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Study information

Operations Analytics

Module titleOperations Analytics
Module codeBEMM462
Academic year2024/5
Credits15
Module staff

Dr Han Lin (Convenor)

Duration: Term123
Duration: Weeks

10

Number students taking module (anticipated)

60

Module description

This module focuses on analytics from an operations management perspective. Operations Management covers the design, optimisation and management of products, processes, services and supply chains. It uses analytics to make decisions regarding product and service quality and cost, and as well as decisions regarding acquisition, development, and utilization of resources. You will learn about the value of analytics when applied to different types of data such as: machine data, sensor data, and other forms of data generated by operational systems.

Module aims - intentions of the module

e module aims to impart knowledge and skills in optimisation and decision-making algorithms where students can apply to a variety of fields, including business, education, and research. Graduates of this module would be equipped to frame and analyse decisions through an optimisation framework, leading to employment as technical staff members in business or industry, government planners, and private consultants.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 1. P2: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of key business processes and structures, and the role of business analytics in decision support.
  • 2. P3: Critically analyse and discuss current issues and influences relevant to the ongoing development of business analytics, and its application.
  • 3. P4: Draw on knowledge of current research and practice to identify and apply appropriate analytics methods and tools to a range of business situations.
  • 4. P5: Create, manage, interrogate, interpret and visualise data from a wide range of different sources, types and including structured and unstructured forms.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 5. P6: Critically analyse the use of data within a business context, identifying strengths and limitations.
  • 6. P10: Contribute effectively to managerial decision processes within a business context.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

    Syllabus plan

    The module showcases analytical techniques and tools to problems involving the operations of a system, which includes:

    • Formulating operational and business problems as linear programs
    • Apply solution methods of linear optimisation in operational problems
    • Solving supply and demand issues through the assignment problem
    • Apply network algorithms to solve a broad variety of operational problem
    • Apply multi-objective optimization methods

    Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

    Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
    201300

    Details of learning activities and teaching methods

    CategoryHours of study timeDescription
    Scheduled learning and teaching activities20Lectures, workshops and labs (6 x 5 hours)
    Guided Independent Study60Preparatory reading prior to workshops and lectures
    Guided Independent Study70Practice use of software and concepts from additional exercises and examples

    Formative assessment

    Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
    Review of individual performance on group exercisesDuring workshops / tutorialsn/aVerbal
    Outline plan for assessed reportOne pagen/aWritten/Verbal

    Summative assessment (% of credit)

    CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
    10000

    Details of summative assessment

    Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
    Group assessment (groups of 3 to 4 students)301,000 words1-7Electronic, written comments
    Individual report702,000 words1-7Electronic, written comments

    Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

    Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
    Group assessment (30%)Individual Report (30%)1-7Referral/deferral period
    Individual report (70%)Individual report (2,000 words, 70%)1-7Referral/deferral period

    Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

    The following resources may be useful throughout the course:

    • Winston, W. L., & Albright, S. C. (2019). Practical management science. Cengage. 6th Edition.
    • Bertsimas, D., O’Hair, A., & Pulleyblank, W. R. (2016). The analytics edge. Belmont, MA: Dynamic Ideas LLC.

    Official page for R: http://www.r-project.org

    • Download page: http://www.cran.r-project.org

    Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

    Some helpful websites:

    • http://www.statmethods.net
    • www.rseek.org
    • http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/r/
    • http://finzi.psych.upenn.edu/search.html

    Key words search

    Operations Research, R, Optimization, Analytics, Decision Making

    Credit value15
    Module ECTS

    7.5

    Module pre-requisites

    This module is only available for MSc Business Analytics and MSc Global Operations Management students.

    For students on the MSc Business Analytics there are no pre-requisites.  For students on the MSc Global Operations Management, this module can only be taken if BEMM460 Statistics and Mathematics for Business Analytics has been completed.

    Module co-requisites

    None

    NQF level (module)

    7

    Available as distance learning?

    No

    Origin date

    09/01/2020

    Last revision date

    01/05/2024