THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2020/2021

Information in the Degree Programme Tables may still be subject to change in response to Covid-19

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : Business School : Common Courses (Management School)

Postgraduate Course: Understanding Brands (CMSE11162)

Course Outline
SchoolBusiness School CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits15 ECTS Credits7.5
SummaryTaking a socio-cultural perspective, this course provides students with a deeper knowledge of the place of brands in the lives of consumers and the skills used to manage them.  It does this by considering the meanings of brands and by outlining different brand strategies available to companies to both meet the needs of consumers and build powerful brands. Section one - which explores the socio-cultural meaning of brands - is designed to equip students with an understanding of what a brand is, how they are used by consumers and from where their meaning is derived. This will be done by exploring a range of contemporary theories from marketing and , sociology. With this grounding in place, we then move in section two to explore the concepts of brand equity before discussing different approaches to the management of brands. Learning is guided through consideration of the relevant literature and real-life examples from a variety of sectors.
Course description Aims, Nature, Context

This course offers students the opportunity to study and understand a fundamental marketing technology. Brands are considerable vehicles for cultural meaning, self-expression, community, social movement and communication. Increasingly, for better or worse, the logic of brands and branding can be seen in diverse areas of life, beyond consumer goods - e.g. the political brand, branded religion and person as brand. In short, our daily lives are saturated by brand messages and meaning. From this backdrop we will explore the ways in which brands create value for organisation and consumers alike.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements For Business School PG students only, or by special permission of the School. Please contact the course secretary.
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2020/21, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  None
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 150 ( Lecture Hours 20, Summative Assessment Hours 2, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 3, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 125 )
Additional Information (Learning and Teaching) Independent Study 75hrs; Preparation for assessment 50hrs.
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Course Work
100% individual assignment assesses Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4
Feedback Formative feedback will be given throughout the course through class discussion and Q&A sessions, particularly pertaining to the coursework. Written, summative feedback will be delivered through the coursework grades and the detailed comments provided by the marker.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Understand the different roles that brands play in the lives of consumers. 
  2. Understand how brands use functional and symbolic meaning to create value for consumers and, ultimately create powerful brands.
  3. Understand and critically analyse how brands create and communicate meaning through brand management, showing awareness of the sources of meaning e.g. cultural agents and consumers.
  4. Critically evaluate strategies used in the management of brands.
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Cognitive Skills

Students will develop analytical skills such as:

* The ability to apply concepts and theories to real life brand management;

* The ability to critically evaluate brand strategies and management;
management;

* The ability to critically appraise brand management and make recommendations for improvement; * The ability to use introspection as an analytical tool



Subject Specific Skills

Students will gain:

* The ability to recognise and respond to challenges associated with the management of brands;

The abilty to critically analyse the cultural context of brand management;

* The ability to make recommendations to overcome and avoid specific brand challenges and threats.

By the end of the course students will be expected to:

* Be able to work individually on a piece of analysis;

* Be able to communicate and exchange critical insights in oral and written formats

* Be able to critically analyse and use problem solving skills when considering possible courses of action.
KeywordsMark-UB
Contacts
Course organiserDr Susan Dunnett
Tel: (0131 6)50 3814
Email: Susan.Dunnett@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Emily Davis
Tel: (0131 6)51 7112
Email: Emily.Davis@ed.ac.uk
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