MIS41160 Optimisation in Business

Academic Year 2023/2024

Core.
A foundational module giving an overview and a complete taxonomy of the field of optimisation, and detail on some specific approaches, with some focus on classical optimisation.

Topics:
● Foundations of Operations Research
● Just-in-time maths (eg Calculus prerequisites)
● Numerical and gradient-based optimisation
● Combinatorial and convex optimisation with exact methods
● Heuristic search and optimisation (hill climbing, etc), also greedy approaches
● Software implementations

Show/hide contentOpenClose All

Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this module, students should be able to:
1. Translate a verbal optimisation problem into a formal mathematical model and select a computational solution approach;
2. Choose an appropriate software tool to implement and solve the mathematical model;
3. Interpret the solution results in detail and discuss the limitations of the chosen solution approach;
4. Describe the similarities and differences between different optimisation approaches.

Indicative Module Content:

1. Problem formulation - Mathematical Modelling;
2. Mathematical Functions and Operations;
3. Continuous Functions - what we measure;
4. Discrete Maths - what we count;
5. Optimisation Applications.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

36
Small Group

1
Specified Learning Activities

48
Autonomous Student Learning

70
Total

155
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
In compliance with health advise on social distancing, activities may take place online and may include:
active/task-based learning;
peer and group work;
face-to-face and recorded lectures;
self-assessment practice exercises;
 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Examination: End of trimester exam in exam hall (not online) 2 hour End of Trimester Exam No Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

70
Continuous Assessment: Assignments/Mini-Projects/MCQ Varies over the Trimester n/a Graded No

30

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Individual grade and summary class feedback for MCQs; Grade per team and summary class feedback for team assignment.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 
Autumn
      
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Thurs 13:00 - 14:50
Tutorial Offering 1 Week(s) - 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Wed 16:00 - 16:50
Lecture Offering 2 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Thurs 10:00 - 11:50
Tutorial Offering 2 Week(s) - 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Wed 14:30 - 15:20
Autumn