Tom Yang Zhang completed his Master of International Economics and Finance at the University of Queensland with a GPA of 5.5. He took courses in business decision techniques, econometrics, and benefit-cost analysis. The business decision techniques course equipped him with skills in operations research, management science, and linear programming. It helped develop his decision-making abilities. The econometrics course extended his understanding of regression models and taught him to extract useful information from data. Benefit-cost analysis bridged academic and industry knowledge by teaching techniques to evaluate public and private projects using cost-benefit analysis and risk analysis in Excel.

1. Tom Yang Zhang Course Description tomyangzhang@outlook.com
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University of Queensland
Master of International Economics and Finance (GPA 5.5)
1. Business & Economic Decision Techniques:
This course has given me a working understanding of some of the principal
techniques used in business decision making. The quantitative techniques discussed in
this course are collectively known as operations research (OR) or management
science (MS) techniques. The OR / MS approach to business and economic decision
making is scientific, relies on formal mathematical models, and involves the extensive
use of computers.
The most reason that I found this course one of the most enjoyable is that it prepares
me with very sound technical practice in developing my decision-making skills in my
future roles. With the passion driven by the close correlation of this course to the
industry, I yielded a High Distinction for this subject.
Topics discussed in this course include linear programming, transportation &
assignment models, project scheduling & control, inventory models, and decision
theory & games. These techniques can be used to solve problems in areas as diverse
as product mixing & blending, firm efficiency & benchmarking, project management,
& multi-period financial planning. Problems & exercises are solved using Microsoft
Excel and other software packages (e.g. WinQSB).
2. Elements of Econometrics:
This course builds on the simple linear regression model, extends into more
sophisticated models. This area of study has becoming more and more prominent in
the analysts and decision makers’ radar, as it has numerous applications in Economics,
Finance, Accounting, Marketing, Management and related areas.
By completing this course with a Distinction grade, I receive hands-on experience in
applying these techniques is gained through the use of EViews, an econometric
computer software package. In addition, it also equips me with a practical
understanding of extracting useful information from a load of different data sources,
to simplify and reflect data information into decision-making.
Topics covered include: economic models & role of econometrics, linear regression,
general linear model, hypothesis testing, specification testing, dummy variables,
simple dynamic models and simple cointegration models. Practical problems are
solved using EViews.
3. Benefit- Cost Analysis:
This is another practical course that I found really exciting, as it bridges the gap
between academic and the industry. The objective for this course is to use a variety of
techniques of applied welfare economics & investment appraisal to undertake benefit-

2. Tom Yang Zhang Course Description tomyangzhang@outlook.com
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cost analysis (BCA) of public & private sector projects, with an extensive use of MS
Excel spreadsheets. The emphasis is on methods and techniques of applied financial,
economic and social cost-benefit analysis.
As a conclusion for this course, we completed a social benefit cost analysis on the
proposed Jambalaya Island highway project, including a formal risk analysis using
@RISK add-in gadget (see attached for the report and Excel documents).
This course has particularly helped me developing the analytical skills using the most
common computer software Excel Spreadsheets to a very extensive extent, refining
the collected qualitative and quantitative information into concise and manageable
decision- making sources.