Business Administration: Decision Analysis

Introduces the tools and techniques necessary for effective decision-making in business organizations operating in a complex and dynamic environment. Prerequisites: MATH 1212 or MATH 1234 with a minimum grade of C-; STAT 1410 or STAT 2430 with a minimum grade of C-, or PSYS 2002 and PSYS 2010 with a minimum grade of C-; Business Administration, Computer Science and Information Systems, Engineering Management major, or Business Administration minor.

BSAD major and minor, 2BUS Co-Major, CSIS, and EMGT major. Open to degree and PACE students. Prereqs enforced by the system: MATH 1212 or MATH 1234 with a minimum grade of C-; STAT 1410 or STAT 2430 with a minimum grade of C-; or PSYS 2002 and PSYS 2010 with minimum grades of C-.

Effective decision-making is critical for business organizations competing in a complex and dynamic environment. This course will (a) introduce students to the science of fact-based, data-driven decision making; (b) expose students to different approaches, support tools, and analytical methods for decisionmaking; (c) enhance and reinforce students’ analytical skills and their ability to use information; and (d) develop, integrate and reinforce students’ modeling skills (often based on spreadsheet usage) by using such skills in a variety of applications.

As in most endeavors, the first step in skills development is an understanding of methods and techniques, of their successful application, as well as their limitations. The second step involves the doing, that is, the actual structuring of the models and their computer implementation using widely available software. MS Excel (with advanced add-ins) will be used extensively throughout this course.

Grading components consist of exams, homework assignments and class participation.