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BUSI4AV15: Decision Science and Analytics in Energy Business Management

Type Tied
Level 4
Credits 15
Availability Not available in 2025/2026
Module Cap
Location Durham
Department Management and Marketing

Prerequisites

  • None.

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combinations of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • To provide an overview of common decision-making techniques in energy management sectors.
  • To provide an appreciation of predictive and prescriptive business-analytics techniques and implement these models using appropriate software.
  • To show how business analytics can help companies to make better decisions in the energy management context.
  • To provide knowledge of, and ability to apply, storytelling with data to promote data-driven decision-making with the energy businesses.

Content

  • Fundamental data analytics tools such as descriptive analysis.
  • Predictive techniques such as linear regression, machine learning.
  • Prescriptive techniques such as linear optimisation, queueing theory.
  • Decision making tools such as utility theory, game theory, decision tree.
  • Project management methods such as PERT, Critical Path method.
  • Computational technology such as simulations.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

  • By the end of the module students should be able to:
  • Demonstrate the ability to use operations research and decision theory principles to tackle complex problems in energy business management.
  • Apply prescriptive analytics to make data-driven decisions in both certain and uncertain business contexts.
  • Assess the value of information and make informed bets on future trends and reactions in the energy sector.
  • Integrate Net-Zero objectives into traditional business analytics and decision science frameworks.
  • Evaluate the impact of business decisions on the environment and recommend solutions that align with global Net-Zero ambitions.

Subject-specific Skills:

  • By the end of the module students should be able to:
  • Conduct basic analysis with data provided in energy business.
  • Model the common optimization and decision-making problem related to Net-Zero target.
  • Implement predictive and prescriptive business-analytics models using appropriate software packages.
  • Interpret the results of business analytics models and their relevance for companies.
  • Choose appropriate business-analytics techniques for some key management problems.

Key Skills:

  • Effective written communication skills
  • Oral presentation
  • Planning, organising and time-management skills
  • Problem solving and analytical skills
  • Sourcing appropriate data and evaluating evidence
  • Interpreting and using data
  • Selecting appropriate modes of communication
  • Making effective use of communication and information technology
  • Storytelling with data
  • Coding skills (preferred but not necessary)
  • Group work

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • This module will be delivered jointly by the Business School.
  • Learning outcomes are met through lectures and computer workshops, supported by online resources. Online resources provide preparatory material for the lectures and computer workshops - typically consisting of directed reading and video content.
  • The formative assessment consists of classroom-based exercises involving individual and group analyses and presentations on specific business situations/problems relevant to the learning outcomes of the module.
  • The summative assessments are an individual video presentation and an individual business analytics project. Both assessments are designed to test the ability to formulate a problem, apply appropriate business-analytics techniques to analyse it, and critically interpret the results obtained.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Lectures10Weekly2 hours20 
Seminars4Fortnightly1 hour4Yes
Preparation and Reading126 
Total150 

Summative Assessment

Component: Individual Written Assignment and Individual Video PresentationComponent Weighting: 100%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Assignment1500 words maximum60
Presentation5 minutes40

Formative Assessment

The formative assessment consists of classroom-based exercises involving individual and group analyses and presentations on specific business situations / problems relevant to the learning outcomes of the module. Oral and written feedback will be given on a group and / or individual basis, as appropriate.

More information

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