theories and concepts to the management of an organisation.
CLO4 Evaluate how key economic data can be applied to achieve organisational objectives.



Assessment 2 – Economic Situation Analysis

Description
You will develop a targeted economic situation analysis for your firm/organisation to identify and analyse the current operating environment using one of more economic theories. This analysis will build upon the Executive Briefing Paper that you submitted for Assessment 1: Executive Briefing Paper.

This is a technical economic report that will identify the current operating conditions for your firm/organisation. The economic situation analysis will apply economic theories, concepts and tools introduced over the first four modules of this course.

As part of your analysis, you will utilise firm/organisational data, in addition to macro-level environmental economic data (ABS, Australian Government, UN, World Bank, etc).

This assessment will be used to create the economic framework for your firm/organisation, and provide the groundwork for Assessment 3.

Purpose
The purpose of this assessment is to demonstrate you can apply critical economic tools and analysis to assess the current environment in which your firm/organisation is operating.

Outcomes
This assessment maps to these course learning outcomes:

CLO1 Evaluate how enterprises, public-sector organisations and not-for-profits manage highly dynamic and competitive economic environment.
CLO3 Critically apply key economic theories and concepts to the management of an organisation.
CLO4 Evaluate how key economic data can be applied to achieve organisational objectives.
CLO5 Measure how the global economic environment influences organisational innovation and strategic managerial decision-making.

Assessment 3 - Strategic Growth Proposal 

Description
You will develop a strategic growth proposal for your firm/organisation. This proposal will be developed for the CEO and/or Board of your firm/organisation and will build upon the economic situation analysis you undertook in Assessment 2: Economic Situation Analysis. The strategic growth proposal will determine the current economic operating environment for your firm/organisation, utilising current and forecast firm/organisational data in addition to macro-level environmental economic data (ABS, Australian Government, UN, World Bank, etc) as part of your analysis.

Based upon economic theories, concepts and tools developed in this course, this detailed strategic growth proposal will utilise key economic research and analysis of the future environment. It will identify performance improvements and growth that will be achieved by your firm/organisation, resulting in enhanced organisational performance and growth.

Purpose

The purpose of this assessment is to demonstrate application of strategic economic research and analysis to make recommendations for managerial decision making that will result in enhanced organisational performance and growth.

Outcomes
This assessment maps to the following course learning outcomes:

CLO2 Investigate how managers pursue organisational goals, constrained by limited financial and other resources.
CLO3 Critically apply key economic theories and concepts to the management of an organisation.
CLO5 Measure how the global economic environment influences organisational innovation and strategic managerial decision-making.
CLO6 Interpret how environmental, social, and other key non-economic indicators can generate organisational innovation and performance.



Assessment 4 - Critical Business Reflection

Description
This is the final assessment of the course. It draws upon the course learnings as the criteria for your reflection. You will need to review your understanding of managerial economics introduced in the course, not just those relevant to your industry.

Use the lessons from the readings, textbook(s) and your course notes (reflective journal) to critically reflect on your learning in the course. Analyse the relevance of your understanding towards your MBA by reviewing your reflections and writing a brief (equivalent to 800 words) critiquing your strengths and weaknesses in preparing for further research.

You will identify your own strengths and weaknesses within managerial economics, focusing on Assessment 1: Executive Briefing Paper, Assessment 2: Economic Situation Analysis and Assessment 3: Strategic Growth Proposal. It is critical that you demonstrate the alignment of your course aims, objectives, learning outcomes, course content, and assessment criteria to promote a viable research project.

Purpose
The purpose of this assessment is to critically reflect on your accumulated learnings and experience of the course, which may contribute towards the final research project.

Outcomes
This assessment maps to the following course learning outcomes:

CLO2 Investigate how managers pursue organisational goals, constrained by limited financial and other resources.
CLO3 Critically apply key economic theories and concepts to the management of an organisation.
CLO4 Evaluate how key economic data can be applied to achieve organisational objectives.
CLO6 Interpret how environmental, social, and other key non-economic indicators can generate organisational innovation and performance.

All text based assignments must be submitted via MyUni.

Please refer to step by step instructions: MyUni Learning Centre

There are a few points to note about the submission of assignments:

Assignment Submission: Assignments should not be emailed to the instructor; they must be lodged via the MyUni Course site (unless specified to do both). Note that assignments may be processed via TURNITIN, which is an online plagiarism prevention tool.

Cover Sheet: Please include in the assignment a completed University of Adelaide Assessment Cover Sheet providing details of yourself and your team members (if applicable), your assignment, the course, date submitted, etc. as well as the declaration signed by you that this is your (your team’s) work. Note that the declaration on any electronically submitted assignment will be deemed to have the same authority as a signed declaration.

Backup Copy of Assignments: You are advised to keep a copy of your assignments in case the submitted copy goes missing. Please ensure that all assignment pages are numbered. If your assignment contains confidential information, you should discuss any concerns with the Course Lecturer prior to submission.

Extensions of Time: An application for Assessment Extension should be made well before the due date of the assignment to the Course Lecturer. Normally, extensions will only be granted for a maximum of two weeks from the original assignment submission date. Extensions will only be granted in cases of genuine medical, compassionate or extenuating circumstances.

Failure to submit: Failure to submit an assignment on time or by the agreed extension deadline may result in penalties and may incur a fail grade. Note that a late penalty of 5% of the total available marks for that assessment item will be incurred each day an assignment is handed in late (Unless otherwise stated in 'Assessment Related Requirements' or 'Assessment Detail' above). Assignments handed in after 14 days from the due submission date will fail even if a 100% mark is granted for the work.

Resubmission & Remarking Resubmission of an assignment for remarking after reworking it to obtain a better mark will not normally be accepted. Approval for resubmission will only be granted on medical or compassionate grounds. All assignments must be submitted by Sunday night, 11:59pm of the week in which they are due.

Assessment 1 — Executive Briefing Paper

Submission format
Online submission as a text document (doc, docx, pdf).

Assessment 2 — Economic Situation Analysis

Submission format
Online submission as a text document (doc, docx, pdf).

Assessment 3 — Strategic Growth Proposal

Submission format
Online submission as a text document (doc, docx, pdf).

Assessment 4 — Critical Business Reflection

Submission format
Online submission as a text document (doc, docx, pdf).