Integrating Engineering and Management: Be a Master in Decision & Computing Science

 By Dr. S R K Prasad

 

The Corporate world is becoming highly competitive and the right approach to solve complex issues is what is needed in organizations for the future. Machine learning and Artificial Intelligence are moving at a rapid pace and making inroads into all fields of human life. The 5-year Integrated MSc programme in Decision and Computing Sciences is designed to give students a good grounding in fundamental concepts of various approaches using mathematical models and computer algorithms for managerial decision making.

What is Decision Science?

Decision theory is a stepping stone to Artificial intelligence. Decision Science is a combination of Applied Psychology, Rational decision making models, communications about probability and risk, human perception, models of social systems and game theory, which are very essential to take crucial decisions in organizations that are confronted with very complex situations.

Decision Science is a tool box of approaches and the student learns which approach to select when faced with a new problem. For example, the tool box approach can be used to figure out how to split rent given unequal bedrooms in a house shared by two people. Prediction can be made as to what is a fair rent for the bigger room and how to deal with asymmetric information.

MSc program in Decision and Computing Sciences

The MSc program in Decision and Computing Sciences has specially been designed to ensure that the student has the capability to combine advanced computing along with various aspects of probability and risk in order to provide meaningful and workable solutions to organizations to move forward to meet the global challenges of the future. These students, in the next few years, are going to be the most sought after as they will be equipped with all the necessary capability to be able to provide solutions and advice corporates to beat the competition and move to greater heights. This course will also give students the chance to pursue internships in high end IT companies and the top universities in India and abroad.

Where to study this course

The college offering this programme must be fully equipped to teach both theoretical and practical aspects. The faculty should be highly qualified and equipped with knowledge in various cutting edge technologies to be able to guide the students to achieve their goals. This course also provides for various visiting faculty from universities abroad and this set of faculty will concentrate mainly on practical case study approach to solve complex real world problems. The thorough understanding provided by this course gives a student an edge in employability compared to students who just study Computer Science. In the future, concept based integrated MSc courses of this kind which combines disciplines to provide meaningful and implementable solutions to complex real world problems seems to be an alternative to students just studying Computer Science and Information Technology.

Course and career prospects

The students who graduate from this course will have an edge over their counter parts from other disciplines in the purview of job opportunities. The reason for this is, these students are fully equipped to understand and provide implementable solutions using the latest automation tools for real life problems that confront corporates, industry, government and society. In terms of emoluments arising out of jobs, the students from this course could expect at least a 20% increase as compared to their counterparts. As the population of these students keeps increasing, the benefit to corporates to meet competition could increase tremendously. As a result of this, these students can in the long run expect much better positions especially in the managerial category as they will be an enviable combination of advanced computing skills coupled with high end managerial capability and decision making.

Conclusion:

In short, this course lays a strong foundation in mathematics, computer concepts, business models, a deep understanding of real life processes with risk and uncertainty, while moving towards finding answers to questions and problems that confront mankind in the future. The students who come out of this course would be part of an enviable work force who would be extremely important and essential in building an advanced nation in future.

About the Author:

Dr. S R K Prasad is Chairman and Correspondent, Coimbatore Institute of Technology.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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