BUSINESS DECISION MAKING - 2023/4

Module Overview

This module is the second part of the Surrey Business School skills development program, which embeds employability. The content of the Business Decision Making module has far-reaching implications for the student’s development of professionalism and expertise in academic and professional life.

Module provider

Surrey Business School

Module Leader

PARCHMENT Ann (SBS)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 4

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

No prerequisite required

Module content

• Analysing and interpreting business information using statistical methods


• Spreadsheets- MS Excel


• Business report writing


• Critical thinking and analysis


• Forensic evaluation of business decision making

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Not applicable

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to give students the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to meet the learning objectives. This is achieved by summative and formative assessment.

Summative assessment

1. 60 minute test using MS Excel and Multiply Choice test undertaken mid-term at a set time and date (30%).

• 
  understanding and application of Excel for a range of business functions
  


• 
  competent analysis of business decisions using both qualitative and quantitative data
  


• 
  This assesses students understanding and application of basic statistical functions to the analysis of data using MS Excel
  

2..40 min  MCQ mid-term  test set time and date (30%)

• Students will be introduced to a number of topics which will test their understanding of the decisions made by companies covered during the module.

• Students will be assessed on their application and understanding of business frameworks

• The MCQ will assess students business vocabulary and current relevant business knowledge

3. A 2500-word report will assess students ability to: 

• 
  write effective professional documents
  


• 
  understand, analyse and interpret basic statistical data
  


• 
  think critically and conduct analysis
  


• 
  utilise business information to make decisions more effectively
  


• 
  utilizer MS Word & Excel effectively
  


• 
  The report will be submitted to SurreyLearn at the end of the module (40%)
  

Students receive marks out of 100 for all assessments, along with feedback on their individual performance.

Formative assessment and feedback

Students will work collaboratively in groups on case studies and other class activities in the tutorials and labs.

• 
  Tutors will provide regular verbal feedback on their performance through individual, group and class discussion.
  


• 
  Students are also encouraged to provide feedback on peer performance and to help with peer development through collaboration.
  


• 
  Students will be provided with the assessment criteria and weighting for each component of the report when this is introduced early in the semester.
  


• 
  Report criteria will be referred to during tutorials as students are developing their skills in class activities and planning their Report. The tutorials are also used to provide  verbal feedback.
  

Students will receive regular verbal feedback on the development of their information analysis skills using ICT during labs as the Tutor moves around the room. Students will also complete mock tests in a similar format to the mid-term test which they will mark themselves and will have the opportunity to discuss in class. This will allow them to ‘test’ their skills as well as practice the format that will be used in the mid-term test.

Module aims

• To provide students with the knowledge of fundamental concepts, frameworks and Excel skills widely used in business decision making.
• To apply critical thinking, analysis of business information using business statistics developed in the Fundamentals of business management semester 1 module and report writing to communicate effectively in the business world.
• Embeds the Advance HE employability framework which facilitates meeting digital skills and employability needs of business for the future.*

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to help students of all abilities to engage in business decision making. This is achieved by effective skills development whilst enhancing academic, business knowledge  and employability.

Students are encouraged to:

• take advantage of appropriate learning opportunities from within this module’s activities


• demonstrate competence and confidence in analysing business data forensically and in real-time using business frameworks, critical thinking and problem solving


• reflect on the evolving development of technology, the decisions that need to be made by business in an environment of uncertainty to remain a going concern.

The learning and teaching methods include:

• Lectures


• Tutorials & small group work in tutorials


• PC Labs facilitate demonstration of student understanding and competence in MS Word, MS Excel,


• Guided learning


• Captured content


• Individual learning


• Develop basic understanding of ICT as used in the business world,


• Competence in the analysis and interpretation and presentation of basic statistics


• Demonstrate evidence of expertise in business research


• The use of case studies to understand forensic decision making and hone critical thinking and analytical skills as applied to business


• Demonstrate the ability to analyse quantitative and qualitative business information and make robust evidence-based decisions.


• The provision of weekly guidance via tutorials to support tangible evidence of the ability to communicate written business knowledge in a professional business report.


• Extensive supporting material on the university VLE.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: MAN1089

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2023/4 academic year.