BSc Management (Accounting and Finance)

Year of entry: 2024

Course unit details:
Marketing Communications in the Digital Age

Course unit fact file
Unit code BMAN24352
Credit rating 20
Unit level Level 2
Teaching period(s) Semester 2
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

This course builds on students’ marketing knowledge from previous courses with a specific focus on marketing communications and the digital environment. The course will introduce students to a diverse range of marketing communications tools and encourage students to critically consider their application in the digital environment. Academic understanding will be supported by practical application through the use of case studies and a practice-oriented assessment task.

Pre/co-requisites

Unit title Unit code Requirement type Description
Principles of Marketing BMAN10101 Pre-Requisite Compulsory
Available as option for BSc Mgt/Mgt Specialism, ITMB, IM and IMABS. Core for BSc Management with Marketing Specialism and BSc ITMB with Marketing Specialism.

Available as option for BSc Mgt/Mgt Specialism, ITMB, IM and IMABS. Core for BSc Management with Marketing Specialism.

 

Aims

he course introduces students to the role and importance of marketing communications in the contemporary marketing landscape. This involves a focus on digital communications tools alongside offline marketing communications tools, at both the strategic and tactical/operational level.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, students should be able to:
1.    Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the contemporary marketing communications environment, including the opportunities and challenges posed by digital technologies.
2.    Evaluate given marketing communications situations and apply knowledge of a range of integrated marketing communications theories to suggest creative and feasible solutions.
3.    Describe the strategic value of a range of marketing communications tools and demonstrate how they can be integrated to produce an effective marketing communications campaign.
4.    Work in a group to develop an integrated marketing communications plan.
5.    Communicate academic and applied knowledge, concepts and ideas professionally and creatively.
Reflect on the learning experience of developing an integrated marketing communications campaign plan.
 

Syllabus

•    Integrated marketing communications (IMC) and branding
•    Competitive Market Analysis in the Digital Age
•    IMC campaign planning
•    IMC in the digital age: practitioner’s perspective
•    Theories of communications
•    Marketing Communications Mix 
      o    Advertising
      o    Social Media and user generated media 
      o    Search engine optimisation (SEO)
      o    Public Relations
      o    Sponsorship
      o    Direct marketing
      o    Sales promotions
•    Media planning and evaluation

 

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures: 22

Workshops: 10

Independent study hours 168

Methods of delivery: lectures and workshops. Additional, supporting materials (e.g. links to My Learning Essentials workshops/online resources) will be signposted on Blackboard each week.

 

Employability skills

Other
Through guest lectures from industry practitioners, students will also develop a critical understanding of how and when academic models and theories do and do not apply in practice and will thus be encouraged to demonstrate a reflective approach to the study of marketing communications in the digital age.

Assessment methods

1) 60% group coursework 


2) 40% individual coursework 

Feedback methods

•    Informal formative feedback and discussion during lectures and workshops.
•    Summative feedback on group and individual assignment
•    Responses to student questions via Blackboard, padlet and emails.
•    Formative feedback provided on tasks provided outside of lectures and workshops

Recommended reading

The following set texts are proposed for core reading each week, in addition to a reading list of journal articles:

De Pelsmacker, P, Geuens, M and Van Den Bergh, J. (2018) Marketing Communications. A European Perspective (6th Edition), Pearson: Harlow.

Chaffey, D. and Ellis-Chadwick, F. (2015) Digital Marketing (6th edition), Pearson: Harlow.

Hooley, G., Piercy, N.F., Nicoulaud, B., and Rudd. J.M.(2017)  Marketing strategy and competitive positioning (6th edition).  Pearson, Harlow. 
 

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures 22
Practical classes & workshops 10
Independent study hours
Independent study 168

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Dawn Holmes Unit coordinator

Additional notes

Other staff involved: Dr Giselle Bate and guest speakers from industry as appropriate.
Pre-requisites: BMAN10101 Marketing Foundations
Co-requisites: None
Dependent courses: None
Programme Restrictions:
BSc Management/Management (Specialisms)
BSc International Management with American Business Studies
BSc International Management
BSc ITMB
Core: BSc Management (Marketing)

For Academic Year 2023/24

Updated: March 2023

Approved by: March UG Committee

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