04-613 ICT Business Economics and Finance
Location: Africa
Units: 12
Semester Offered: Spring
Course description
This course focuses on financial fundamentals (e.g., reading and understanding financial statements, cost analysis, and budgeting) and basic concepts from economic theory in the context of the current ICT industry. Topics to be covered include market structure, regulation, strategy, negotiation, business models, working with investors, and creating business plans. The class format is to present theory as it applies to business in general and then apply it to current firms in the ICT sector. The concepts and thinking introduced in this class apply to companies in other sectors, including the non-profit sector.
Learning objectives
The class project has each student analyzing the financials and economics of a significant ICT firm, writing a paper on the firm, and presenting the results to the class. Each student will also create an original business plan for a new ICT firm in Africa and present it to the class.
Outcomes
Upon completing this course, students will be able to:
- Understand the market structure, regulation, strategy, negotiation, and business models.
- Use critical thinking skills and draw meaningful conclusions in business situations.
- Work with investors and create business plans.
- Apply the theory to current firms in the ICT sector and companies in other sectors.
- Relate the actual learnings to the outside world by the provided expertise and insights on various viewpoints on topics shared by the panelists’ discussion at the end of the semester.
Content details
Impact of economics and finance on information society:
- Information society and the network economy
- Basic economic concepts: microeconomics and macroeconomics
- Financial statements and financial ratios
- Budgeting and cost analysis
The enterprise:
- IT and e-commerce in enterprises
- Marketing and e-marketing / SEO / affiliate marketing
- Recommender systems in e-business/e-commerce
- Business models, SWOT and PEST analysis
- Capital asset pricing model
- ICT firm class project
Capitalization strategy and the business plan:
- Loans & equity investments
- Patents, copyrights & trade secrets
- Attracting investors, venture capital
- Startup firms challenges
Prerequisites
None