Aspects of Economics and Business Administration

obligatory courses

This course will introduce students to the economic principles and policies affecting the economy, and contexts in business administration. With regard to economic principles, we will examine both microeconomics and macroeconomics. Course is intended to acquaint students with the advancements and contexts in business communication. Students are to acquire the ability to identify specific social and business phenomena, communicative practices and conditioning factors. Emphasis on institutional and economic context is to develop in students the ability to analyze communication in professional media and business environments in the information society.

The aim is to introduce the terms and concepts of economics, that will allow students to understand and critically analyze the functioning of social and business professional contexts as the contexts in which communication fulfills an essential role. It sheds light on the economic determinants of communication. Participants also can prepare presentations with examples of discussed theories and approaches.

Aspects of Economics and Business Administration

1. Outline of development of economic thought.

2. Economics as a discipline of knowledge.

3. Theory and practice of microeconomics. The market. Supply, demand, price.

4. Theory and practice of macroeconomics.

5. Employment and unemployment.

6. The labour market in the macroeconomic context.

7. Inflation as a macroeconomic problem.

8. International economic relations.

9. Business cycles in the market economy. Producer theory.

10. Consumer theory. Welfare economics. Market failures

A. obligatory reading (to get a credit):

A.1. used in class

Platje, J. (2006). A short introduction to micro- and macroeconomics. Opole: Opole University Press.

Begg, D., Fischer, S., and Dornbusch, R. (2008). Economics (8th ed.). Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill.

Maunder, P., Myers, D., and Wall, N. (2000). Economics Explained (3rd ed). New York: HarperCollins.

A.2. used for self-study

Anderton, A. (2004). Economics (3rd ed.). Ormskirk: Causeway Press

B. supplementary reading

Stiglitz, J., and Driffill, J. (2000). Economics. London: Norton.

Cowell, F (2006). Microeconomics: Principles and Analysis. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Nuttall, Ch. J., and Lobley, D. (2001) Success in Economics. London: John Murray.

Bannock, G., Baxter, R.E., Davis, E. (2003). Dictionary of Economics. London: Penguin.

Knowledge

Students:

1. (m)have the basic knowledge of business communication genres

2. (m) have the basic knowledge of economics and business administration as well as organizational culture(s-W-2)

Skills

Students :

3. (m/b)have the ability to search for, analyze, select and use information utilizing various sources and methods (s-U-1)

4. (m/b) are able to use the English language in writing and speaking with relative fluency, accuracy and communication efficiency in a wide range of public sphere topics (s-U-2)

Social competences

Students:

5. (m/b) can specify the priorities for the implementation of their goals and tasks designated by others in business contexts; are able to discern and handle ethical problems and conflicts of interests in the contexts of professional life (s-K-1)

6. (m/b) shape their own views on the basis of the gained general and detailed knowledge in business contexts (s-K-2)

Forms of evaluation of effects (see below for types of effects)

1. A written assignment/test – 1,2,

2. A presentation/report– 3,4,5,6,

3. Class participation – 2, 5,6,

Methods of instruction/ forms of classroom activity

Lecture with a multimedia presentation

Discussion (pair-work, group-work), simulation games: role play, interview

Review of literature read out of class

Collaborative learning, case studies, effective questioning, “minute papers” and reflection papers.