Sample Unit of Work a - Business Communication and Technologies 2012

Business Communication and Technologies 2012 Sample unit of work A

Two sample units of work are available for Business Communication and Technologies 2012: Unit of work A: How can a retail business use social media to improve business profitability? Unit of work B: Women face significant challenges and obstacles in the workplace that men do not. The sample units of work incorporate the objectives described in the dimensions of the syllabus. They offer flexibility to cater for a variety of learning styles and school contexts. They are neither prescriptive nor exhaustive. The sample resources demonstrate: organisation and development of course content teaching and learning supporting the syllabus learning experiences that support achievement of the objectives described in the dimensions alignment between content, learning experiences and assessment.

a. Sample unit of work A

Unit focus: How can a retail business use social media to improve business profitability? Context Retail Topic/s of study Social Media Underpinning Business Communication  practices For example: preparation of different types of written communication preparation of types of spoken and multimodal communication research skills. Business Technologies  For example: selection, use, management and manipulation of technologies and applications. Suggested hours 30 Semester 3 Dimensions and objectives Knowing and This dimension, Knowing and understanding business, By the conclusion of the understanding involves the retrieval, comprehension and the use of course of study, students business information and skills associated with selected topics of should: study and underpinning practices, to develop an define, describe and understanding of underlying business knowledge. use business terms, This dimension encompasses the ability to define, facts and concepts describe, use and explain business terms, facts, explain business concepts, principles, processes and practices. principles, processes Explaining involves communicating a meaning with and practices clarity, precision and completeness and is enhanced by use technology application the use of examples. skills for a purpose. Technology application skills refer to the use of a variety of technology skills that follow identified business policies and procedures resulting in purposeful applications. Investigating This dimension, Investigating business issues, involves By the conclusion of the business exploring and dissecting business data and information to course of study, students issues identify and analyse business issues. should: Information and data needs to be purposely selected, select, sequence and sequenced and organised to allow an effective analysis of organise data and business issues. information Business data and information needs to be interpreted to interpret business data identify and explicate relevant business issues. and information to Analysis refers to dissecting business data and identify and explain information to ascertain and examine constituent parts issues and/or their relationships. analyse data and information relating to business issues. Evaluating This dimension, Evaluating business decisions, involves By the conclusion of the business communicating and synthesising understandings gained course of study, students decisions to make judgments about the performance of businesses. should: This dimension involves drawing conclusions, making evaluate information using decisions, providing recommendations to solve problems criteria, to draw and justifying solutions and/or actions. conclusions, decisions Evaluating refers to assigning merit according to criteria. and recommendations Justifying refers to providing sound reasons or evidence justify conclusions, to support a statement. Soundness requires that the decisions and reasoning is logical and, where appropriate, that the recommendations premises are likely to be true. use mode, genre and Communication involves using mode, genre and language conventions to language conventions relevant to the business issue to suit audiences and suit the identified audience and purpose. Language purposes. conventions include effective use of paragraphing, structure, vocabulary, grammar, spelling and punctuation. Correct use of technical terms relevant to business contexts and consistent use of accepted genres and conventions of referencing and in-text citations are essential.

Sample unit of work A - Business Communication and Technologies 2012 Composite classes Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority [Publish Date] Page 2 of 5 Subject matter Types and uses of social media in retail businesses Traditional vs. social customers Identifying customer needs and wants Features of social media Benefits and drawbacks of using social media in retail businesses, e.g. security issues and management Marketing communication, e.g. influence of customers on product design, business profitability and advertising. Learning experiences  Research and summarise the different definitions of social media.   Using a variety of reference materials, investigate the different types of social media channels and their uses in retail industries. Select and organise the information into a simple multimodal presentation, e.g. podcast, vodcast, Microsoft PowerPoint presentation. Deliver your presentation to the marketing department of an identified retail business for their consideration.   Identify and describe the various features (e.g. layout, content) of social media tools. Use an appropriate visual organiser to represent the different features.   Using case studies, research and analyse how social media has affected the way people in the retail industry discover, read and share news, information and content. Gather data on customer use to support your analysis. Select, sequence and graphically organise your data analysis using an appropriate software application to present to the marketing department of a retail business for their consideration, e.g. Microsoft Excel.   Compare and contrast the similarities and differences between traditional and social customers. Present findings in a comparative diagram or table using an appropriate software application, e.g. Microsoft Word, Inspiration, Adobe Illustrator.  Using a retail business case study, examine the different ways customers need (and want) to access information about the business’ products.  Examine the role of the customer as an ‘active agent’ in purchasing a product.   Using a retail social media site such as eBay, analyse how the customer can use social media to influence a business’ profitability and guide the development and design of products.   Analyse a number of ‘group buying’ social media sites (e.g. Groupon, Cudo, Scoopon) to examine how this form of advertising affects retail sale rates, retention of clients, profitability and image. Tabulate and present the data and information using an appropriate software application, e.g. Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel. Using the analysis, prepare a fact sheet for publication on the Australian Retailers’ Association website.   Select two different social media platforms (e.g. Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, virtual game world, blog) and identify what information does and does not appear on the sites. Evaluate their suitability for use in a retail business.  Gather research and analyse findings to debate and discuss the benefits and drawbacks of using social media in businesses, e.g. security issues and management.   Prepare a booklet or brochure for new retail business owners, which describes the challenges and opportunities that social media can present for a retail business.   Using invited guest speakers from retail businesses, analyse and evaluate the ways a business could successfully integrate social media tools into their marketing strategies. Develop criteria to judge the success. Using evidence, present the justified recommendations in a report.   Undertake a field trip to a retail business to observe how the business markets their products. Design and implement a survey of customers to examine how they currently use social media channels. Prepare a report for the business which provides justified recommendations for improved use of social media channels. Possible assessment Dimensions Knowing and understanding business Investigating business issues Evaluating business decisions Assessment Extended response technique Assessment Multimodal, 5–7 minutes conditions Assessment task Using retail business case studies and social media research, analyse and evaluate how retail businesses can effectively use social media to improve productivity. Based on this analysis and evaluation, create a podcast/vodcast training clip for publication on a social media site. The podcast/vodcast should provide justified Sample unit of work A - Business Communication and Technologies 2012 Composite classes Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority [Publish Date] Page 4 of 5 recommendations and/or tips.  

Resources Definitions of social media and social media technologies, QUT www.marketingcomm.qut.edu.au/digital-marketing/. Practical tips: Using social media for conversation and reflection, QUT www.els.qut.edu.au/innovation/socialmedia/. Social media links from the Australian Government www.business.gov.au/business-topics/business- planning/social-media/Pages/default.aspx. Kaplan, AM & Haenlein, M 2010, ‘Users of the world, unite! The challenges and opportunities of social media’, Business Horizons vol. 53, no. 1, pp. 59–68: source www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6W45-4XFF2S0- 1/2/600db1bd6e0c9903c744aaf34b0b12e1. doi 10.1016/j.bushor.2009.09.003 at www.doi.org ISSN 0007-6813 PDF version www.michaelhaenlein.eu/Publications/Kaplan,%20Andreas%20-%20Users%20of %20the%20world,%20unite.pdf. Keitzmann, JH, Hermkens, K, McCarthy, IP & Silvestre, BS 2011, “Social media? Get serious! Understanding the functional building blocks of social media”, Business Horizons vol. 54 no. 3, pp. 241–251: source www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0007681311000061 doi 10.1016/j.bushor.2011.01.005 at www.doi.org ISSN 0007-6813.