Department of Management Systems

Department of Management Systems

0342.335A Managerial Decision Making and the Environment

Course Outline

Introduction At the very heart of activities performed by managers

is decision making. This core activity cuts across all types of and levels within both private and public organizations. The importance of this activity to the successful running of such organizations can not be underestimated. However, students of management education receive little direct education in this area. This course alleviates that problem through the study of the process of decision making.

By understanding the process of decision making, students gain insight into making decisions in diverse decision making environments. Although this course offers value to any potential or current manager, it also is part of the Environmental Management Programme. Thus, when possible, decisions will be considered as they pertain to maintaining a sustainable natural environment.

No prior knowledge of decision making is needed for this course, except that which has been learned through experience! Some mathematics is helpful (algebra and perhaps some calculus), as is knowledge of probability and statistics, although those students feeling deficient in these areas can easily be brought up to speed during the life of the course.

A student-centred, autonomous approach to learning is taken where students accept some responsibility for their own learning (discussed below).

Lecturer Dr. Jim Corner
MS8.06 x-4563
email: jcorner
Office Hours: Tuesday 11-12
Thursday 11-12

Class Times Tuesday 1:10 - 2 pm MSB1.02
Thursday 10-11 am MSB1.02
Friday 10-12 am MSB1.02

Course Objectives As mentioned above, this course is about the process of decision making and is
tailored toward environmental decisions as much as possible. Specifically, this course will help students to:
1. understand the differences between descriptive, prescriptive and normative approaches to decision making,
2. understand how decisions are made in groups,
3. grasp ideas related to quality in decision making,
4. become proficient with the "rational model" of decision making,
5. gain insight into their personal approach to decision making,
6. identify decisions which typically deal with the natural environment, and
7. obtain a better personal awareness of their learning strengths and weaknesses.

Course Modules The course is broken down into 4 modules of unequal duration. These are briefly described as follows:

1. Descriptive Approaches (2 weeks). This module studies how decisions are actually made in organizations. Also studied is the group decision making process.

2. Decision Analysis (5 weeks). This module studies in depth the prescriptive decision making approach known as decision analysis. This is the rational model mentioned earlier and it studies decisions with a single objective.

3. Multiple Objectives (3 weeks). This module extends the previous module into decisions with multiple objectives. Multiple objectives are found in many managerial decisions, especially those which impact the environment.

4. Student Projects (2 weeks). In this module, students in groups will pick topics for presentation to the rest of the class. The topics are designed to extend in depth or breadth the topics studied previously in the course. Those students wishing to focus further on some aspect of the natural environment have an opportunity to do so here.

Coursework The major components of the course include:

Components

1. Assignments. These are structured exercises designed to develop and test your understanding of course topics. Most of the assignments will be performed in groups. Roughly 3 tasks will be assigned (to be determined as needed). All assignments are to be handed in to the lecturer at class time on the day due. Extensions will generally not be considered without a medical certificate.

2. Tests. Although there is no final exam, there are two tests: one near the end of the decision analysis module (comprehensive to that time), and one covering the material after that time (also includes student presentation material...more later). The tests generally will be a mixture of all sorts of question types.

3. Student Projects. The last two weeks of class will be spent listening actively to your peers as they present specialty topics of interest to them (and to you, we hope!). Group work is encouraged for these projects and a written report is also expected. The projects will be discussed early in the course and students are allowed to pick topics of interest to them. In addition to the written report, a roughly 30 minute group presentation will made during the last two weeks of class. Students are expected to learn eagerly during these presentations as the material presented in them helps form the basis for Test 2!

2. Participation. A grade for class participation will be given. Class participation means more than just showing up! It means actively giving your views, questioning, reflecting, participating, and listening, among other things. Several case studies will be used during the semester and students are expected to be forthcoming during the discussion of the cases. Also, active participation is expected during the student presentations. Let us shoot for an open learning environment where students actually want to participate, not just feel as if they have to! Your co-operation in this regard is essential.

The grade for participation covers the entire class, not just the specific items just mentioned. Feel free to discuss your participation to date with the instructor as you desire.

Please note that the expected workload for a third year course is roughly 12 hours per week, including class time.

Textbook Clemen, Robert T. (1991) Making Hard Decisions: An Introduction to Decision Analysis. PWS-Kent Publishing Co., Boston.

Readings Folder Readings beyond the scope of the text will also be assigned. They are on Desk Copy at the Library (***) and they are also held in the SHOP.

Assessment Once again, there is no final exam in this course. Although some of you shall be disappointed with this, you still have opportunity to show what you have learned through the following assessment schedule:

Assignments               20%

Tests
           Test 1             15
           Test 2             25

Student Project
          Presentation     15
          Report             15

Participation               10

100%

The above assessment schedule is merely presented as a start for negotiation. Students will have input on the first day of class as to the final percentage weights for course components.

Reminder Your attention is drawn to the following extract from the Regulations Governing Examinations and other means of assessment in the University of Waikato Calendar:

"Copying or paraphrasing of another person's work, be it published or unpublished, without clearly acknowledging it, will be heavily penalised."

42.335A Course Timetable

Note: Numbers in parentheses refer to a chapter in the course textbook.

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