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Module Title |
Management Decision Support |
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| Module Code |
25-5024-00S (BTEC = 25-5H24-00S) |
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Semester of Delivery |
See Module Information Table |
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Mandatory/Elective/Option |
See Module Information Table |
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Level |
5 |
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Credit Points |
20 |
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Assessment Mode Weighting |
Coursework |
50% |
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Examination |
50% |
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Pre-requisites |
Business Analysis or equivalent |
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Co-requisites |
None | |
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Class Contact Hours |
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Average Weekly |
2.5 |
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Directed Learning |
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Average Weekly |
10 |
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Module Leader |
Peter Long |
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Sheffield Business School |
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Module Banding |
A |
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Approval Status |
Validated |
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Decision making is a key aspect of the business person. To make decisions which are informed by evidence requires skills in the selection and interpretation of information and the application of decision support methods to guide the actions arising from this evidence. This module is designed to provide students with such skills and to allow them to apply these skills to formulating a business case for action.
To provide students with the experience of learning and applying more advanced analytical methods and approaches suitable for supporting management decision making.
On completion of the module, the student should be able to:
Assessment and Feedback Strategy
Assessment will be by Coursework (50%) and Examination (50%).
Coursework will comprise
1. a series of self-assessment tests (SATs) undertaken regularly throughout the module. These will assess the students' knowledge and practical abilities of specific topics covered in the module (10%).
2. a piece of group project work undertaken progressively throughout the module. This will assess the student's ability to apply skills and approaches to the analysis and evaluation of a specific business opportunity or planning support system. Formative feedback will be provided at key stages during the project work (40%).
The examination will assess both the theoretical and practical aspects of the course content, and contrast and compare different decision support approaches.
Module Assessment Criteria - see tables at end
In the course work, the SATs will assess all 6 learning outcomes but on a topic by topic basis. Similarly the group project will assess all 6 learning outcomes, and students will be required to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of methods and approaches by analysing and evaluating a business opportunity. Marks will be awarded for:
1. the suitable use of methods for gathering, storing, analysing and presenting evidence to support a business case
2. the appropriate use of analytical skills for identifying, evaluating and assessing a range of options in order to assist in decision making in a range of business situations
3. competence in developing and applying models for describing, predicting and evaluating business opportunities and challenges
4. the quality of their presentation.
5. the use of Information Technology
In the examination the questions will assess the student's ability to
1. contrast and compare different approaches to supporting management decision making
2. perform calculations using the techniques studied and their ability to explain and interpret the results of these calculations.
The exam will assess learning outcomes 2, 4 and 6
The module will involve input of theory and knowledge using lectures, self directed learning, computer supported learning (where available).
Skills workshops will provide the environment in which analytic and other IT skills will be developed and applied to a range of exemplar cases and to the individual project.
Indicative Content
Learning Outcome
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Level descriptors |
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fail |
PASS |
2.2 |
2.1 |
First |
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Outcome 1 |
use a range of appropriate methods for gathering, storing, analysing and presenting evidence to support a business case |
Poor use of material presented in sessions. Little thought of relevance of method to situation |
Only basic use of material presented in sessions. Limited thought of relevance |
Competent use of material presented in sessions. Good range of methods used. |
Good use of material presented in sessions. Clear presentation of ideas and methods used |
Excellent use of wide range of material. Able to incorporate other ideas and methods |
Outcome 2 |
use appropriate analytical skills for identifying, evaluating and assessing a range of options in the business opportunity |
Poor use of spreadsheets. No alternative analyses |
Basic use of spreadsheets and other analyses. Limited range of options explored. |
Competent use of spreadsheets and other analyses |
Good use of spreadsheets and other analyses. Able to develop alternative ways of assessing options |
Excellent use of spreadsheets and other analyses to explore a comprehensive range of possibilities. |
Outcome 3 |
develop and use suitable model for describing, predicting and evaluating business opportunity |
Model used did not adequately capture the decisions that had to be made. No use of sensitivity thinking |
Model used barely captured the decisions that had to be made. Limited use of sensitivity thinking |
Model used adequately captured the decisions that had to be made. Some use of sensitivity thinking |
Model used captured well the decisions that had to be made. Clear use of sensitivity thinking |
Excellent model which explored all the key decisions that had to be made. Clear use of sensitivity thinking, well argued |
Outcome 4 |
contrast and compare different approaches to supporting management decision making in the business opportunity |
No consideration of alternative approaches to the problem |
Limited use of alternative approaches to the problem. No contrasting |
Some consideration of alternative approaches to the problem. Little consideration of the contrasting methods |
Good consideration of alternative approaches to the problem. Some attempt to compare them. |
Good consideration of alternative approaches to the problem. Ability to synthesise the different approaches |
Outcome 5 |
present appropriately the results of investigations and analyses |
Poor presentation. Difficult to follow structure and reasoning in report |
OK presentation but difficult to follow structure and reasoning in report |
Competent presentation, with a clear structure and reasoning in report |
Good presentation. Easy to follow logic, structure and reasoning in report |
Excellent presentation, making reader want to see how the material develops |
Outcome 6 |
use I T to enable all of the above |
Errors abound. Several sorts of error in method and report |
Some errors. |
Competent |
Good |
Excellent |
HND (The HND outcomes the module assesses are 9, 15, 16 and 18)
Outcome |
Pass |
Merit |
Distinction |
Outcome 9 |
Present information in a variety of visual forms |
Presentation of the information generally correct but with either one or two errors in its construction OR one or two of the conventions not correctly followed. |
Presentation of the information fully correct and all conventions followed. |
Outcome 15 |
Apply numerical skills and techniques |
Competent use of relevant modelling techniques. Procedures generally correct though maybe one or two calculative errors. |
Innovative use of relevant modelling techniques. Procedure and calculations carried out correctly. |
Outcome 16 |
Use a range of technological equipment and systems |
Minor errors only. Formatting not as clear as could be. e.g. Headings not fully shown |
Fully correct answers. Well laid out. |
Outcome 18 |
Use a range of thought processes |
Clear application of module principles to formulating and evaluating business opportunity |
Insightful application of module ideas to formulating and evaluating business opportunity. Ability to see use and application outside the obvious. |