AFX5320 - Business analytics

Leader: To be advised

Offered

Not offered in 2007

Synopsis

Business analytics and their applications to financial and management decision making will be explored for a range of business situations including: investment; planning; cash flow management; capital budgeting; contract awards; and risk analysis. Analytics covered include: problem structuring; multiple criteria decision making; optimization; simulation; and data mining. Upon completion of this unit, students are expected to competently use selected analytics, to provide management interpretation of the solutions and to formulate business analyst's recommendations. The unit utilizes advanced computer modeling tools available in Microsoft Excel and other modeling software packages.

Objectives

The learning goals associated with this unit are to:

• acquire knowledge and understanding of the role of business analytics in organizations, the decision making lifecycle in business and financial management, model building techniques, model solving techniques, presentation and interpretation of results from business models, and popular and leading edge business and financial decision modelling tools
• develop the attitudes, values, and beliefs that facilitate recognition of the value of business analytics within an organisation, adoption of a critical approach to decision models and their use in a business management context, appreciation of the value of modelling and simulation as effective business and financial decision making tools, appreciation of the limitations of formal decision models and the necessity of post-solution interpretation stage, and appreciation of the risks and benefits of interactive computer-centered business decision making
• develop the practical skills in creation of interactive models for financial and management decisions and interpretation of the results produced at the model solving stage
• develop the practical skills in selection of appropriate decision modelling techniques for given business management situations, assessment of the limitations of models, analysis of the appropriateness of modelling environments, and use of popular and leading edge business analytics tools
• develop and enhance the relationships, communication and team work skills through collaborative learning associated with documenting and communicating decision models, team work associated with the model design and results interpretation stages, and coordination in the decision making life cycle.

Assessment

Assignments: 40%
Examination (3 hours): 60%

Contact hours

3 hours per week

Prohibitions

BUS5570, ETF9480, GCO4802