BSc (Hons) Management Science

UCAS code: G200

Overview

What is Management Science?
Management Science, often known as Operational Research or abbreviated to MS/OR, looks at an organisation's operations and uses mathematical or computer models, or other analytical approaches, to support decision making. In today's fast changing and competitive world, organisations need ways to think through the consequences of decisions before taking them.
Management Science methods are used in many organisations, whether large or small, private or public sector. The work is enjoyable and satisfying because it is varied, intellectually stimulating and well-paid. We have been teaching MS/OR since 1964 and have an extensive network of graduates in the business world. Our degree courses are highly-rated by employers, who seek out people with problem solving skills.

Our degrees are ideal for students who expect to achieve reasonable grades in maths or statistics and who wish to develop into problem solvers with good communication skills.

Management Science at Lancaster

Staff of the Management Science Department are actively involved with many business and government organisations. This ensures that the courses are up-to-date and relevant to the needs of employers. At the same time, our staff are active in research and enjoy world-wide reputations for the quality of their work. The department, as part of the Management School received a rating of 5* (the highest possible) for its research and a rating of Excellent (the highest possible) for its teaching.

The undergraduate degree is designed to produce practical, numerate and computer-literate management scientists who can undertake real projects and develop new approaches. Our graduates are highly-rated by employers. They work for organisations in the private sector, in consultancy companies, in the manufacturing or service sector or in the public sector, such as the NHS. Some are based in a management science group, others are part of multi-functional teams. Their work may include business planning, the development of information systems, the analysis of marketing decisions, production planning, logistics and supply chain management. Many are now in senior positions.

Requirements

A-level: AAB including Maths or Statistics.

General Studies: Accepted as one of 3 A-levels

GCSE: Maths and English Lang (min grade B in both)

Scottish Highers: Normally ABBBB; inc. Maths or Statistics

International Bacc: 34 pts overall with 16 pts from best three HL courses

BTEC: Overall grades of DDM/DDD

IELTS: 6.5

Candidates offered places are invited to an open day.

First Year

In the first year all Management Science students take an introductory course in statistics and computing (MSCI101) before Christmas and an introduction to Management Science/ Operational Research (MSCI103) after Christmas. In addition students normally take one other Management School subject and a third subject which can be selected from within the Management School or the rest of the University.
In the MSCI101 course students are taught some statistical and mathematical skills integrated in a management context. Students will also be introduced to some computing skills, in particular word processing using WORD and spreadsheets using EXCEL. In the MS/OR course (MSCI 103), lectures introduce a range of mathematical techniques, such as simulation, linear programming, network analysis and so on, and also cover statistical methods relevant to managerial situations. There are also a number of case exercises based on real projects and, in this context, an emphasis is placed on the communication skills involved in making recommendations and the reporting of results of projects to managers.

All lectures and case exercises are integrated with workshops in which supervised experience of structuring and solving problems can be gained. These workshops are typically in groups of about ten students.

Formal requirements

Majors in Management Science must take MSCI 101 and MSCI 103, which together make up one Part I subject.

Other Years

What courses do I take in year 2 and 3?
In the second and third years there is a considerable degree of flexibility and choice for the student to be able to explore in more depth those areas of technique or application that are of particular interest to him/her. In total around twenty individual courses are on offer within the department. These are organised into five categories; decision analysis techniques, statistical methods, management applications, project management and computing and business information systems. A brief outline of a sample of these courses is given below.

Decision analysis techniques
Computer Simulation - By carefully analysing the structure of a system found in an organisation it is often possible to build a computer model that is able to mimic the essential dynamics of the system. Experiments may then be carried out on this model in order to discover how the system itself is likely to respond to managerial changes. This course introduces the techniques required to build such models and, in particular, enables students to master simulation packages.
Mathematical programming is one of the most widely used and one of the most powerful methods available for helping to solve certain types of management problem. For example, in the production of cars, the aim may be to maximise profits whilst meeting constraints in terms of the availability of man hours, equipment and raw materials and so on. This type of problem is well suited to a mathematical programming approach.


Statistical methods
Statistical modelling for decision making - At the heart of many real management problems is data that needs to be described, analysed and interpreted. A management scientist needs to analyse data in order to support decision making. For example statistical models that will predict sales on board a cross channel ferry from passengers travelling on foot, by coach or by car will help the ferry company management set their ticket prices.

Project management
Project Management Skills - Management science often takes the form of projects within organisations and there are several courses in the programme covering project management skills. One type of skill reflects problem solving abilities, including problem recognition, the setting of objectives, problem formulation, data collection, analysis, interpretation and so on. Other skills concern communication abilities and include teamworking, interviewing, negotiating, writing effective reports, and the making of oral presentations. In these courses skills are learned by means of realistic practical case exercises.

Management applications
Quality and Risk Management - There has been a recent ‘quality revolution’ in organisations and part of this course addresses the nature of this revolution and discusses its historical background and organisational context. It covers the new approaches being taken to the improvement of quality and also deals with the analytical methods required in areas such as process control, acceptance sampling, reliability assessment and so on. The course also looks at the techniques and understanding that organisations use to manage risk - particularly risk of catastrophic failure involving large scale of loss of life, environmental harm or reputational damage.

Computing and business information systems
Business Information Systems Analysis - Modern management requires a sound knowledge of the wide potential for using computerised information systems to improve efficiency and effectiveness. The courses identify this potential and the requirements for achieving the benefits in practice. They cover the analysis of business operations, the identification of information needs and the design of appropriate information systems. They include the practical use of database software, the techniques for determining business data processing requirements and an introduction to database design.

USA-Canada
Students on the Management Science/USA-Canada degree scheme (G201) take appropriate courses for credit at their chosen university in Canada or the USA during their second year.

Formal requirements

Majors in Management Science must take MNGT 212, MSCI331, MSCI 251, MSCI 252, MSCI 352, MSCI 222 and MSCI 223; and at least two from MSCI 231, MSCI 281, MSCI 282, MSCI 381, and MSCI 382. In total, at least 5 units must be taken from the department's courses.

Assessment

This scheme of study is assessed on the basis of 16 half-units of assessment.

Approximately half of the total assessment is by coursework, depending on a student’s choice of courses. Many exams are "open book", i.e. students may take books and notes into the examinations and refer to them, and are designed to test students ability to make use of methods and ideas rather than simply to remember material.

Management Science & Operations Management