Module overview
The module introduces some widely used quantitative approaches for characterizing uncertainty and risks in finance and management problems. The aim of the module is to introduce a number of widely used techniques for uncertainty and risk management and provide an understanding of how they can be used in practice.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- analyse and quantify risks in finance and management sciences with some well-known methods and techniques such as VaR, CVaR and stochastic programming
- develop and analyse stochastic programming models for portfolio optimization, network capacity expansion
- demonstrate writing skills
- utilise suitable mathematical methods to solve these models;
- demonstrate knowledge and understanding of structure of uncertainty and risk, value at risk and conditional value at risk, decision analysis, utility theory and stochastic optimization
- build models for simple problems in managerial decision making under uncertainty
- structure practical problems
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Critically analyse quantitative risk management methods context and challenges regardless of the industry.
- Analyse risk situations and dynamics considering the pluralistic nature of risk management;
- Appreciate the sources of risk in business, such as supply chain risks, project risk, technology risk and others;
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Organize, present and communicate your professional and academic views in written form.
- Develop analytical and critical approaches to quantitative risk analysis;
- Appreciate the complexity of actual business world and how quantitative risk methods can improve business performance;
Syllabus
1. Structure of uncertainty and risk: probability of a risky event, intersection risk, union risk, using sampling to reduce uncertainty – Bayesian method, portfolio risk
2. Measuring risk: Value at risk and conditional value at risk, generic risk measures, coherent risk measures, application of the risk measures to simple problems in financial investment and using copulas to model multivariate distributions.
3. Decision analysis: utility theory, stochastic dominance models, St. Petersburg paradox, Allais paradox
4. Stochastic modelling and analysis: Markowitz portfolio optimization model, newsvendor problem, two stage stochastic programming model for network capacity expansion, two stage stochastic programming recourse models for production planning, two stage Stakelberg leader follower model, sample average approximation, robust approaches for stochastic optimization
5. Using Monte Carlo simulation to value real options
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
The knowledge and appreciation of the theoretical bases will be developed through the lectures and complemented through directed reading and formative exercises.
Type | Hours |
---|---|
Teaching | 24 |
Independent Study | 126 |
Total study time | 150 |
Assessment
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Written exam | 100% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Written exam | 100% |
Repeat
An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Written exam | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External