This is an archived handbook for a previous year. The current undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks can be viewed using the links above.
Postgraduate Handbook 2012-2013 (archived)
Module BUSI4CA15: Approaches to Decision Making (Caribbean)
Department: Business School (Business)
BUSI4CA15: Approaches to Decision Making (Caribbean)
| Type | Level | Credits | Availability | Module Cap | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tied | 4 | 15 | Available in 2012/2013 | None. | Durham |
Tied To
- N1KJ17: (programme not found)
Pre-requisites
- None.
Corequisites
- None.
Excluded Combinations
- None.
Aims
- To provide an advanced understanding of the ways in which decision making frameworks may help in making sense of the complex world in which managers manage.
Content
- Optimisation: using linear programming to find best solutions.
- Multi-attribute problems: how to trade off different sorts of outcomes.
- Risky decisions: how to cope with uncertainty.
- Subjectivity and bias: why we need help in making rational decisions.
- Competition and cooperation: the application of game theory.
- Problem structuring: describing complexity using soft systems and pattern languages.
Learning Outcomes
Subject-specific Knowledge
- By the end of this module students will:
- have an in-depth understanding of the contribution that analytical decision methods (mainly, but not only, quantitative) can make to the solution of decision problems in business;
- have a critical appreciation of how to structure complex problems.
Subject-specific Skills
- By the end of this module students will:
- be able to formulate and solve models to assist management decision making.
Key Skills
Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module
- Learning outcomes will be met through a combination of lectures, groupwork, case studies and discussion, supported by guided reading. The written assignment will test students' understanding of relevant concepts and their ability to apply and interpret what they have learned to the analysis of a particular issue in depth.
Teaching Methods and Learning Hours
| Activity | Number | Frequency | Duration | Total Hours | Attendance Monitored |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Workshops (a combination of lectures, groupwork, case studies and discussion) | 28 | Yes | |||
| Preparation and Reading | 122 | ||||
| Total | 150 |
Summative Assessment
| Component | Component Weighting | Element | Length/Duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assignment | 100% | Written assignment | 4000 words maximum | 100% |
Formative Assessment
Students receive feedback on their contributions to the workshops.
Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods
and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative
assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress
procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be
required to leave the University.