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Unit outline_

MKTG3122: Marketing and Sustainable Development

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Remote

Marketing plays a critical boundary spanning role between the for-profit firm and its various stakeholders. Marketing is also a critical consideration in developing business strategy. As debates continue on the purpose of for-profit business, specifically the shift from a focus solely on shareholders to various stakeholders (e.g., suppliers, customers, employees and broader society), including calls for responsible business and marketing leaders that tackle grand challenges facing the world (e.g., poverty, gender inequality and climate change), it is important that marketers are proactive in shaping these debates and facilitating changes in marketing practice. This unit is designed to critically evaluate the role of marketing theory and practice in engaging with grand challenges as highlighted by the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (e.g., ending poverty, tackling climate change and addressing gender inequality), at a profit. This unit adopts a holistic perspective of marketing and theories from both consumer behaviour and marketing strategy are used to understand how marketers can engage in facilitating the implementation of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals within marketing strategy.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Marketing
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
MKTG1001
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Ranjit Voola, ranjit.voola@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Nicole Hallett, nicole.hallett@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam (Record+) Type B final exam Final exam
Written exam
35% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5 LO4
Participation Participation
n/a
10% Ongoing n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
In-semester test (Record+) Type B in-semester exam Mid Semester Quiz
Written
20% Week 07
Due date: 05 Apr 2022 at 10:00
1.5 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Assignment group assignment Group project
Group written assignment.
20% Week 12
Due date: 20 May 2022 at 17:00
4000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO5
Presentation group assignment Group presentation
n/a
15% Weekly 20 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5
group assignment = group assignment ?
Type B final exam = Type B final exam ?
Type B in-semester exam = Type B in-semester exam ?

Assessment summary

Participation will be used to assess your ability to critically think and reflect about underlying theories, concepts, assumptions, and arguments relating to Business, Marketing and the SDGs.  Engaged discussions are critical to this unit as the concepts and ideas are in the early stages of development (e.g., role of busines in society, alleviating social issues and making profits simultaneously).  Furthermore, informal debates will be encouraged within lectures and tutorials and your input into these debates will also be counted in the participation marks.  You are also encouraged to participate in the discussion on Canvas. Marking Criteria will be made  available on Canvas.  

Group project:  This is a written project. The group is required to apply their knowledge of the SDGs in developing  marketing strategy.   More details about this assessment as well assessment criteria will be provided on Canvas

Group presentation: The presentation requires you to critique the SDG implementation business/marketing strategy of a  company.     More guidelines and the assessment criteria will be available on Canvas. 

Mid Semester Quiz :This quiz will assess you on the topics and your ability to reflect on the first six weeks.  Details as well as marking criteria will be provided on Canvas. 

Final exam: The exam will cover all material within the unit.  Further details will be provided on Canvas. 

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school. 

Distinction

75 - 84

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Credit

65 - 74

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Pass

50 - 64

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school. 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction, Expectations and Assessments Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 02 Purpose of business and the Role of Marketing in addressing Grand Challenges (SDGs) Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 03 The 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as a framework for Marketers Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 04 Marketing Case studies and the SDGs Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 05 Base of the Pyramid, Marketing, and the SDGs Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 06 Co-creation and implementing the SDGs Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 07 Mid Semester Quiz Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
Week 08 Scalability/ cross-sectoral collaborations and implementing the SDGs Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 09 Jugaad Innovation as mechanism for implementing SDGs Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 10 Marketing Strategy and the SDGs Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 11 Consumer Behaviour and SDGs (Part A) Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 12 Consumer Behaviour and SDGs (Part B) Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 13 Unit Summary and Exam Preperation Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5

Attendance and class requirements

Engaged participation, debate is essential in this unit.  Contemporary debates about the purpose of business, the role of business in society,  how can firms engage with the SDGs and the role of marketing in implementing SDGs are increasing.  This would require indepth participation in this unit.  I encourage participation in  lectures, tutorials and online.  

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

The SDGs, the role of marketing in implementing the SDGs are very new to marketing. Therefore, at this stage, no text book exists in this space. Key Readings to complement the lectures and tutorials  will be highlighted during the course of the unit.  

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Reflect on the key challenges and opportunities that marketing faces in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals
  • LO2. Critically evaluate the role of marketing within contemporary for-profit organisations
  • LO3. Engage with the contemporary debates relating to the purpose of for-profit businesses
  • LO4. Apply your knowledge of Sustainable Development Goals in developing persuasive strategic marketing decisions
  • LO5. Engage in robust debates and discussions on key issues relating to the role of Marketing in implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This will be the second time this unit is being taught. Based on the feedback from 2021, we have revised a Unit of Study Learning Outcome and the assessment structure.

This unit relates directly to how Marketing relates to implementing the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals such as poverty, climate change, gender equality, and hunger. The goal is to facilitate the development of responsible marketing leaders. 

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.