“Investing in Africa’s Future”

FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

Quantitative Methods for Business Analysis

MBA 503

Instructor: TARAMBAWAMWE PHIDELIS

Office: F18
Phone: 026302060075 EXTE 226 (Office) 0263772726390 (CELL)
e-mail: tarambawamwep@africau.edu, tarambawamwep@gmail.com

Textbook: Lind, D. A., W. G. Marchal and R. D. Mason, Statistical Techniques in

Business & Economics, Eleventh Edition, McGraw-Hill Irwin, Boston, MA,
2002.
Software: SPSS& TORA

Introduction

Course Goals:

The course’s primary aim is to broaden student’s knowledge and skills in the use of
quantitative analysis in managing and analyzing data for business to improve the quality
of decision making in a dynamic environment. This course satisfies the MBA
background requirements for quantitative analysis and production management
techniques. The course will cover descriptive statistics, inferential statistics and math
models with business applications to analyze management and organizational problems.
Specific topics include: measures of central tendency and variation, probability
distributions, estimation, hypothesis testing, regression and correlation, decision theory,
linear programming, transportation and assignment models, and inventory management
and queuing theory models.

The level of mathematical treatment is somewhat more advanced than an undergraduate

class, but will still be moderate (high school algebra). This course does begin with the
basics. The student taking MBA 503 without having had a prior statistics class will find
that the material will be somewhat more difficult, but can be survived.

Course Objectives:
The objective of this course is to provide an understanding for the undergraduate business
student on statistical concepts to include measurements of location and dispersion,
probability, probability distributions, sampling, estimation, hypothesis testing, regression,
and correlation analysis, multiple regression and business/economic forecasting. By
completing this course the student will learn to perform the following:
1) How to calculate and apply measures of location and measures of dispersion.
2) How to apply discrete and continuous probability distributions to various business
problems.
3) To understand the meaning of a null and an alternative hypothesis as well as the
meaning of type I and type II error. Further, to perform test of hypothesis as well as
calculate confidence interval for a population parameter for a single mean, includin g use
of the t and the z test.
4) Compute and interpret the results of Bivariate Regression and Correlation Analysis and
be able to interpret computer generated regression results
5) Learn the basic concepts of Linear Programming, Network Analysis and Decision
Theory

Course Requirements:

1. The course builds concepts upon one another, making it essential that you follow
the chapters of the module, keep up with the readings and take good notes.
2. The understanding of concepts and development of problem solving abilities are
attained through careful study and individual practice. You are strongly advised
to attempt all practice questions assigned, with minimal reference to the textbook
and/module notes. You are required to solve further practice problems both
manually and on a computer whenever a computer is applicable. This may
enhance your understanding of the concepts and may help you identify the types
of software available to support your decision making. If you have trouble
understanding the material, don't hesitate to contact the instructor either during
his office hours or by making an appointment.
3. Students are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner.
Professionals show up for scheduled meetings, do all what is required of them and
get prepared on time.
Grading:

Your grade for the course will be determined approximately by the following:

Test &
40%
Assignments

Final Exam 60%

FINAL MARK 100%

Tentatively, a letter grade will be assigned as indicated in the following:

85% and above A

80% and above but below 85% A-
75% and above but below80%
B+
70% and above but below 75%
B
65% and above but below 7%
B-
60% and above but below 65% C+
Below 60% F
 Tentative Outline

Study
Topic Pages
Unity
1 Overview & Introduction to Quantitative Analysis
( Introduction to Statistics)

2. Methods of summarizing data

2.2.1 Tabular summaries
2.2.2 Graphical summaries
2.2.3 Numerical/Statistical Summaries
2.2.3.1 Measures of central tendency/location
2.2.3.2 Measures of dispersion
2.2.3.3 Measures of position
2.2.3.4 Measures of comparison
2.3 Test of hypotheses( One Sample Hypothesis Tests
Two Sample Hypothesis Tests & Chi Square Tests) and ANOVA
2.3.1 Definitions and types of hypothesis: Null and Alternative
2.3.2 Steps in testing hypotheses, significance levels and criteria for rejecting
hypotheses
2.3.3 Type of tests and Errors in Hypothesis testing
3 Linear and Multiple Regression
& Correlation
3.1 Correlation- (Pearson /Spearman and interpretation) and the coefficient
of determination
3.2 Linear Regression: Simple, multiple applications and interpretation of
regression coefficients