ECC2610 Game theory and strategic thinking
Faculty of Business and Economics
ECC2610 Game theory and strategic thinking is a level 2, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Business and Economics, offered in 2026 in Semester 2 at Clayton. It needs ECB1101, ECC1000, ECF1100, ECS1101 or ECW1101.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 2
- Clayton
- Assessment
- No exam
- 2 tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
Reviews
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Requisites
Before ECC2610
After ECC2610
No unit lists ECC2610 as a prerequisite in the 2026 handbook.
Enrolment rules
To be successful in this unit, background knowledge and application of maths is required at the equivalent of VCE Year 12 Higher level. You may have satisfied this by completing relevant prerequisite unit/s, or you have covered relevant topics in your final years of secondary study. You should self-assess your maths competency prior to enrolling in this unit.
Overview
Game theory offers a tool for strategic thinking. It can be thought of as the art of beating your rivals, knowing that they are trying to do the same to you. Individuals, firms, governments and nations behave strategically, for good and bad. Over the last few decades, game theory has been developed for the purpose of understanding social phenomena. It has become the major tool used by social scientists to understand, predict and regulate strategic interaction among agents who have conflicting interests. This unit provides an introduction to game theory with an emphasis on real-world cases, including applications in economics and business.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Clayton | On campus |
Assessment
- Exercise40%
- Quiz / Test60%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
identify real situations where game theory can be enlightening
- 2
put a real situation into game theoretical formalism
- 3
manipulate the formalism via game theory to reveal insights
- 4
comprehend and critically assess complex strategies.
Workload and teaching
- Workshops36 hours
- Assessments-
- Teaching approachEnquiry-based learning
- Teaching approachProblem-based learning
- Teaching approachResearch activities
- Teaching approachCase-based teaching
- Teaching approachActive learning
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities. You are expected to complete all pre-class activities prior to your scheduled class, and post-class activities should be completed after your scheduled class. Learning activities may include a combination of teacher directed, peer directed and online engagement activities.
This unit engages you in enquiry-based learning, where you will be encouraged to use your own knowledge to develop and engage in a process of enquiry, study and research to identify areas to be investigated and an approach to doing so.
This unit includes problem-based learning approaches, where you engage in research, integrate theory and practice and apply knowledge and skills to develop viable solutions in response to a problem or set of problems.
This unit allows you to develop your research skills by engaging in structured inquiry using a systematic approach and discipline-specific methodologies.
This unit includes case-based teaching, where you apply your knowledge and engage in analytical and reflective thinking to solve complex contextual scenarios. Activities are often designed so that there is not one clear answer, but you need to work together to examine, analyse and make decisions to resolve the situation.
This unit engages you in actively applying your knowledge, skills and attributes in interactive, collaborative and reflective activities.
Learning resources
Required resources
Dixit, Avinash, Skeath, Susan, and McAdams, David, Games of Strategy, 6th international edition, 2025
Where it fits
ECC2610 is part of 4 areas of study in the 2026 handbook.
- BUSANLEC01Specified discipline studiesBusiness analytics for economicsNo reviews yet
- ECONOMIC07Business theory and strategyEconomicsNo reviews yet
- ECONPOLY01Cluster 2: Markets and strategyEconomics and economic policyNo reviews yet
- MTHECONM01Core studiesMathematical economics and econometricsNo reviews yet
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Professor Nicholas Feltovich
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for ECC2610?
You need ECB1101, ECC1000, ECF1100, ECS1101 or ECW1101 before you enrol. Enrolment rules also apply.
When is ECC2610 offered?
In 2026, ECC2610 runs in Semester 2 at Clayton.
How much work is ECC2610?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does ECC2610 have an exam?
No. ECC2610 has 2 assessment tasks and no exam.
Which majors and minors include ECC2610?
ECC2610 is part of Business analytics for economics; Economics; Economics and economic policy; and Mathematical economics and econometrics.