SULLIVAN UNIVERSITY

COURSE SYLLABUS

MGT 404

MANAGEMENT DECISION MAKING

INSTRUCTOR: WJ Patterson OFFICE HOURS: Friday 8am – 12 noon

EMAIL:wjpatterson@sullivan.edu

PHONE: (502) 456.6504 http://www.iluv2teach.com

CELL: (502) 533.1671

I. COURSE DESCRIPTION

Decision-making is the most significant contribution that management can make in any organization. Decision-making should take place at the very top of the organization, using the rationale that these strategic choices make by the top leadership team trigger dozens of other decisions throughout the organizational structure. Decisions definitely set the tone, direction, and tempo of the organization, and thus make every individual and department unit a significant team participant to the decision-making process. The student will investigate the many variables and conditions leading to the moment of decision and implementation of the decision. The course will focus on “quantitative approaches to decision making,” and introduces you to a variety of management science models, methods, and procedures. In this course,emphasis is placed on problem modeling and the interpretation of results, and emphasis is also given to mathematical techniques and solution algorithms.

II. STUDENT OUTCOMES

Upon successful completion of this course, the student:

· Apply the decision-making process in a business setting and differentiate between rational and irrational decisions.

· Realization of how individual thoughts and perceptions can affect the decision making process.

· To develop a working proficiency of the tools used in managerial decision-making

· Students will gain knowledge in how to perform basic data analysis, statistical tests, regression and forecasting analysis, and simulation

· Students will become proficient in interpreting results, identifying problems

with analyses, and making decisions using results.

Requirements

III. REQUIRED TEXT

• Business Economics and Managerial Decision Making.  Trefor Jones, John Wiley, 2004.1^st Edition. (Required)

IV. PRE-REQUISITES

Either MGT 304 (College of Business Students) or HSM 304 (Hospitality Studies Students)

V. ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

Sullivan University's policy on cheating and plagiarism is consistent with the definition of plagiarism provided by Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary:

to plagiarize is to;

w steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own;

w use (a created production) without crediting the source;

w to commit literary theft;

w present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source.

Sullivan University also considers a student to be guilty of plagiarism if the student allows their original work to be used by another student for academic credit.

Note: Refer to the Student Handbook for complete details of the Sullivan University policy.

VI. COMPUTER LAB POLICY / HOURS

Computer Science Tutors are available for all students
Monday - Thursday afternoon between 2:00 and 6:00 and at other times by appointment.
Consult the Student Scene or Night Scene Newsletter for daily schedules,
or ask your instructor for more information.

Computer labs will be available daily to students during the following hours:

Monday - Thursday.......... 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Friday & Saturday............ 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Sunday............................. 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Students are encouraged to use the computer labs when classes are not in session during the day, and at the following times:

Monday - Thursday................... 2:45 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Friday, Saturday & Sunday........ some labs available all day

When a class is in session, students may use any computer not used by a student in the class, as long as the scheduled class is not disrupted. The following rules apply during these times:

Ø Do not enter a computer lab while an instructor is lecturing to the class.

Ø Do not ask the instructor for assistance with an assignment or project.

Ø Sit in the back of the room, if possible.

Ø Allow students in the scheduled class to use their choice of computer.

Ø Notify the instructor if you are having a computer hardware problem.

** Food and drinks are NOT allowed in any carpeted area of the building**

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It is a Class C felony in the State of Kentucky to alter computer files without authorization. At Sullivan University, the following actions are considered a Class C felony and are subject to both criminal action and instant dismissal from school:

* Changing the "Welcome to Sullivan University" banner on a computer

* Changing any desktop setting or windows setting unless part of a class assignment

* Loading personal programs or games on a computer

* Intentionally modifying files not specifically assigned as part of a class assignment

* Using any computer for personal reasons

VII. EVALUATION

Quarter grades will be based on the schedule shown below.

GRADING SCALE:

A = 90 - 100

B = 80 - 89

C = 70 - 79

D = 60 - 69

F = below 60

Evaluation

Bi-Weekly Exams 40%

Final Exam 25%

Project 25%

Attendence 10%

VIII. COURSE SCHEDULE

Week 1 – Introduction, Chapter 2-Business Objectives and theories of the firm

Week 2 – Chapter 3 – Risk and Uncertainty

Week 3 – Chapter 5 – Demand Analysis

Week 4 – Chapter 5 – Cont.

Week 5 – Chapter 7 – Production and Efficiency

Week 6 – Chapter 8 - Costs

Week 7 – Chapter 10 – Pricing in Practice

Week 8 – Chapter 13 – The Entrepreneur and the development of the firm

Week 9 – Chapter 15 – The Growth of the Firm

Week 10 – Chapter 19 – Changing the boundaries of the firm - Mergers

Week 11 – Wrap Up / Final Exam

Note: This course schedule is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor due to time constraints or other extenuating circumstances.