The Digital Economy

• Topics

  • Introduction
  • Internet business basics
  • Online collaboration
  • Network economy: it's all about networking
  • Attention economy: getting eyeballs
  • Amazon.com: the online shopping mall
  • eBay: everything has a price
  • Google: don't be evil
  • Facebook: owning people
  • Reviewing the work of others
  • Digital capitalism
  • Free economy
  • Gift economy

• Study resources

  • Instructional Methods

    • Audio/Video conferencing
    • Chat Rooms
    • Disscusion forum/Discussion Board
    • Online assignment submission
    • Podcasting/Leacture capture
    • Web links
    • Wikis

  • Print Materials

    • Welcome letter

  • Online Materials

    • Resources and Links
    • Printable format materials
    • Audio-Video streaming
    • Online Assessment

Entry Requirements

Equivalent Subjects

You cannot enrol in this unit if you have successfully completed any of the following subject(s) because they are considered academically equivalent:

• CUR-NET25

You are recommended to have completed the following subjects(s) or have equivalent knowledge before starting this unit:

• CUR-WEB101-Web Communications
• CUR-NET11
• CUR-NET102-Digital Culture and Everyday Life
• CUR-NET12

Others

NET12 is the same as NET102 and NET11 is the same as WEB101.

Special requirements

No special requirements

This subject was previously known as Internet Commerce and Consumers.

To be an internet user is, essentially, to be part of the economics of the internet, through innumerable commercial transactions and by being part of audiences sold for advertising. In this subject, you will come to understand the dynamics of internet commerce, including the 'free' services that are part of the attention economy; you will also analyse the importance for the internet of alternative economic forms, for example - the gift economy. Ultimately, you will understand how the internet might, within capitalism, be associated with economic rewards and risks; and how developments on the internet have altered business practices and approaches.

Further Information: List of topics is indicative and subject to minor change prior to the start of each Study Period.

Please Note:  If it’s your first time studying a Curtin University subject you’ll need to complete their compulsory ‘Academic Integrity Program’. It only takes two hours to complete online, and provides you with vital information about studying with Curtin University. The Academic Integrity Program is compulsory, so if it’s not completed your subject grades will be withheld.

Find out more about the Academic Integrity module.

• Assignment 1 - Collaborative Software Review (20%)
• Assignment 2 - Project Plan (10%)
• Assignment 3 - Report and Project Diary (35%)
• Assignment 4 - Essay (35%)

Textbooks are subject to change within the academic year. Students are advised to purchase their books no earlier than one to two months before the start of a subject.

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