| 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?
Consumption is key to understanding contemporary economy and society as well as how it changes. Consumption is also key to understanding the dynamics of societal challenges insofar as it is both a key contributor to many problems and a site through which solutions might be developed. For example, overconsumption in affluent nations can be linked to multiple environmental crises and sources of global inequality. At the same time, the pursuit of ‘sustainable consumption’ can help in thinking through transition pathways that are technologically feasible, economically viable, culturally appropriate, environmentally sustainable, and socially just. The unit will equip students with cutting-edge insights into consumption as well as a keen sense of why it should matter to businesses, communities, governments, organisations, and other publics.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
Consumption and consumer behaviour are a core feature 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 and economic change. This unit brings these threads together and offers students an introduction to advanced thinking on consumption as it relates to a rapidly changing social world and the complex politics of global societal challenges. It necessarily moves beyond a view of marketing as an ‘applied’ field of management enquiry but nevertheless emphasises how these insights can help organisations navigate the contemporary and future business environment.
An overview of content
This unit introduces advanced perspectives on consumption as a societal phenomenon and so looks beyond the orthodoxy of individual consumer behaviour. The emphasis is on how consumption is embedded in wider socio-economic, technological and cultural configurations as well as its intrinsic links with issues of social and environmental justice. The core of the unit is therefore focused on the normative and contested aspects of consumption, which are explored through a number of topics related to climate crises, inequality and digitalisation. These may include (but are not limited to) food insecurity, debt, the limits of markets, surveillance capitalism, consumer resistance and activism, prosperity, sustainable and ethical consumption, and degrowth. In all cases, attention is paid to diverse and competing perspectives as well as the ways in which well-established theories and insights can be used to think through the uncertain futures of consumer society.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
Students 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 students think about people’s behaviour within and beyond markets. It will also encourage awareness of how individual conduct relates to wider societal and ethical issues. In addition to developing general transferable skills in terms of debate, critical engagement and communication, this unit will equip students with novel insights into the task of promoting responsible production and consumption (SDG 12).
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:
ILO1: Demonstrate an understanding of contemporary theoretical perspectives on consumption and society
ILO2: Critically appraise the links between consumption and the dynamics of societal challenges
ILO3: Recognise and evaluate competing perspectives on the normative and contested aspects of consumption
ILO4: Appreciate how understandings of consumption and society are relevant to how organisations think about the future
Teaching will be delivered through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous sessions including lectures, seminars, moderated discussion boards and other online learning opportunities. The lecture sessions will involve a mixture of content delivery and interactive activities with the emphasis placed on the use of practical applications to bring complex concepts to life. The seminars will focus on students developing their understanding of and critical engagement with ideas and topics. A range of techniques will be used including case studies, discussion of core readings, and quizzes, but the emphasis will be on ‘class debates’ around key issues. Students will receive lecturer and peer feedback on the preliminary ideas - directly relevant to the summative assessment - that they share in the seminars.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Active participation in seminar activities (see below) will help students develop their skills and ideas for the summative assessment. In addition to developing their knowledge, these activities will help students to critically engage with the material and explore a range of perspectives. Students will receive lecturer and peer feedback on their ideas in the seminars.
Additionally, 2 seminars will be dedicated to specific elements of the portfolio assessment. These will be used to give students the opportunity to discuss and practice their summative assessments, ask questions about the assessment, and peer-review each other’s works in the classroom.
Each student will be encouraged to keep an online reflective learning journal each week to progressively develop their knowledge of key concepts and their skills in critical engagement. Students are welcome to discuss the content of their journal during advice and feedback hour appointments.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
3,000-word individually written assignment comprising a portfolio of tasks - 100% of overall mark (LOs 1 to 4).
When assessment does not go to plan
3,000-word individually written assignment comprising a portfolio of tasks - 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 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.
