Decision Analytics for Consulting

Course information

Learning outcomes

Decision analytics comprises methods and tools for supporting better decision making. Often, decision analytics models must be structured in collaboration with human decision makers to capture the decision makers' values, preferences, and beliefs, and to create a sense of ownership of the decision recommendations generated by the model. This course focuses on tools and facilitation techniques in such collaborative decision analytics processes. After taking the course, the student can (i) recognize the types of real-life business problems where the use of models adds value, (ii) facilitate processes for structuring such models in collaboration with human decision makers, and (iii) interpret the results of these models to derive defensible decision recommendations. 

Content

Multiattribute value/utility theory, value-focused thinking, portfolio decision analysis, scenarios, behavioral decision making, group decision processes.

Teacher

Eeva Vilkkumaa

Study material

Lecture slides, scientific articles, assignments.

Workload

Participation in class, assignments, group project work. 

Prerequisites

Compulsory prerequisite: Business Analytics 2 or similar knowledge. The prerequisites will be checked before the course starts.

Evaluation

Participation in class, assignments, group project work. 

Teaching time and location

The teaching time and the location of the course can be found at Sisu information system

1. The link leads to Completion methods tab of the course page
2. From the top of the page (Version drop-down menu), check that academic year 2025-2026 is selected  

3. From the blue bar, click Lecture and open the Groups and teaching times tab to see the teaching time and the location of the course. Exam times can be seen by clicking Exam.
    

   Exam instructions at the Open University

The teacher has four (4) weeks to grade the exam submissions starting from the exam date.

Further information

Substitutes course 27E01000 Decision Making and Choice Behavior

Online learning environment for the course  

MyCourses online learning environment is a tool for both students and teachers for communication and managing everyday course work. You need an Aalto User ID to log in to the course's MyCourses workspace and participate in teaching.

Digital workspace of the course:
MyCourses

More details on completing the course will be available at MyCourses closer to the start of the course.

Registration and course fee

Registration for Open University courses is done via the link below: 
Course registration

Registration for this course starts on 26.1.2026 at 9.00  
Registration for this course ends on 16.2.2026 at 23.59

It is not possible to register before the registration period has started or after it has ended.

The number of participants is limited to 5.

This course is organized by the Aalto University School of Business.

The course fee is paid upon registration for each course at a time and it is binding. Familiarize yourself with registration and payment rules as well as other guidelines for students:
Registration, payments and rules

Activating Aalto ID and Multifactor Authentication

You can activate your Aalto User ID the day after the registration and you should activate it no later than the day before the start of the course.
Instructions for activating your Aalto user ID

Once you have activated your Aalto user ID, also enable multifactor authentication. Some of Aalto University's services require multifactor authentication.

Instructions for using Multifactor Authentication