Recommended Additional Resources

Curwen J and & Slater R Quantitative Methods for Business Decisions 6th Ed. Thomson Learning London 2008 ISBN 978-1-84480-574-7
Wisniewski M Quantitative Methods for Decision Makers 4th Ed. Pearson Education Harlow 2006 ISBN 978-0-273-68789 -4
Business Decision Making 2nd Ed. BPP Learning Media London 2010
ISBN 978-0-7517-6832-9
Excel for Dummies – specific for the version year e.g. 2003, 2007 and 2010 etc.

Online ‘library’ resource available via ilearn

EBSCO Business Source Complete

Assessment Criteria for PassTo achieve a pass you must meet all of the assessment criteria as stated below. Failure to cover all of the assessment criteria will result in a referral grade and you will be required to re-submit your assignment.Further guidance on completion of your assignment can be found in the guidance notes which are posted on the group learning space by your module tutor. For additional support please post questions onto the group learning space, or email pbyrne@rdi.co.uk | Learning Outcomes/Assessment Criteria | Criteria MetFor tutor use(you may wish to use this in your preparation for your assignment submission) | LO1 Be able to use a variety of sources for the collection of data, both primary and secondary | | | 1.1 create a plan for the collection of primary and secondary data for a given business problem | Task 2a,b | | 1.2 present the survey methodology and sampling frame used | Task 2c | | 1.3 design a questionnaire for a given business problem | Task 2d | | LO2 Understand a range of techniques to analyse data effectively for business purposes | | | 2.1 create information for decision making by summarising data using representative values | Task 1a iii, 1b | | 2.2 analyse the results to draw valid conclusions in a business context | Task 1b | | 2.3 analyse data using measures of dispersion to inform a given business scenario | Task 1a iii, 1b | | 2.4 explain how quartiles, percentiles and the correlation coefficient are used to draw useful conclusions in a business context | Task 1a iii, 1b | | LO3 Be able to produce information in appropriate formats for decision making in an organisational context | | | 3.1 produce graphs using spreadsheets and draw valid conclusions based on the information derived | Task 1b | | 3.2 create trend lines in spreadsheet graphs to assist in forecasting for specified business information | Task 1a iii | | 3.3 prepare a business presentation using suitable software and techniques to disseminate information effectively | Task 1b | | 3.4 produce a formal business report | Task 1b, 3 | | LO4 Be able to use software-generated information to make decisions in an organisation | | | 4.1use appropriate information processing tools | Task 3c | | 4.2 prepare a project plan for an activity and determine the critical path | Task 3d | | 4.3 use financial tools for decision making | Task 3a,b,c | | Assessment Criteria for MeritTo achieve a Merit all of the Pass criteria need to be met, then the tutor will assess whether you have met the Merit Criteria. Each of the Merit criteria must have been met at least once within the assignment.The following statements are examples of how a merit may be achieved, if you do meet the Merit Criteria by showing you have reached this level in other ways then credit will be awarded for this. You will need to meet M1, M2, and M3 at least once. | | | The student shows a critical appreciation of the theoretical aspects covered in the course, this is particularly evidenced with reference to Task One B) by interpreting the descriptive statistics, Task 2 C) by justifying strategies and identifying possible bias | M1 | | The Student shows high quality use of the formal presentation of their work as either a presentation or as a report. | M2 | | The student shows a high level of analytical skill, using statistics and other tools to justify a business case and make solid recommendations, particularly in Task Two and Three | M3 | | Assessment Criteria for DistinctionTo achieve a Distinction you have met all of the Pass and the Merit criteria. Each of the Distinction criteria must be met at least once within the assignment.The following statements are examples of how a Distinction may be achieved, if you do meet the Distinction Criteria by showing you have reached this level in other ways then credit will be awarded for this. You will need to meet D1, D2, D3 at least once. | | | The student shows a mastery of theoretical aspects covered in the course by using tools and data to justify a strong business case. The use of statistics is well contextualised and the presentation, discussion and analysis of information is contextualised in terms of the business case. | D1 | | The Student shows exceptional use of the formal presentation of their work as either a presentation or as a report. | D2 | | The student shows an exceptional level of analytical skill, using statistics and other tools to justify a business case and make solid recommendations, particularly in Task Two and Three | D3 | | Assignment is completed on time and meets one or more of the criteria given below on the first attempt | D4 | |

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