QUANTITATIVE METHODS FOR ECONOMICS OF ART

The course aims to provide some tools that will allow you to become familiar with quantitative methods and their use in decision-making issues, including those
related to cultural organisations. The course adopts an approach oriented not only to the description of theoretical aspects but also to the applications and use
worksheets and software packages to solve some decision making problems.

The course allows students to acquire methodologies of scientific investigation with particular reference to decision-making problems.

Knowledge and understanding: understanding the meaning of the concept of Decision Making; understanding and knowledge of methodologies capable of dealing with Decision Making problems; understanding and knowledge of linear Programming.

Application of knowledge and understanding: be able to solve decision-making problems that may also affect cultural organisations; to be able to formulate and solve linear programming problems; to be able to use
worksheets and advanced Excel functions for solving some decision problems.

During the course it is assumed that students already know some subjects covered in secondary school courses, in particular the knowledge of linear functions and their graphic representation.

1. Introduction to the Decision Making.
2. Project evaluation. Cost-benefit analysis. Multicriterial analysis. Applications to some decision-making problems.
3. Elements of linear algebra. The AHP methodology and its applications to cultural sector.
4. The spreadsheet as a support to Decision Making and the problem solving.
5. Theory and modelling with linear programming. Applications to museum visits.
6. Performance assessment: the DEA methodology and applications to the performance evaluation of cultural institutions.

- Forman E.H., Selly M.A., “Decision by objectives (How to convince others that you are right)”, World Scientific, 2001
(Ch. 1: Introduction: Management Decision-Making Today. Ch. 2: Problem Solving and Decision-Making.
- Gallo G., “Problemi, modelli, decisioni-decifrare un mondo complesso e conflittuale”, 2006 (Ch. 5: Valutazione di progetti).

Periodically, as the course progresses, more teaching materials will be posted on the Moodle platform. All teaching materials, including handouts and supplementary readings, are made available to students on the Moodle platform (https://moodle.unive.it/ ).

The preparation is checked by means of two homework sessions and a written test.
The two homeworks are optional and are assigned during the course via the Moodle platform; passing the homework will increase the marks in the written test by two points.
The written test consists of three questions, each of which may be divided into sub-questions that contribute to the overall assessment of the examination. The questions (and sub-questions) may be theoretical in nature, or they may be formulated as numerical exercises.
Detailed instructions will be uploaded to the course page on Moodle.

The course is divided into 30 hours of frontal lessons in which theoretical concepts regarding the methodologies covered by the course are presented, as well as concrete applications to decision-making problems.
Two homework are assigned during the course, which allows students to put into practice the notions learned during the class hours

Italian

Detailed information on the program and study materials will be communicated at the beginning of the course on e-learning page (www.moodle.unive.it).

Accessibility, Disability and Inclusion
Accommodation and support services for students with disabilities and students with specific learning impairments

Ca’ Foscari abides by Italian Law (Law 17/1999; Law 170/2010) regarding support services and accommodation available to students with disabilities. This includes students with mobility, visual, hearing and other disabilities (Law 17/1999), and specific learning impairments (Law 170/2010). If you have a disability or impairment that requires accommodations (i.e., alternate testing, readers, note takers or interpreters) please contact the Disability and Accessibility Offices in Student Services: disabilita@unive.it.

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