| CODE | MGT5179 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Tools for Business Decision Making | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Business and Enterprise Management | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit will be roughly divided into three. In the first part of the study unit, the discussion will center on the broader context of the role of 'evidence' in the form of data within organization environments. It will evaluate the role of business research and the transformation from data to information to knowledge and reflect on a number of organizational and ethical research issues linked to this. In the second part, students will be provided with an understanding of the nature, structure and organization of typical Research proposals and research reports and will be presented with an explanation of the relevance of past literature and the handling of it. This part will also engage the students to debate critical issues in management research covering topics like: (i) the scientist vs. practitioner debate, (ii) Management and evidence, (iii) qualitative vs quantitative paradigms, (iv) primary vs secondary data, (v) the time factor, (vi) the role of theory in management research, (vii) complexity vs. simplicity of design). The last part will be more technical and will discuss the tools necessary to engage in the transformation of data to knowledge. It will thus cover aspects related to Reliability and validity issues, Data collection methods, mixed methodologies, Data analysis techniques and levels of analysis, and Common misconceptions and interpretative biases. Study-unit Aims: The aims of this study-unit are three: 1.To distinguish between 'good' research and 'mediocre' research; 2. To evaluate effectively research documents and reports as decision-tools; 3. To appreciate research skills as a tool that adds value to decision-making. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - explain the role of research in current business realities; - debate several research controversies and diverse positions; - describe several techniques and know their appropriate use; - identify several misconceptions and highlight appropriate remedies. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - do a critical review of a paper; - run a research project; - employ the right techniques to address the research question/s; - write clear and concise research reports. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main text: - Saunders, M., Lewis, P. & Thornhill, A. (2012). Research methods for business students (6th ed.). Harlow, England: Pearson. Supplementary text: - Huck, S. W. (2009). Statistical misconceptions. New Your: Routledge. - Rousseau, D. M. (ed.) (2012). The Oxford Handbook of evidence-based management. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Students will be also provided with a pack of selected papers during the beginning of the programme. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Kirsten Maria Cutajar Miller |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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