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ECOS2201
Economics of Competition and Strategy
Semester 1, 2012
Unit Coordinator: Andrew Wait
Email: andrew.wait@sydney.edu.au
Office: Room 358 Merewether Building
Consultation times: TBA
Class times: Monday, 1-4pm
Venue: Bosch Lecture Theatre 2
1.
1.1.
This course introduces new and comprehensive methods for the analysis and formation of business strategy.
The unit analyses strategies for developing competitive advantages, including product differentiation, cost
advantages and product life cycles; implementing incentives, control, firm boundaries, and internal firm
decision-making mechanisms; implementing pricing, auction and signalling practices; assessing industry
attractiveness and the regulatory/trade practices environment; and managing industry cooperation and
conflict. Students are taught a set of tools that they can bring to bear on new problems. Understanding
competitive dynamics and strategic thinking are emphasised. Case studies and problem-solving form an
important part of the teaching method
1.2.
Pre-requisite units
ECON1001
1.3.
ECON1001
1.4
The Academic Board student workload for six credit point units equates to an average of 9-12 hours of student
effort per week per 13-week semester. This is what is expected of you. In this unit, topics are presented in the
first two hours of the lecture. The third hour is a workshop in which problems set the previous week are
discussed. Workshops begin in week 2. The assessment will be mid-semester exams and a final exam.
2.
2.1.
The key purpose of the Economics of Competition and Strategy is to enable students to analyse
and design business strategies. This unit of study uses some of the tools learned in ECON1001,
Introductory Microeconomics, and draws heavily on its conceptual foundations. It will provide a
2.2.
Learning outcomes
3.
Topic Schedule
4.
5.
Assessment
5.1
Assessment Schedule
Assessment items
Weight
Date
Mid-semester exam 1
20%
Mid-semester exam 2
Final exam
20%
60%
4 April 6.05pm
Wallace Lecture
Theatre
14 May in class
Final exam period
5.2
5.3
Feedback
Feedback on assessments should be taken seriously to help you achieve your learning goals. In this unit you
will receive the following types of feedback:
Marks will be posted into the Blackboard Grade Centre when all results for an assessment have been
compiled. Marks will not be given by email or over the phone. Final marks will not be posted in Grade
Centre. Marks for online quizzes are available immediately upon completion and marks for midsemester exams will be available within one week of the exam.
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6.
Errors made in exams are typically identified on the paper. A summary of class-wide errors and
appropriate improvement action for each criterion is provided in class.
If you would like further feedback on an assessment task, you are encouraged to ask your lecturer after
class or during consultation hours.
Student feedback plays a very important part in helping develop this unit and degree program in general.
Students are encouraged to approach the lecturer with feedback about the unit during the semester. Students
will also have the opportunity to fill-out a confidential unit of study evaluation for each unit of study in the
program at the end of the semester.
7.
7.1
7.2
Academic honesty is important to protect students' right to receive due credit for work submitted for
assessment. It is clearly unfair for students to submit work for assessment that dishonestly represents
the work of others as their own and gain marks and degrees, which are not based on their own efforts
and abilities. Deliberate breaches of academic honesty constitute academic misconduct. These
breaches include: plagiarism, fabrication of data, recycling previously submitted material, engaging
someone else to complete an assessment on ones behalf and misconduct during supervised
assessments.
The penalties for academic misconduct may include: a mark of zero on the assessment; a fail grade in
the unit of study, additional assessment (including an unseen exam), and reference of the matter to the
University Registrar.
Academic dishonesty involves more than just copying material. Cooperation and helping other students
may at times trigger academic dishonesty proceedings if it appears you have worked too closely with
another student.
Individual assignments must be written and prepared alone. You may consult with other students
about ideas and possible research sources but the analysis and writing of the assignment must be done
alone. Group assignments should be prepared within the group. Students should contribute fully to the
group and take part in all group activities, contributing ideas, analysis and writing to the final product.
While students within the group should assist each other freely, students should not carry this level of
cooperation outside the group. One group may cooperate and help another group about ideas and
possible research sources but the analysis and writing of the assignment must be done by the group
alone.
7.3
7.4
Special Consideration
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7.5
Assessment
Final exam
Class test / mid-semester test
Further test
7.6
Student Support
Faculty Policy http://sydney.edu.au/arts/current_students/student_support.shtml
7.7
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