| Unit name | Consumption and Society |
|---|---|
| Unit code | MGRC30008 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Alexandra Kviat |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Management - Business School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is the unit important?
This unit will introduce you to an advanced perspective on consumption that looks beyond psychological and economic theories of consumer behaviour. From everyday commodities to fashion and technology, you will explore how consumption shapes – and is in turn shaped by – social and cultural identities, relations, dynamics and trends. By understanding consumption as a socio-cultural phenomenon, you will develop a more critical and proactive approach to marketing practice and strengthen your trendwatching skills.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
Consumption and consumer behaviour are a core element of the BSc Marketing Programme. So too is the idea that Marketing is a rigorous academic discipline (as well as a core business function) that can help make sense of social, cultural and economic change. This unit weaves these themes together, providing you with an introduction to advanced perspectives on consumption in the context of a rapidly evolving social world and the complex politics of global societal challenges. While it moves beyond viewing marketing solely as an 'applied' field of management inquiry, it also emphasizes how these insights can support organizations in navigating contemporary and future business environments.
An overview of content
The unit will equip you with cutting-edge insights into consumption as a societal phenomenon as well as a keen sense of why it should matter to businesses, communities, governments, organisations, and other publics. Drawing on established and emerging theories, concepts and insights from sociology, history, anthropology, cultural studies and other areas of knowledge, you will explore how consumption is embedded in wider socio-economic, cultural, technological and political configurations and how it both contributes and responds to societal problems and challenges.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
You will have rigorous theoretical and empirical understanding of consumption as a phenomenon that is socially organised, socially patterned, and that has social consequences. This will fundamentally alter the ways in which you think about people’s behaviour within and beyond the market. It will also encourage awareness of how individual behaviour relates to wider societal and political issues. In addition to developing transferable skills such as critical and creative thinking, this unit will equip you with novel insights into the task of promoting responsible production and consumption (SDG 12).
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:
Teaching will include a mix of synchronous and asynchronous activities, such as lectures, tutorials, and moderated discussion boards.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Participation in tutorial activities will help you develop your skills and ideas for the summative assessment. In addition to developing your knowledge, these activities will help you critically engage with the unit content and explore a range of perspectives. You will receive feedback on your ideas in the tutorials.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
3,000-word individually written assignment – 100% of overall mark (LOs 1 to 4).
When assessment does not go to plan
3,000-word individually written assignment – 100% of overall mark. Different question/s and instructions will be provided to ensure differentiation from the original assessment.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. MGRC30008).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
