Swinburne University of Technology - Melbourne Australia
Future Students - Courses
Duration
Contact Hours
Campus
Prerequisite
Corequisite
12 Weeks or equivalent
Minimum of 2 hours per week or equivalent for online students using discussion forum
Lilydale, Online
Nil
Credit Points: 12.5 Credit Points
This unit is for continuing students only and has no new intakes. A postgraduate unit in the Master of Business (eBusiness and Communication) and Master of Management. Note: prior to 2008, the unit code for this unit was LEB701
This unit examines virtual enterprise case studies for the purpose of developing an understanding of the nature of knowledge creation in virtual communities, and how they can be used to enhance business relationships (customers, suppliers, alliances and internal) Communities exist in the digital domain and in the minds and experience of participants. They fulfil many different purposes and generate new opportunities, reaching beyond local geographic areas. Online access is commonly provided through websites and portals, and this easily identified entry enables collaborative activities to occur at lower cost than traditional methods. Rhetoric, vision and questions abound in this field of study. Answers are scarce and often lack supporting evidence and a theoretical basis. After completing this unit participants will be able to: Describe communication strategies within virtual enterprise modelsIdentify knowledge creation strategies with virtual enterprises and communitiesDescribe a variety of virtual community models and identify key performance indicatorsEvaluate the performance of virtual enterprises, and communities, and understand the alternative models of operation and methods of managementApply virtual communities principles to business environments to enhance effectiveness in managing business relationshipsApply action research methodologies to virtual enterprises to inform policy development and management tools for more effective implementation of knowledge creation strategiesUnderstand the key drivers for optimising virtual enterprise performance and define strategies, development plans and models for the management of knowledge creation opportunitiesOutline useful research processes and problem-solving models for application within digital worlds in relation to eBusiness, communications, community and learningSelect and evaluate useful strategies, technologies and tools for virtual enterprise community management
After completing this unit participants will be able to:
Online delivery is supported by a unit outline with CDROM, a unit website with a variety of resources which may include lessons, learning objects (documents and presentations), virtual lectures, threaded discussions and interactive chat rooms. Face-to-face workshops may be conducted in a variety of configurations (weekly or 2 day blocks) subject to demand. International students will attend weekly workshops taking a work-related approach
Virtual Enterprise case study analysis 30%, Research report on Knowledge Creation strategies in virtual enterprises 40%, Design and Implementation of Knowledge Creation Model 40%
Swinburne University of Technology works to produce higher education graduates who are capable in their chosen profession. In this unit you will work towards developing and enhancing the following attributes: Developing a respect for multiple points of view through research and analysis of knowledge creation in virtual enterprisesDemonstrate ability to identify opportunities for innovative knowledge creationHave an aptitude for calculated, social responsible risk taking related to knowledge creation in virtual enterprises as you consider managing cultural diversityDemonstrate through research that you are informed and knowledgeable about how virtual enterprises manage, or could manage, knowledge creationYou will have the ability to work both independently and collaboratively, demonstrating that you have an understanding of effective electronic communication in local and international business, or community, context
In this unit you will work towards developing and enhancing the following attributes:
Nature, functions and practices of diverse virtual enterprises in business and societyConceptual frameworks and definitions of virtual enterprise communitiesKey factors of influence and drivers of effective performance in relation to virtual enterprises and knowledge creationSchema for analysing the operation of virtual enterprise communities and networks, including their nature, stage of development and performance measurementEvaluation of virtual enterprise communities from different stakeholder perspectivesEvaluating social capital and management strategies of cultural diversity and their implications on knowledge creationTechnology, tools and systems underpinning virtual enterprise community operations
Preece, J. 2000, Online Communities: Designing Usability, Supporting Sociability, John Wiley & Sons, Brisbane Australia. In addition students will be directed to relevant websites and encouraged to research other online resources.
