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Quantitative versus Qualitative Decision Making - Lesson Plan: 2 x 1 hour lessons

A series of 'off the shelf' lesson plans and resources for use in the classroom. These lessons deal with Quantitative versus Qualitative Decision Making and are relevant to the following specifications:

• AQA: Unit 4, 13.7
• Edexcel: Unit 4
• OCR: Module 2875, 2876

Aim

The aim of these lessons is to try to draw together understanding of the various quantitative decision making techniques essential for the A2 specifications with a consideration of the moderating impact of qualitative factors in decision making.

Students are given a scenario loosely based around recent decisions of a variety of businesses to relocate aspects of their activities to India. Some basic information is given, which hints at the quantitative factors that have been produced. The student is asked to consider what significance qualitative factors should have on the eventual decision.

To guide students in their thinking, a number of points have been provided. Further discussion of these points will help students to formulate their thinking but the emphasis of the assessment is on evaluation skills.

One example given is the issue about the rise in the number of calls being handled. One argument could be that the firm ought to look at the cost imposed by the apparent necessity of these phone calls - are they generating new business or are they calls to make complaints or queries? If it is the latter two then perhaps the firm could save a good deal of money by solving the root cause of these problems rather than shifting dealing with them abroad.

Such a discussion of these points should help students to consider issues that perhaps they might not normally think of when dealing with the balance between quantitative and qualitative decision making.

Learning Objectives

At the end of these lessons, students will:

• Have reviewed the advantages and disadvantages of different quantitative methods
• Identified at least three different qualitative factors in decision making
• Shown an ability to explain the impact of qualitative decision-making factors in relation to quantitative factors
• Demonstrated evidence of evaluative skills through making supported judgments based on explanation in the context of the case study

Resources

• PowerPoint Presentation - Quantitative and Qualitative Factors in Decision Making [109 KB] (basic version also available for quicker download [101 KB])
• Mind Map - Quantitative and Qualitative Factors in Decision Making
• Activity - Quantitative versus Qualitative Decision Making
• Large sheet of paper (flip chart paper)
• Marker pens

Lesson Structure

Lesson 1

1. Introduce the lesson by getting students in pairs to write down two different quantitative methods of decision-making and to make a list of at least two advantages and disadvantages of each. (10 minutes)
2. Feedback and discuss the issues to ensure that the strengths and limitations of quantitative methods are clear. (10 minutes)
3. Introduce the PowerPoint Presentation and discuss the different qualitative factors that firms may need to consider in making decisions. (20 minutes)
4. Introduce the Activity and outline its aims. Go over the 'things to think about' and discuss some of the implications. (15 minutes)
5. Review the main points of the lesson and outline tasks for the next lesson. (5 minutes)

Lesson 2

1. Remind students about the aims and purposes of the lesson. (5 minutes)
2. Set students on task - the Activity can be carried out with the intention of each student producing a written report or could be done in pairs with the intention of each pair feeding back and the whole class discussing the different outcomes. (50 minutes)
3. Review main outcomes of the lesson. (5 minutes)