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MMBA8045 – Managerial Economics: Making Better Decisions

2025 – Term 3, In person-scheduled-weekday, City

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Maroš Servátka
maros.servatka@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MBA or GradCertBusAdmin or GradDipBusAdmin or GradCertMgt or GradDipMgt
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

Learn economic concepts and tools that will enable you to view the business world from a new perspective, allowing you to make better managerial decisions. Set your organisation’s decision-making within its broader economic context and consider the impact on overall efficiency. The unit’s topics include supply, demand, and market equilibrium; scarcity; exchange and trade; choice theory; theory of the firm; game theory and strategy; market structure; asymmetric information; market failures. Examine economic variables and how rises and falls in these variables affect individuals, businesses, and industries. Acquire skills to apply experimentation in organisations.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Evaluate and use a wide array of economic frameworks and information to formulate business decisions.
  • ULO2: Develop a strategy for efficient allocation of scarce resources.
  • ULO3: Critically reflect on how changes in economic conditions affect individual businesses and industries.

General Assessment Information

Late Assessment Submission Penalty (written assessments) 

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern. For any late submissions of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, students need to apply for Special Consideration.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Skills Development: Identifying Organizational Inefficiency 50% No Sept. 7
Professional Practice: Economic Analysis 50% No Aug. 3

Skills Development: Identifying Organizational Inefficiency

Assessment Type 1: Project
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: Sept. 7
Weighting: 50%

 

The purpose of the task is to apply economic analysis to identify an inefficiency in an organization and propose business solutions. This is a learning-by-doing managerial project.  

You will prepare a written report to clearly communicate arguments using appropriate presentation techniques and business language. The development of the idea will be discussed with the lecturer and presented in class to obtain feedback prior to a written submission. 

Skills in focus: 

  • Discipline knowledge 
  • Critical thinking 
  • Problem solving 
  • Communication 

Deliverable: Written submission [max. 1,500 words] 

This is an individual assessment. 

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Evaluate and use a wide array of economic frameworks and information to formulate business decisions.
  • Develop a strategy for efficient allocation of scarce resources.
  • Critically reflect on how changes in economic conditions affect individual businesses and industries.

Professional Practice: Economic Analysis

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: Aug. 3
Weighting: 50%

 

The purpose of the assessment is to form and express strong economic arguments in a situation when circumstances external to the organization change and communicate them effectively using appropriate business language.  

You will prepare essay-style memo, combining  theory, analysis and current issues in the economic environment. The development of ideas will be discussed in class to receive early feedback before submission. The memo must be convincing but succinct. 

Skills in focus: 

  • Communication 
  • Discipline knowledge 
  • Critical thinking 

Deliverable: Written submission [max. 1,500 words] 

This is an individual assessment.  

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Evaluate and use a wide array of economic frameworks and information to formulate business decisions.
  • Develop a strategy for efficient allocation of scarce resources.
  • Critically reflect on how changes in economic conditions affect individual businesses and industries.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

See Ilearn

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Academic Success

Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Unit information based on version 2025.05 of the Handbook