Professional Practice Investigation

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

Entry to a Melbourne School of Design course and completion of at least 50 points of Melbourne School of Design study.

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 of 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/

The subject recognizes that strategic management is a key factor for the successful management of design practices. The subject will introduce students to basic concepts and theories in organisational theory, innovation and corporate strategy. Using these concepts students will be forced to think through the critical success factors that drive competitive advantage in different types of design firms. The subject will elucidate the links between firm strategy, competition and the management of design teams and operational infrastructure in these firms.

• To write case studies, business plans and reports which critically reflect on professional practice in architectural firms.
• To write and discuss architectural practice experience in relation to firm strategy, management, infrastructure and design methodology.
• To identify the critical success factors which underpin competitive advantage in architectural practice.
• To be able communicate in writing and verbally the factors that drive competitive advantage in different architectural firms.
• To be critically reflect on the organisational dynamics of different architectural practices.

2 x Individual 2500 research report, case study or business plan, each worth 50% due in week 7 and week 12.

Emmitt, S. Design Management for Architects, Oxford: Blackwell, 2007.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• To articulate the competitive factors which underpin service orientated firms.
• To critically reflect on architecture as it is practiced in architectural firms.
• To effectively organise teams and design organisational structure in order to maximise design innovation.
• To write case studies, business plans and reports in order to communicate these to different audiences.