FZA3158 Business decision modelling
Faculty of Information Technology
FZA3158 Business decision modelling is a level 3, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Information Technology, offered in 2020 in Semester 2 at South Africa. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2020
- Semester 2
- South Africa
- Assessment
- Exam 60%
- and 1 other task
- Workload
- 12 hours
- per semester
This is the 2020 handbook entry. See the 2022 entry.
Reviews
No reviews yetNo reviews yet. Be the first to review FZA3158.
Requisites
Before FZA3158
Prohibitions
You can't enrol if you have passed any of these.
After FZA3158
No unit lists FZA3158 as a prerequisite in the 2020 handbook.
Enrolment rules
Prerequisite: One of (FIT1006, ETC1000, ETF1100, ETS1102 or STA1010) or completion of 24 points at Level 1 from FIT or BusEco
Equivalent units
The same content under another code. Only one of them counts.
Overview
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.
Offerings in 2020
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | South Africa | On campus |
Assessment
- Examination (2 hours and 10 minutes)Threshold hurdle60%
- In-semester assessmentThreshold hurdle40%
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you 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.
Workload and teaching
- Tutorials24 hours
- Lectures24 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
- Teaching approachProblem-based learning
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):
- A minimum of 8 hours of personal study per one hour of lecture time in order to satisfy the reading, tutorial and assignment expectations.
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Nixon Ochara
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Jaco Pretorius
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for FZA3158?
FZA3158 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is FZA3158 offered?
In 2020, FZA3158 runs in Semester 2 at South Africa.
How much work is FZA3158?
The handbook expects about 12 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does FZA3158 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 60% of the final mark, alongside 1 other task.