Module BUSI47R15: SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIES (ONLINE)

Department: Business School (Business)

BUSI47R15: SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIES (ONLINE)

Prerequisites

• None

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• Social Media Strategies (Taught)

Aims

• To explore the strategies and goals underpinning use of social media in organisations, together with the drivers for enterprise and value creation
• To understand the need for integration of social media platforms across business functions (i.e. marketing, human resources, supply chain management, etc.)
• To develop the knowledge and skills needed to design, implement and evaluate a strategy for the coordination of employee tasks and customer experiences across a variety of social media channels

Content

• Social media in organisations – uses, power and business risks
• Social media strategies – business case, plans and priorities
• Core competencies for the agile digital enterprise
• Technologies for social media success – infrastructure, governance and support
• Return on investment, key performance indicators and social media metrics
• CRM integration and customer analytics
• B2C and C2B – marketing, PR and the “voice” of the customer
• The social media “back office” – workforce engagement, areas of application, stakeholder collaboration, power and control issues, etc.
• Employee empowerment – roles, responsibilities, incentives, traits, culture, etc.
• The “dark side” of social media – managing legal issues, ethics, misbehaviour, etc.

Learning Outcomes

• On completion of the module students should have:
• a critical understanding of the development of social media use in organisations, its associated business models and technologies, and the trends shaping its future
• advanced knowledge of challenges and critical success factors involved in managing social media initiatives and the organisational “back” and “front” offices
• a critical appreciation of social media strategy development, approaches, and performance optimisation and evaluation methodologies

• By the end of the module, students should:
• be able to evaluate an organisation's current social media capabilities including demand for, and barriers to, the use of digital channels
• be able to collect quality data from internal and external sources, assess and extract relevant information, and devise targeted digital and mobile marketing communication strategies
• be able to scope, plan, implement, manage and evaluate an effective and ethical social media strategy implementation

• In addition, students will have had the opportunity to further develop the following key skills:
• effective written communication skills
• planning, organising and time management skills
• problem solving and analytical skills
• the ability to use initiative
• advanced skills in the interpretation of data
• advanced computer literacy skills

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• The module is delivered via online learning across a six month period, divided up into study weeks with specially produced resources within each week. Resources vary according to the learning outcomes but normally include: video content, directed reading, reflection through activities, opportunities for self-assessment and peer-to-peer learning within a tutor-facilitated discussion board. Tutors provide feedback on formative work and facilitate discussion board communication as well as being available for individual consultation as necessary (usually by email).
• The summative assessment of the module is designed to test the acquisition and articulation of knowledge and critical understanding, and skills of application and interpretation within the business context. .

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

A written assignment of 1,500 words, or its multimedia equivalent, which may involve some group work.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University