Planning And Decision Making
- Management Sciences
- 800 level
- 3 credit units
- 113 pages
- 14 units
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.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 45 hours
- Maths
- Intermediate
- Content
- Theoretical, case study, problem solving
- Practical work
- No
- Assignments
- Tutor Marked Assignments
- Final Examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of PSM817, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
PSM817 · UNIT 2 THE TYPES OF PLANNING
In management terms, expected behaviours are performance standards. These standards can be used to measure actual performance. Planning helps management develop a rational, objective basis for performance standards, without planning performance standards are likely to be non- rational and subjective (Donnelly et al, 1984:101).
What you should be able to do
- Understand the principles and processes of planning.
- Apply various forecasting techniques for decision-making.
- Analyze and evaluate different decision-making models.
- Utilize management science approaches to solve complex problems.
- Assess the nature of managerial decision-making in organizations.
What it prepares you for
- Public Sector Manager
- Policy Analyst
- Project Manager
- Business Consultant
- Administrator
- Government
- Public Administration
- Consulting
- Non-Profit Organizations
- Business Management
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 3: Decision Making Concept
Unit 4: Models of Decision Making
Complex mathematical calculations are needed to fully understand the models and their applications.
- Module 3: Decision Making Concept
Unit 5: Management Science Approaches to Decision Making
Requires a strong understanding of statistical methods and mathematical modeling to apply effectively.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 30 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: Overview of Planning
Unit 1: Primacy of Planning · 2 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 2Module 1: Overview of Planning
Unit 2: Types of Planning · 2 hours
Identify the different types of plans.. Explain how managers can minimize uncertainty through planning.. Discuss plan classification and its usefulness..
- Week 3Module 1: Overview of Planning
Unit 3: Planning Process · 2 hours
Mention the stages involved in the planning process.. Discuss monitoring and evaluating a plan.. Analyze the current situation and set organizational objectives..
- Week 4Module 1: Overview of Planning
Unit 4: Strategic Planning · 2 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 5Module 1: Overview of Planning
Unit 5: Types of Strategic Planning · 2 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 6Module 1: Overview of Planning
Unit 6: Barriers to Strategic Planning · 2 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 7Module 2: Forecasting Techniques
Unit 1: Budgeting · 2 hours
Define budgeting and its importance.. State the various types of budgets.. Describe the types of budgeting process..
- Week 8Module 2: Forecasting Techniques
Unit 2: Management by Objective · 2 hours
Explain in-depth what MBO is.. Describe the application of MBO in an organization.. State the advantages and disadvantages of MBO..
- Week 9Module 2: Forecasting Techniques
Unit 3: Forecasting · 2 hours
State the importance of forecasting.. Discuss the various forecasting techniques: qualitative, time series, and economic models.. Understand demand forecasting..
- Week 10Module 3: Decision Making Concept
Unit 1: What is Decision Making? · 2 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 11Module 3: Decision Making Concept
Unit 2: Types of Decision Making · 2 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 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 12Module 3: Decision Making Concept
Unit 4: Models of Decision Making · 2 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 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 13Module 3: Decision Making Concept
Unit 6: Nature of Managerial Decision Making · 2 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..
Preparing for the exam
- Review all module objectives and ensure you can meet them.
- Create summaries of key concepts and theories from each unit.
- Practice applying decision-making models to case studies.
- Focus on understanding the differences between planning types and forecasting techniques.
- Review all Tutor Marked Assignments (TMAs) and their solutions.
- Create concept maps linking Module 3 decision-making concepts.
- Allocate study time proportionally based on the weight of each module in the final exam.
Questions students ask about this course
What is PSM817 about?
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.
How many units does PSM817 have?
PSM817, Planning And Decision Making, has 14 units across 3 modules, over 113 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is PSM817?
PSM817 carries 3 credit units, at 800 level in Management Sciences.
Is PSM817 hard?
PSM817 is rated intermediate level, with intermediate mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical, case study and problem solving work.
How long does PSM817 take to study?
About 45 hours of study, spread across its 14 units.
How is PSM817 assessed?
PSM817 is assessed by Assignments, Tutor Marked Assignments and Final Examination.
What can I do with PSM817?
Public Sector Manager, Policy Analyst, Project Manager, Business Consultant and Administrator.