apply the terms and concepts covered during the semester (Introduction to decision making, Long term decisions, Decisions and uncertainty, Auctions, Sequential strategic decisions, Hidden action, moral hazard, Simultaneous strategic decisions, Long term strategic decisions, Auctions)to describe and analyse an everyday strategic (multi-person) decision situation of their choice. The example situation to be discussed can be taken from politics, business, sports, warfare, social or even virtual life. The situation should be rather focused and simplified, stylised to a manageable level. General and complex problems should not be addressed in this short assignment.
Students should collect some relevant information but must not worry about covering the issue comprehensively; they should substitute missing data with reasonable assumptions. Instead of data collection the efforts should be focused on analysis, developing arguments, meaningful application of the relevant terms and concepts.
The project should
Describe the decision situation appropriately; options available, the constraints of the decision, timeline, uncertainty, risk;
Reflect on the necessary information (availability, depth, reliability)
Highlight the objectives of the decision makers; the (lack of) conflict of interest
Elaborate on the relative merits of the options available, compare their advantages and drawbacks; the paper shall address the intertemporal, risky and strategic aspects of the decision problem respectively.
Analyse the situation, characterize the optimal decision and the expected outcome
Evaluate the decisions made; suggest potential improvements
The project shall result in a 2000 words formal, academic paper. The paper shall meet all the formal requirements (referencing, plagiarism, late submission, word limit, etc.)
Assessment criteria
All sources of information must be fully and comprehensively referenced using the Harvard style. Plagiarism shall result in a mark of 0, and an automatic disciplinary procedure conducted by the IBS’s Academic Conduct Officer.
Markers will assess the following points:
Formal and structural requirements of an academic paper, academic style, polished English (spellcheck, etc.), reasonable structure, acceptable paragraphing;
Appropriate Harvard-style referencing (see the guidelines for referencing on the Intranet) of adequate sources.
Description the situation, collection of relevant and appropriate data, reflection on availability, depth, reliability;
Recognition of the connections between real world phenomena and textbook material; meaningful application of basic terminology, theories, concepts
Depth of the critical analyses of ideas and/or arguments reviewed practices described during the semester
Logical design and explanation of well-founded arguments; convincing presentation of personal opinion.
Sample of decision situations
Decisions in sports;
The penalty kick in soccer, handball, hockey; pacing in distance running, cycling, swimming; changing tyres in F1; actions, serving, in tennis, badminton, squash, baseball;
Decisions in military; famous battles of Napoleon, Alexander the Great;
Decisions in international conflicts; ebola epidemic; middle East, Russia vs. Ukraine, Afghanistan (attack vs defend, etc.); conflicts in and around the EU, USA;
Decisions in politics; issues from election campaigns; government dilemmas
Decisions from social life;
dating, partying; time allocation, traffic, commuting; finding accommodation in Budapest; holiday planning; education, career plans; completing group tasks for IBS modules, team building;
Decisions from business; selling or buying, trade negotiations; accepting a job.
Book:
B-P: Baye, M., J.T. Prince (2013): Managerial Economics and Business Strategy. 8th.