ID:
ECO0134
Durata (ore):
0
CFU:
0
Anno:
2026
Dati Generali
Periodo di attività
Annuale (28/09/2026 - 28/05/2027)
Syllabus
Obiettivi Formativi
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Quantitative Methods for Management is an integrated course made of two modules – Applied Statistics (Mod. 1, first semester) and Applied Mathematics (Mod. 2, second semester) – which together provide the quantitative language used in management and economics. The Applied Mathematics module builds the algebraic and analytical tools needed to formalise an economic model and to solve a decision problem: linear systems, input–output models, difference equations and linear programming. The Applied Statistics module builds the tools needed to describe data and to draw inference from them: descriptive statistics, probability, estimation, hypothesis testing and regression. In both modules the theoretical justification of each method is combined with its application to real-world data and problems, starting from the vocabulary of the discipline and arriving at model implementation and interpretation.
EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the course the student will be able to:
1. translate a management or economic problem into a formal mathematical or statistical problem;
2. solve a system of linear equations arising from an economic model;
3. represent the interdependence between the sectors of an economy through an input–output model;
4. determine the stability of the equilibria of a difference equation and of a discrete dynamical system;
5. solve a resource allocation problem formulated as a linear program, using the graphical and the simplex approach;
6. describe a dataset through graphical methods and numerical measures for univariate and multivariate variables;
7. construct a confidence interval for a population parameter from sample data;
8. test a statistical hypothesis on one or two samples, choosing the test appropriate to the data;
9. estimate a linear regression model on corporate and market data;
10. interpret the results of a quantitative model in the light of the domain of application;
11. discuss the extent to which the results depend on the assumptions made about the model;
12. set out the reasoning leading to a solution using appropriate mathematical and statistical notation.
Quantitative Methods for Management is an integrated course made of two modules – Applied Statistics (Mod. 1, first semester) and Applied Mathematics (Mod. 2, second semester) – which together provide the quantitative language used in management and economics. The Applied Mathematics module builds the algebraic and analytical tools needed to formalise an economic model and to solve a decision problem: linear systems, input–output models, difference equations and linear programming. The Applied Statistics module builds the tools needed to describe data and to draw inference from them: descriptive statistics, probability, estimation, hypothesis testing and regression. In both modules the theoretical justification of each method is combined with its application to real-world data and problems, starting from the vocabulary of the discipline and arriving at model implementation and interpretation.
EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the course the student will be able to:
1. translate a management or economic problem into a formal mathematical or statistical problem;
2. solve a system of linear equations arising from an economic model;
3. represent the interdependence between the sectors of an economy through an input–output model;
4. determine the stability of the equilibria of a difference equation and of a discrete dynamical system;
5. solve a resource allocation problem formulated as a linear program, using the graphical and the simplex approach;
6. describe a dataset through graphical methods and numerical measures for univariate and multivariate variables;
7. construct a confidence interval for a population parameter from sample data;
8. test a statistical hypothesis on one or two samples, choosing the test appropriate to the data;
9. estimate a linear regression model on corporate and market data;
10. interpret the results of a quantitative model in the light of the domain of application;
11. discuss the extent to which the results depend on the assumptions made about the model;
12. set out the reasoning leading to a solution using appropriate mathematical and statistical notation.
Prerequisiti
No specific prerequisites are required beyond those needed for admission to the Master’s degree programme. The course assumes familiarity with elementary algebra, with the notion of function and with basic descriptive statistics, as normally acquired in an undergraduate degree in economics or management. A set of self-assessment materials covering these topics is made available on the e-learning page before the beginning of the first module, so that students can check and fill any gap autonomously.
Metodi didattici
The course consists of 80 hours of teaching in total, 40 hours per module, combining theoretical lectures with the application of each method to data and problems drawn from management science and economics. The teaching methods specific to each module are described in the syllabus of the module.
All teaching material is prepared by the instructor and published on the e-learning page of the course; the reading list is managed on Leganto.
All teaching material is prepared by the instructor and published on the e-learning page of the course; the reading list is managed on Leganto.
Verifica Apprendimento
Learning is assessed by a written examination lasting 50 minutes, organised in two parts.
The first part consists of 5 to 6 multiple-choice questions, each offering four options. The second part consists of 2 open-ended exercises, in which the student is required to set out the essential steps and the reasoning leading to the solution; the number of points assigned to each exercise is stated on the examination paper.
The statistical tables needed for the test are provided by the instructor. Students may bring two sheets of handwritten notes, written on both sides; no other notes or books are allowed. A simple calculator may be used; no other electronic device is permitted.
The examination is passed with a mark of at least 18/30. A score above 30 is awarded with honours.
The same examination applies to attending and non-attending students. Simulations of the examination paper, with worked solutions, are published on the e-learning page and discussed in class before the end of the course.
Assessment criteria:
– correctness of the computation and of the formal procedure;
– appropriateness of the method chosen with respect to the problem;
– completeness of the reasoning set out in the open-ended exercises;
– correctness of the interpretation of the results in the managerial or economic context.
The first part consists of 5 to 6 multiple-choice questions, each offering four options. The second part consists of 2 open-ended exercises, in which the student is required to set out the essential steps and the reasoning leading to the solution; the number of points assigned to each exercise is stated on the examination paper.
The statistical tables needed for the test are provided by the instructor. Students may bring two sheets of handwritten notes, written on both sides; no other notes or books are allowed. A simple calculator may be used; no other electronic device is permitted.
The examination is passed with a mark of at least 18/30. A score above 30 is awarded with honours.
The same examination applies to attending and non-attending students. Simulations of the examination paper, with worked solutions, are published on the e-learning page and discussed in class before the end of the course.
Assessment criteria:
– correctness of the computation and of the formal procedure;
– appropriateness of the method chosen with respect to the problem;
– completeness of the reasoning set out in the open-ended exercises;
– correctness of the interpretation of the results in the managerial or economic context.
Contenuti
The course covers the quantitative toolkit needed to formalise, estimate and interpret models of business and economic decisions. It is delivered through two modules of 40 hours each.
Mod. 1 – Applied Statistics (first semester): the aims and the language of statistics; descriptive statistics for univariate and multivariate variables; probability and the main distributions; estimation, confidence intervals and hypothesis testing; regression models.
Mod. 2 – Applied Mathematics (second semester): fundamentals of linear algebra; static analysis and the application of linear algebra to economic models, including input–output analysis and networks; difference equations and discrete dynamical systems; linear programming and duality.
The contents of each module, with the hours assigned to each thematic area, are reported in the syllabus of the module.
Mod. 1 – Applied Statistics (first semester): the aims and the language of statistics; descriptive statistics for univariate and multivariate variables; probability and the main distributions; estimation, confidence intervals and hypothesis testing; regression models.
Mod. 2 – Applied Mathematics (second semester): fundamentals of linear algebra; static analysis and the application of linear algebra to economic models, including input–output analysis and networks; difference equations and discrete dynamical systems; linear programming and duality.
The contents of each module, with the hours assigned to each thematic area, are reported in the syllabus of the module.
Lingua Insegnamento
INGLESE
Altre informazioni
Office hours: by appointment arranged by e-mail (fabio.vanni@uninsubria.it). Meetings can be held in person at the Department of Economics, Via Monte Generoso 71, Varese, or remotely on Microsoft Teams. The updated schedule is published on the instructor’s personal page.
Slides, exercise sets and additional material are published on the e-learning page of the course; the reading list is managed on Leganto.
A tutoring service is active at the Department of Economics. Further information: https://www.uninsubria.it/servizi/tutti-i-servizi/tutorato-dieco
This course contributes to Sustainable Development Goal 4 – Quality Education.
Slides, exercise sets and additional material are published on the e-learning page of the course; the reading list is managed on Leganto.
A tutoring service is active at the Department of Economics. Further information: https://www.uninsubria.it/servizi/tutti-i-servizi/tutorato-dieco
This course contributes to Sustainable Development Goal 4 – Quality Education.
Corsi
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