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MN20023: Business forecasting

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2012/3
Follow this link for further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: School of Management
Follow this link for further information on credits Credits: 6
Follow this link for further information on unit levels Level: Intermediate (FHEQ level 5)
Follow this link for further information on period slots Period: Semester 1
Follow this link for further information on unit assessment Assessment: CW 40%, EX 60%
Follow this link for further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Follow this link for further information on unit rules Requisites: Before taking this unit you must take MA20228 or take MN10008
Follow this link for further information on unit content Description: Aims:
Almost all organisations use forecasts as necessary ingredients for decision making. The main objective of this course is to introduce students to the various forecasting techniques most commonly used in a business context and methods by which these techniques can be evaluated.

Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the course students will be able to:
* understand the role of forecasting in organisations;
* identify appropriate forecasting methods for particular problems;
* apply, and evaluate the performance of, these forecasting methods;
* evaluate the role of management judgment in forecasting processes and apply methods to improve its effectiveness.

Skills:
Key
* an openness and capacity to continue learning with the ability to reflect on earlier knowledge and practice and integrate the new with past experience and effectively apply it to the present situations. F
Intellectual
* evaluate forecasting processes and methods T, A
Practical
* use information technology effectively for applying forecasting methods T,A
Professional
* deal with complex issues and make sound judgements in the absence of complete information, and to communicate their conclusions clearly and competently to a range of audiences. F

Content:

* The role of forecasting in organisations,
* Stages in the forecasting task
* Measuring bias and accuracy
* Time series analysis
* Univariate methods, including exponential smoothing, Holt's and the Holt Winter's method;
* Explanatory methods: bivariate and multiple regression;
* The role of management judgment in forecasting: heuristics, biases and improvement strategies, The Delphi method.
Follow this link for further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

MN20023 is Optional on the following programmes:

School of Management
  • UMMN-AFB02 : BSc (hons) Accounting and Finance (Full-time) - Year 2
  • UMMN-AKB02 : BSc (hons) Accounting and Finance (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 2
  • UMMN-ANB01 : BSc (hons) Business Administration (Full-time with Thin Sandwich Placements) - Year 3

Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2012/13 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2013/14 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2012/13.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.