MBA853

Decision Support System

Management Sciences
800 level
3 credit units
206 pages
12 units

This course introduces information systems experts and business managers to the application of decision support systems (DSS) for timely and accurate business decisions. It provides a trend and perspective of DSS in the evolution of information systems. The course covers various DSS types, e-business applications, predictive analysis, spreadsheets, executive information systems (EIS), geographic information systems (GIS), expert systems, and artificial intelligence (AI).

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About this course

Difficulty: Intermediate
Study hours: 156 hours
Maths: Intermediate
Content: Theoretical, practical, case study
Practical work: Yes

Before you start

Basic Computer Literacy
Introductory Statistics
Management Principles

How it is assessed

Assignments
Tutor marked assessments
Final examination

What you'll read

The real module and unit structure of MBA853, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.

Module 1

Module 2

Module 3

One paragraph, so you can see how it reads

MBA853 · UNIT 1 INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION SYSTEMS

SYSTEM interconnected system or subsystems of equipment that is used in the acquisition, storage, manipulation, management, movement, control, display, switching, interchange, transmission, or reception of voice and/or data, and includes software, firmware, and hardware.

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What you should be able to do

Explain the different meanings of information systems
Classify DSS into various forms
Describe the applications of different types of DSS
Define the concept of executive information system (EIS)
Define and understand the concept of expert systems

What it prepares you for

Careers

Business Analyst
Data Analyst
IT Consultant
Management Consultant
Information Systems Manager

Where it is applied

Banking
Healthcare
Retail
Manufacturing
Government

Tools

Spreadsheet Software (e.g., Microsoft Excel)
Database Management Systems
Statistical Analysis Software

Where it gets hard

The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.

Module 2: Advanced Applications
Unit 2: Predictive Analytics
Requires understanding of complex statistical techniques and their application in predicting future trends.
Module 2: Advanced Applications
Unit 3: Spreadsheet
Involves understanding the intricacies of data modeling and the relationships between different data elements.

A suggested way through it

Suggested

13 weeks, about 60 hours in total. Yours will differ.

Week 1Module 1: Introduction
- Unit 1: Introduction to Information Systems · 3 hours
  Understand the history and evolution of information systems.. Identify the structure and types of information systems.. Analyze the relationship between different systems..
- Unit 2: Overview of Decision Support System · 3 hours
  Define decision support systems (DSS) and their components.. Explore the history and development process of DSS.. Classify DSS into various forms..
Week 2Module 1: Introduction
- Unit 3: Decision Theory and Decision Making · 4 hours
  Identify different types of decision theory.. Differentiate between normative and descriptive decision theory.. Explain cognitive and personal biases in decision making..
- Unit 4: Types of DSS · 3 hours
  Identify and define major types of decision support systems (DSS).. Understand the applications of different types of DSS.. Compare and contrast the forms of DSS..
Week 3Module 1: Introduction
- Unit 5: Decision Support in E-Business · 5 hours
  Link the concept of e-business and decision support systems.. Identify major e-business decision support applications.. Use a case study to illustrate the application of DSS in e-business..
Week 4Module 2: Advanced Applications
- Unit 1: Online Analytic Processing, Online Transaction Processing and Business Analytics · 4 hours
  Define online analytic processing (OLAP).. Trace the development and history of OLAP.. Outline the functions and identify different types of OLAP..
Week 5Module 2: Advanced Applications
- Unit 1: Online Analytic Processing, Online Transaction Processing and Business Analytics · 4 hours
  Define online transaction processing (OLTP) and its requirements.. Discuss the benefits and disadvantages of OLTP.. Define business analytics, its history, applications, and challenges..
Week 6Module 2: Advanced Applications
- Unit 2: Predictive Analytics · 5 hours
  Define predictive analytics.. Identify different types of predictive analytics.. Explain ways of applying predictive analysis in decision making..
Week 7Module 2: Advanced Applications
- Unit 2: Predictive Analytics · 5 hours
  Identify, compare, and contrast various techniques associated with predictive analytics.. Name some of the popular tools used in predictive analytics..
Week 8Module 2: Advanced Applications
- Unit 3: Spreadsheet · 4 hours
  Define spreadsheet and evaluate its history.. Identify types of spreadsheets and their uniqueness.. Describe the concepts of cell, sheets, and charts..
Week 9Module 2: Advanced Applications
- Unit 3: Spreadsheet · 4 hours
  Identify the applications of spreadsheets as decision-making tools.. Explain the evolution of languages to deal with changes in spreadsheets.. Identify the challenges facing spreadsheets..
Week 10Module 2: Advanced Applications
- Unit 4: Executive Information System · 4 hours
  Define and understand the concept of executive information system (EIS).. Evaluate the development and history of EIS.. Identify major components and contents of EIS..
Week 11Module 2: Advanced Applications
- Unit 4: Executive Information System · 4 hours
  Outline the various applications of EIS in sectors of business.. Answer questions of advantages and disadvantages associated with EIS.. Explain what the future holds for EIS..
Week 12Module 2: Advanced Applications
- Unit 5: Implementing Executive Information System · 4 hours
  Differentiate EIS from traditional information systems.. Identify the purposes of an EIS.. Identify challenges to the effectiveness of EIS in an organization..
Week 13Module 3: Emerging Trends
- Unit 5: Implementing Executive Information System · 4 hours
  Identify major indices for an effective EIS implementation.. Describe how EIS fits into organizational objectives.. Review all course materials and prepare for final examination..

Preparing for the exam

What to do

Create concept maps linking Module 1 concepts of information systems and DSS.
Practice applying decision theory models from Unit 3 to real-world scenarios.
Review e-business DSS applications from Unit 5, focusing on case studies.
Master OLAP and OLTP concepts from Module 2, Unit 1, including their differences and applications.
Focus on predictive analytics techniques (Unit 2) and spreadsheet functions (Unit 3) with practical examples.

Questions students ask about this course

What is MBA853 about?

How many units does MBA853 have?

MBA853, Decision Support System, has 12 units across 3 modules, over 206 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.

How many credit units is MBA853?

MBA853 carries 3 credit units, at 800 level in Management Sciences.

Is MBA853 hard?

MBA853 is rated intermediate level, with intermediate mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical, practical and case study work, and it has a practical component.

How long does MBA853 take to study?

About 156 hours of study, spread across its 12 units.

How is MBA853 assessed?

MBA853 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.

What do I need before starting MBA853?

Basic Computer Literacy Introductory Statistics Management Principles

What can I do with MBA853?

Business Analyst, Data Analyst, IT Consultant, Management Consultant and Information Systems Manager.