Product Description

This title offers a comprehensive introduction to quantitative techniques that emphasizes business relevance throughout. It features: student friendly style using in-text activities and a variety of end-of-chapter exercises; use of mini case studies to illustrate the relevance of the subject to the business world; reflection section which allows a deeper insight into the techniques introduced in the chapter; use of Excel and SPSS to demonstrate the practical aspects of the subject; extensive Companion Website for students and lecturers; and a concise, accessible, comprehensive introduction to quantitative techniques emphasising business relevance and discussing the challenges of problem-solving in the real world. Coverage of this title includes chapters on Revision Mathematics, Investment Appraisal, Decision-making and Simulation. Excel and SPSS are integrated throughout.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #64482 in Books
• Published on: 2009-03-26
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 496 pages

Review
"'[A]n efficient instrument to pierce the fog to understanding the complexities encountered in the business world... Although seemingly aimed primarily at academia, it will also profit those in management and decision making in business.' - Journal of the Operational Research Society
'An excellent book for 1 semester courses in introductory business statistics...the new edition contains more student friendly features and is exactly right for a first course in applied statistics for non-specialists' - Melanie Powell, Principal Lecturer, Derbyshire Business School, Derby University
'This well written book rapidly develops students' knowledge and skills and is ideal for undergraduate business and accounting students as well as those preparing for professional examinations' - Dr. Amir Khossousi --London Metropolitan University

Review
'In the Fourth Edition of this book, Oakshott provides the perfect introduction for students with no previous exposure to quantitative methods. The text assumes no prior knowledge, providing all the necessary mathematical background in a preliminary revision chapter. Often students are left with the impression that they need never concern themselves with the collection of data. Oakshott, however, understands the importance of taking time to describe data collection methodologies prior to introducing descriptive statistics, probability theory and inferential statistics. Thus the reader is presented not only with a set of practical tools but also with a deep understanding of the research process.

The structure of the chapters in this Fourth Edition is a paragon of clarity. As real learning comes not just from seeing but from doing, in addition to carefully presenting theoretical material, Oakshott also provides the reader with a large number of worked examples and exercises to give readers ample opportunity to become proficient practitioners. The examples presented are also noteworthy in that they are both current and relevant, deliberately chosen to grab the reader's attention. In summary, I would recommend this text to anyone in the fields of business and finance who wishes a clear and comprehensive introduction to research methods and statistics.' - Dr. Patrick Murphy, Lecturer in Quantitative Methods and Statistics, School of Mathematical Sciences, University College Dublin, Ireland
 
'This attractively presented and user-friendly textbook provides an excellent and comprehensive coverage of the key quantitative methods that are used in businesses and other organizations. Each chapter has a clear set of objectives and the reader's learning experience is enhanced through activities, exercises and summaries of key points. The topics are introduced in a way that makes them accessible to people from a wide range of backgrounds, while the book's emphasis on applications should ensure that readers are able to apply appropriate methods to practical problems with insight and confidence.' – Paul Goodwin, Professor of Management Science, University of Bath, UK
 
'This is a very relevant textbook with a clear presentation of the material and explanations that would fit perfectly an introductory course on quantitative methods or statistics. Learning is facilitated by numerous support materials included in the text adding practical relevance to the topics studied. I would strongly recommend this book for most undergraduate degree programmes in Business.' - Vladimir Ryabov, Principal Lecturer, Kemi-Tornio University of Applied Sciences, Finland

'This improved edition of Les Oakshott's book will be welcomed by teachers and students alike. The clear presentation of methods and techniques ensures that the book will be of use for business students at all levels. Guides to the use of EXCEL and SPSS are integrated within the text so that usefully sized problems can be soon be solved by those with some prior experience and by those coming to quantitative methods for the first time.' - Alan Jessop, Senior Lecturer in Operational Research, Durham Business School, The University of Durham, UK
 
'Oakshott's new text provides a clear and friendly introduction to mainstream business mathematics methods. Impressively illustrated and produced, it will appeal to business students of most quantitative abilities.' - Jim Freeman, Lecturer in Statistics, Manchester Business School, UK 
  
'This student-friendly text is extremely accessible and is pitched at just the right level for a first course in Quantitative Methods. The use of real-life examples motivates the techniques developed, whilst the wide variety of support material available makes it easy for students to consolidate their learning. As the title suggests, this is an essential text for undergraduate students on programmes in Business, Management and Finance.' - Dr. Lee Fawcett, Lecturer in Statistics, Newcastle University, UK
 
'This book provides a sound introduction to the use of mathematical and statistical techniques for business decision-making. Many students, particularly those who struggled with maths at school and those whose encounters with numerical concepts were a long time ago, will find this title extremely helpful in reducing their anxieties. The written style is sympathetic to non-expert mathematics students, and the examples provided are relevant to business students. A good feature at the end of each chapter is a reflection section, where students are encouraged to think about what they have learned in each. Examples at the end of each chapter help to reinforce the concepts and provide practice in typical assignment and examination questions.' - Adrian Boucher, Business Consultant and Visiting Lecturer in Quantitative Management Analysis, University of Birmingham Graduate School of Business, UK

'Having used for several years the third edition of this book as the core text for a large level one module on quantitative methods for Marketing students, I am pleased to see the appearance of a new edition which maintains the attractive features of the previous editions, whilst at the same time introducing several improvements and additions that should benefit both student and lecturer. In particular, the use of some colour gives the book extra visual appeal, and the popular beginning of chapter 'quantitative methods in action' case studies have been updated or replaced so as to reflect contemporary concerns in Society, Business and Economics. The new edition - as did the earlier editions - illustrates the rich and dynamic interplay between the underlying Mathematics, the real life applications, and the practical and effective use of computer software, this feature being of great value to Business students learning modern quantitative methods.' - Dr. Tim Swift, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK
 
'Essential Quantitative Methods will prove especially valuable to business students because of its clear approach. This enriched fourth edition looks at Monte Carlo application, with updated coverage of SPSS and Excel, as well as linear programming and multi-attribute decision applications. A friendly companion website supports the answers to review questions supplied in the book. This enlightening edition should be regarded as essential reading for those facing uncertainty in their quantitative analyses.' - Nesrin Okay, Professor in the Department of Management, Boğaziçi University, Turkey

'Clear and concise, this book is an excellent introduction to quantitative techniques. The author has addressed three important pedagogical issues:

1. The text starts at a level where many students actually are. This is enhanced by the use of diagnostic tests and remedial exercises
2. Motivation is vital and it's refreshing to see where real life applications drive the mathematics and not the other way round.
3. The author has a great grasp of what concepts and ideas students find difficult and additional motivation and examples are provided to address this. - Brendan McCabe, Professor in the University of Liverpool Management School, UK 
 
The new edition of this highly successful textbook comes packed with new material and increased coverage of topics already present in earlier editions. I would emphasise the Monte Carlo applications, the increased attention to Linear Programming as well as the revised and updated coverage of SPSS and Excel software. Overall, it is a very well balanced textbook that may be suitable for students in any area of studies where a quantitative approach is essential and not just in Business Schools - Giorgos D. Kokkoris, Faculty of Environment, University of the Aegean, Greece   
 
An excellent book that covers the essential analytical methods, both basic and advanced, needed in business. Its clear and well presented layout make it very accessible and easy to read. It has practical relevance without lacking comprehensive theory, making it an ideal hands-on book for case studies and work which needs quantitative foundation.' - Markus Burbach, Masters student in Business Administration at the Business School of the University of Mannheim, Germany

From the Publisher
toc
Reviews: 'For the average business course lecturer, besieged by students who can just about add one and one, this book will be a godsend.' - The Lecturer

'HND and undergraduate students on business management courses will find this useful, as will those on Chartered Institute of Marketing and Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply courses, as well as those involved in management and social science research. All in all, a comprehensive and effective book.' - Times Higher Education Supplement

Contents: Revision Mathematics

Index Numbers

Investment Appraisal

Survey Methods

Presentation of Data

Summarising Data

Probability and Decision-Making

The Normal Distribution

Analysis and Interpretation of Sample Data

Testing a Hypothesis

Correlation and Regression

Time Series Analysis

Linear Programming

Critical Path Analysis

Inventory Control

Simulation

Appendix 1: Answers to Exercises

Appendix 2: Statistical Tables

Appendix 3: Mathematical and Statistical Formulae

Customer Reviews

Good approach but lacking in some details
I used this book as the required textbook for an Introductory course on Quantitative Methods for Management at the Master's level. It has the benefit of being brief, inexpensive, and covers both mathematics and statistics, which few books of this type do.

In the end this book may work better for people who have already had some exposure to this material and who simply need a "refresher". For those students who have very little quantitative background, it may be too brief. A more comprehensive book is probably be more appropriate in this case.

The students complained about numerous small mistakes, which, with luck, have been removed in the second edition.

Essential Quantitative Methods for Builness amangement and Finance by Oakshott.
I have used earlier editions of this book and am very impressed with the new style, presentation and content. Well done Mr. Oakshott.