Quantitative Methods: A Business Perspective

A straightforward, step by step, Quantitative Methods book aimed particularly at those from a non-mathematics background who may find the topic difficult. The author takes a non-threatening and non-theoretical approach, using practical examples and case studies from Business and Management to consolidate relevant principles and conceptual understanding. Activities and exercises are designed to build up the confidence of the reader and provide familiarity with handling numerical information. The learning development is clearly structured in each chapter: objectives and key concepts introduce the topics in each chapter and after the exploration and development of these via examples, activities and relevant case studies, a self-assessment and summary consolidate learning development. A glossary is provided for clarification. At the back of the textbook there are several integrating case studies covering a selection of topics of varying length, which are ideal for seminars and assignment work. A disk is also included containing solutions to all the worked activities, self-assessments and exercises seen in the book using Excel 5. The textbook is also accompanied by a lecturer's supplement containing guidelines, model answers, solutions to the activities and examples and ideas for the development of the case studies at the back of the textbook.

Table of Contents:
Introduction; The toolkit; Financial mathematics; Collecting business information; Effective business presentations 1; Effective business presentations 2; Business analysis; Uncertainty in decision making 1; Uncertainty in decision making 2; Linear relationships in business; Fundamentals of business forecasting; Integrating case studies; Short answers; Glossary of terms; Appendix A; Appendix B; Index.

Review :
'This is just the book for those who have struggled in maths/stats at earlier levels...it really is excellent!' Keith Fargher, Senior Lecturer, Portsmouth University Business School 'This book effectively builds up from the basic numeracy to the intricacies of forecasting techniques. Loads of relevant examples give the book a very practical feel.' Paul Reynier, Senior Lecturer, Oxford Brookes University Business School 'This is an excellent book.' 'The way in which the author has used the spreadsheet Excel will overcome many of the difficulties that students normally associate with this subject area.' 'The 'toolkit', so carefully written, at the beginning of this book will be of great value to those students whose mathematical knowledge is limited.' 'The integrative case studies at the end of each chapter provide an excellent vehicle for checking how well the reader has understood the material contained in that chapter.' 'I would have no hesitation in recommending this book to my students.' Rod Gunn, Lecturer, University of Glamorgan Business School 'Diana Bedward's book provides an excellent platform for first-year undergraduates...A good book indeed.' Times Higher Educational Supplement.