Units

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Sample subject outline - 6 Week Teaching Period - 3 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

This unit provides an essential grounding in statistical literacy and an introduction to basic techniques and concepts in the statistical treatment and analysis of data relevant to the business environment. As managers are frequently required to make decisions on the basis of available data, these skills are important for effective management. The skills developed in the unit are required in many of the other units in the program and as such this unit should be completed in the initial stages of the course.

Aims

The mission of the MBA and associated programs is to provide world class graduate business education and a stimulating learning experience to current and future business leaders and managers. The aim of this particular unit is to help managers develop a statistical way of thinking to assist with decision-making in the absence of complete information in real world situations.

Objectives

Course Learning Goals (Postgraduate)

The QUT Business School has established the Assurance of Learning (AOL) Goals to meet contemporary industry needs and standards. Achieving these learning outcomes will assist you to meet the desired graduate outcomes set at QUT - aligned with other internationally renowned business schools. Students will develop the following capabilities relevant to a contemporary global and sustainable business environment:

Have knowledge and skills pertinent to a particular discipline (KS)

1.1 Well-researched knowledge and critical understanding applied to issues at the forefront of a specialised discipline area
1.2 Ability to select and use effectively a range of tools and technologies to locate and/or generate information appropriate to the disciplinary context

Be critical thinkers and effective problem solvers (CTA)

2.1 Apply logical, critical and creative thinking and judgement to generate appropriate solutions to problems in the disciplinary context

Be professional communicators in an intercultural context (PC)

3.1 Ability to create and present professional documents and/or reports using high levels of analysis/synthesis/evaluation for a range of contexts and audiences
3.2 Ability to orally communicate and justify ideas and information, at a professional level, for a variety of contexts and audiences, including peers and discipline specialists

Be able to work effectively in a Team Environment (TW)

4.1 Operate effectively and with flexibility to achieve common goals in collaborative settings, using a range of skills, including leadership, negotiation, reflection, proactivity and support for team members

Have a Social and Ethical Understanding (SEU)

5.1 Apply knowledge of the ethical, social and cultural dimensions relevant to business situations, including appropriate standards or codes of practice, to provide courses of action

Unit Objectives:

On completing this unit, you will be able to:

1. Demonstrate the ability to use appropriate software to organise, present and summarise data. (KS1.2 (MBA 1)).
2. Demonstrate an understanding of basic probability concepts and the use of probability distributions to represent uncertain quantities
relevant to business situations. (KS1.1 (MBA 1); PC3.1 (MBA 3)).
3. Demonstrate the ability to make management decisions on the basis of available data while taking into account the possibility of
sampling error. (KS1.1 (MBA 1); CTA2.1 (MBA 4)).
4. Demonstrate the ability to apply regression analysis to model relationships encountered in business situations. (KS1.1 (MBA 1);
CTA2.1 (MBA 4)).
5. Demonstrate the ability to prepare reports based on analysis of data and to communicate these findings in a professional manner.
(KS1.1 (MBA 1); PC3.1 (MBA 3)).

Content

The content of the unit has been designed to develop and enhance general, transferable skills and competencies in the presentation and analysis of data relevant to the business environment. The unit includes topics related to organising and presenting data, probability and probability distributions, fundamentals of statistical sampling, confidence intervals and hypothesis testing. The final two modules in the unit cover the fundamentals of simple linear regression and multiple regression analysis.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit consist of traditional lectures organised around individual or group class activities that focus on key concepts and principles. To help students learn effectively, a range of supplementary resources is availabe including the GSN403 study guide and the unit on-line teaching (Blackboard) site where you can access PowerPoint lecture slides and problem data sets.

The teaching and learning of statistical concepts and methods does involve the use of some mathematical expressions and specialist terminology. However, the learning emphasis is on the essential principles of the various statistical techniques. It is the acquisition and application of the statistical way of thinking, rather than mathematical derivations and manipulations that the learning activities and assessment are geared towards. A good mathematical background is neither a sufficient nor necessary condition of success in this unit.

It is a well-known fact that many students can acquire a concept or a technique but fail to apply it in real world settings. The class activities, therefore, aim to develop within students an affinity for statistical language and the use of statistical analysis to solve novel problems in environments reminiscent of the real world.

Assessment

The assessment in this unit aims to support your achievement of the learning outcomes for both Discipline Knowledge and Other Graduate Capabilities. Assessment has been designed in order to allow you to:

Receive feedback on your learning as you progress toward the development of knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes (formative assessment); and

Demonstrate your learning in order to achieve a final grade (summative assessment).General feedback about each piece of assessment will be discussed in the individual classes. In addition, students are welcome to make an appointment with the lecturer to discuss their individual assessment items.

Assessment name: Mid Semester Exam (Optional)
Description: This is a closed book in class examination that will consist of application type questions on Modules 1 to 3 inclusive. Student is to submit their completed task via the Blackboard unit website.
Length / Duration:1 hour
Formative or Summative:Formative and Summative
Weighting:0% or 40%
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3 and AOL goals: KS1.1, CTA 2.1
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 4

Assessment name: Final Examination
Description: In class, open book final examination. Laptop computers will be required, or alternatively, if students do not have access to a laptop then lab computers may be used. It is the responsibility of the students to ensure that their laptop computers and required software function properly during the exam. The exam will be based on a dataset provided in the exam. Students will be required to make use of the range of statistical tools and methods developed in the GSN403 unit to analyse, respond to key issues and prepare a written report during the examination. Covers Modules 1 to 6 inclusive.
Length / Duration:2 hours + 30 minutes data preparation and perusal
Formative or Summative: Summative
Weighting:60% or 100%
Relates to objectives: , 2, 3, 4, 5 and AOL goals: KS1.1, KS1.2, CTA2.1, PC3.1
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 7

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Prescribed text
Albright, S. C., Winston, W. L., Zappe, C. J. Revised 4th Ed (2011)Data Analysis and Decision Making with Microsoft Excel, CA: Thompson Learning.

Recommended References
Selvanathan, A., Selvanathan, S., Keller, G., Warrack, B. (2004) Australian Business Statistics. Melbourne: Thomson Learning.

Risk assessment statement

There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with lectures or tutorials in this unit. You should, however, familiarise yourself with evacuation procedures operating in the buildings in which you attend classes and take the time to view the Emergency video.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 10-Aug-2012