This unit forms part of the major in Business Information Systems in the Bachelor of Information Technology.

Introduced for course architecture programs. Effective semester 1, 2016

12/06/2017: Admin - updating location of offering to reflect actual campus offerings at the ADE's request.

25/01/2018 - Admin: updated prereqs to include ETF1100 as advised by BusEco.

07/02/2018 - Admin: updated prereqs to include ETS1102 and ETW1102 for South Africa on behalf of the CE.

16 January 2019: Changing Contact hours for on-campus students to: One 2-hour tutorial instead of One 2-hour laboratory. The sessions are being conducted as a tutorial rather than a lab.

24/9/19: Admin - updating the exam duration to include additional 10 minutes as per University requirement.

4/5/2020: As the MSA course 4307 Bachelor of Computer and Information Sciences is in teach-out, the MSA offering of this unit has been re-coded to FZA3158 effective Semester 2, 2020. These units will be managed by South Africa and therefore no separate Monatar entries will be made

21/09/2020 Admin: Update to include new assessment and teaching approach fields as per Handbook requirements.

This unit aims to provide students with skills for analysing quantitative problems arising in business, industry and the world more generally. This unit is intended to equip graduates with the skills necessary for the role of business analyst or as a foundation for further study in the areas of business decision making or decision support systems.

On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

1. develop interactive decision models for business analysis and business process improvements;
2. design and implement and analyse spreadsheet-based simulations and mathematical optimisation models;
3. interpret the results of mathematical decision models and conduct sensitivity analyses;
4. critically assess the accuracy and applicability of modelling techniques;
5. communicate the results of model-based decision analysis.

020307

The objective of this unit is to introduce students to quantitative modelling techniques commonly used for business decision making. This includes the analytical methods used to understand, model and design business processes, and the application of IT tools to real-world decision making situations. Techniques covered include decision making under uncertainty, linear and nonlinear programming, sequential decision making, forecasting, and simulation.

On completion of this unit, the students are expected to recognise a complex decision making situation and to build a corresponding quantitative model. They are also expected to solve the model by applying techniques covered in this unit, to interpret results and finally, to provide 'analyst-type' recommendations. The unit includes extensive use of advanced modelling tools available in Microsoft Excel as well as some VBA programming. Students will also gain hands-on experience in using simulation software as a tool for analysing business processes.

Prescribed Text:

Ragsdale, C., Spreadsheet Modeling & Decision Analysis: A Practical Introduction to Business Analytics 8th Ed, Cengage Learning 2017

Recommended resources

• Camm, J., et al, Essentials of Business Analytics 2nd Ed, Cengage Learning 2017.
• Powell, S. and Baker, K., Business Analytics: The Art of Modeling With Spreadsheets, 5th Ed, Wiley 2016.
• Anderson D., et al, Quantitative Methods for Business 13th Ed, Cengage Learning 2015.

On-campus

The teaching and learning approach provides facilitated learning and practical exploration of cases to model business problems anddevelop decision models for business analysis.

Examination (2 hours and 10 minutes): 60%; In-semester assessment: 40%

1. Assignment 1: Spreadsheet modelling: - 20% - ULO: 1,2,3,4,5
2. In-semester Test: - 10% - ULO: 2,3,4
3. Tutorial Participation: - 10%: ULO: 1,2,3,4
4. Examination 1: - 60%: ULO: 1,2,3,4,5

Minimum total expected workload equals 12 hours per week comprising:

(a.) Contact hours for on-campus students:

• Two hours lectures
• Two hours tutorials

(b.) Additional requirements (all students):

Completion of 24 points at Level 1 from FIT or BusEco and one of FIT1006, ETC1000, ETF1100, ETS1102, ETW1102, STA1010 or equivalent