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PSM817Management Sciences3 Unitsintermediate

Planning And Decision Making

This course provides an in-depth understanding of planning and decision-making concepts within public sector management. It explores various planning types, forecasting techniques, and decision-making models. Students will learn to apply management science approaches and understand the nature of managerial decision-making. The course equips learners with tools and techniques for effective planning and critical decision-making in governmental and business contexts, enhancing managerial skills for organizational success.

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45h
Study Time
13
Weeks
3h
Per Week
intermediate
Math Level
Course Keywords
PlanningDecision MakingForecastingBudgetingManagement Objectives

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level
Builds on foundational knowledge
65%
intermediate
📊
Math Level
Moderate Math
📖
Learning Type
Theoretical Focus

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

Planning Process

2

Strategic Planning

3

Forecasting Techniques

4

Budgeting

5

Management by Objectives

6

Decision Making Models

7

Management Science Approaches

8

Nature of Managerial Decision Making

Total Topics8 topics

Ready to Start

No specific requirements needed

This course is designed to be accessible to all students. You can start immediately without any prior knowledge or specific preparation.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (3 methods)

Assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Tutor-Marked Assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Final Examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Career Opportunities

Explore the career paths this course opens up for you

Public Sector Manager

Apply your skills in this growing field

Policy Analyst

Apply your skills in this growing field

Project Manager

Apply your skills in this growing field

Business Consultant

Apply your skills in this growing field

Administrator

Apply your skills in this growing field

Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

GovernmentPublic AdministrationConsultingNon-Profit OrganizationsBusiness Management

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week
1

Module 1: Overview of Planning

2h

Unit 1: Primacy of Planning

2 study hours
  • •Read the definition of planning and its purpose.
  • •Identify the characteristics of a good plan.
  • •Discuss the barriers to effective planning and how to overcome them.
Week
2

Module 1: Overview of Planning

2h

Unit 2: Types of Planning

2 study hours
  • •Identify the different types of plans.
  • •Explain how managers can minimize uncertainty through planning.
  • •Discuss plan classification and its usefulness.
Week
3

Module 1: Overview of Planning

2h

Unit 3: Planning Process

2 study hours
  • •Mention the stages involved in the planning process.
  • •Discuss monitoring and evaluating a plan.
  • •Analyze the current situation and set organizational objectives.
Week
4

Module 1: Overview of Planning

2h

Unit 4: Strategic Planning

2 study hours
  • •Describe the importance of strategic planning to planners and organizations.
  • •Explain the concept of strategic planning.
  • •Discuss the mounting complexity of the managerial job and external environment.
Week
5

Module 1: Overview of Planning

2h

Unit 5: Types of Strategic Planning

2 study hours
  • •Describe the types of strategic planning: planning with specific goals and directional planning.
  • •State when to use each strategy.
  • •Explain the formal approach to planning.
Week
6

Module 1: Overview of Planning

2h

Unit 6: Barriers to Strategic Planning

2 study hours
  • •State the barriers to effective planning.
  • •Describe and identify the likely barriers planners face: resistance to change.
  • •Discuss obstacles to the effectiveness of strategic planning.
Week
7

Module 2: Forecasting Techniques

2h

Unit 1: Budgeting

2 study hours
  • •Define budgeting and its importance.
  • •State the various types of budgets.
  • •Describe the types of budgeting process.
Week
8

Module 2: Forecasting Techniques

2h

Unit 2: Management by Objective

2 study hours
  • •Explain in-depth what MBO is.
  • •Describe the application of MBO in an organization.
  • •State the advantages and disadvantages of MBO.
Week
9

Module 2: Forecasting Techniques

2h

Unit 3: Forecasting

2 study hours
  • •State the importance of forecasting.
  • •Discuss the various forecasting techniques: qualitative, time series, and economic models.
  • •Understand demand forecasting.
Week
10

Module 3: Decision Making Concept

2h

Unit 1: What is Decision Making?

2 study hours
  • •State the different definitions of decision making.
  • •Identify and explain the types of decision making: programmed and non-programmed.
  • •Define what decision making is and its importance.
Week
11

Module 3: Decision Making Concept

4h

Unit 2: Types of Decision Making

2 study hours
  • •Describe the different conditions under which decisions can be made: certainty, risk, and uncertainty.
  • •Explain the processes involved in decision making.
  • •State the factors that affect decision making.

Unit 3: Conditions of Decision Making

2 study hours
  • •Demonstrate the various decision-making techniques: decision trees, matrix, brainstorming.
  • •Explain the type of decision-making technique to apply for each problem.
  • •Describe the decision-making matrix.
Week
12

Module 3: Decision Making Concept

4h

Unit 4: Models of Decision Making

2 study hours
  • •State the models of decision making: rational, bounded rationality, garbage can.
  • •Explain the garbage can model.
  • •Understand the political model.

Unit 5: Management Science Approaches to Decision Making

2 study hours
  • •Explain the major features in an operations research program.
  • •Describe the steps in the management science approach to problem-solving.
  • •Understand the advantages and disadvantages of operations research.
Week
13

Module 3: Decision Making Concept

2h

Unit 6: Nature of Managerial Decision Making

2 study hours
  • •Define the decision-making situation.
  • •Describe how managers find problems to work on.
  • •Explain the methods that managers use to find problems to work on.

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

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Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Review all module objectives and ensure you can meet them.

2

Create summaries of key concepts and theories from each unit.

3

Practice applying decision-making models to case studies.

4

Focus on understanding the differences between planning types and forecasting techniques.

5

Review all Tutor Marked Assignments (TMAs) and their solutions.

6

Create concept maps linking Module 3 decision-making concepts.

7

Allocate study time proportionally based on the weight of each module in the final exam.

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