Marketing and Society

Subject MKTG30007 (2013)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2013.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 3 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2013:

Semester 1, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: One 2-hour lecture and one 1-hour tutorial weekly
Total Time Commitment:

3 hours per week plus a minimum of 6 hours per week in self directed study

Prerequisites:

MKTG10001 Principles of Marketing

Corequisites:

MKTG10001 Principles of Marketing

Recommended Background Knowledge:

Please refer to Prerequisites and Corequisites.

Non Allowed Subjects:

None

Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements for this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Coordinator

Dr Ben Neville

Contact

banevi@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:

This subject examines the role of marketing in the wider society, beyond its relationship with consumers and shareholders. It looks at the benefits marketing provides, but it also looks at criticisms of marketing in terms of its negative influence on individual consumers and society as a whole. Some of these criticisms include deliberate behaviours, such as deceptive advertising and high-pressure sales techniques, while others are more systemic, such as the promotion of materialism and the destruction of the natural environment. Many of these criticisms constitute public issues (eg. consumerism, climate change), where individuals and consumer groups express their concerns through organised boycotts and political protest. This subject considers how marketers should respond to these criticisms and examines the government’s role in regulating the marketing and society relationship.

Objectives:

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  • Appreciate the variety of social, political and economic forces affecting marketing organisations at the global and local level.
  • Identify and analyse current public issues in the interplay between marketing and society, such as advertising to children, junk food, materialism and climate change.
  • Critically evaluate the debates around the ethical and social responsibilities of marketers;
  • identify the different ethical frameworks for engaging in those debates; and understand how marketers can respond to calls for ethical and social responsibility.
  • Apply the above learning to real world cases and situations.
Assessment:

One written assignment not exceeding 3000 words, due in week 9 (20%); a 2-hour end-of-semester examination (60%); a tutorial group presentation taking place during the semester (10%); and tutorial participation (10%).

Prescribed Texts:

You will be advised of prescribed texts by your lecturer.

Breadth Options:

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:

Students are invited to develop the following generic skills through the activities designed into this subject (essay, group presentation, participation in tutorial discussions, note taking and participation in lectures); critical thinking about societal and ethical issues in marketing settings; oral and written communication; problem solving and collaborative learning; and synthesis of data and other information.

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