Foundations of Decision-Making (BUSA90505)

Data plays a crucial role in modern businesses and senior executives need to use it effectively to make decisions that ensure organisational success. To leverage data, executives must develop a proficiency in data analysis. This includes the ability to evaluate likelihoods, manage uncertainties, interpret statistical insights, and critically assess visualisations—key skills required to solve complex challenges and make sound decisions. 

Through data-driven decision-making, executives can apply proven theories and frameworks from real-world business cases, allowing them to tackle pertinent issues within their organizations with greater accuracy and strategic foresight. 

Leaders often face cognitive biases that can impede effective decision-making.  Drawing on leading research, this module will help executives develop a more accurate understanding of others, recognise the biases influencing their decision-making processes, and grasp the impact of emotions—both positive and negative—on leadership decisions.  

By honing these skills, you will be equipped to frame strategic challenges effectively, evaluate information to make informed choices, and lead with emotional intelligence to foster alignment and drive organisational success.  

This subject offers an action-learning opportunity where senior executive MBA students conduct research and provide consulting for their own or another organisation, addressing a current global issue. It provides an opportunity to engage with and practically apply the subject matter from across the various modules, synthesising their interdisciplinary learning towards tangible real-world outcomes. Each cohort will focus on a specific, high-impact theme—such as ESG or AI—ensuring a deep, interdisciplinary exploration of a strategic challenge.     

The subject is delivered through structured sessions, with key deliverables due at various points throughout the course. Emphasising collaboration with alumni and industry partners, students will engage with guest speakers and project mentors, enriching the learning experience and fostering connections to enhance the project’s impact.   

In this module, we set the foundation for the project by addressing topics essential for project delivery including project scoping, diagnosing organisational problems through data and insights, assessing organisational readiness for change and presentation skills. 

Data Driven Decision-Making:

• Apply data analysis techniques and computational frameworks to evaluate business situations and support effective decision making.
• Communicate technical insights clearly by mastering the language, principles, and tools of data analysis.
• Employ modelling techniques (such as regression) to analyse complex relationships between business variables.

Managerial Judgement

On completion of this component students should have:

• Critically evaluate the influence of cognitive biases, intuition, and cognitive dissonance on individual and organisational decision-making, and develop strategies to enhance objectivity and effectiveness in leadership contexts.
• Apply insights from neuroscience and behavioural science to improve executive decision-making under uncertainty, ambiguity, and time pressure, particularly in high-stake environments.
• Lead and optimise strategic decision-making at the team and organisational level by fostering collaborative alignment, improving resource allocation, and ensuring coherence with long-term priorities and goals.

Leading with Influence for Impact:

• apply leadership and change management frameworks to diverse organisational contexts, improving agility and responsiveness to evolving business challenges.

Senior Executive Project:

• Integrate cross-functional and interdisciplinary approaches to analyse and provide insights into complex, contemporary business challenges, driving strategic decision-making.