Syllabus - Term II 2008

MBA 605 - Advanced Quantitative Methods for Management

Stout home

MBA 605 home

Syllabus

Schedule/homework

Lecture notes

Instructor: Donald E. Stout

Phone: Campus 360.438.4587

Voicemail: 360.438.4587

Email: dstout@stmartin.edu (I prefer communication with me via e-mail when possible).

Web site: http://homepages.stmartin.edu/fac_staff/dstout/

Office hours: Old Main 370, MW 2 p.m. - 3 p.m., TR 3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Other times, please call for an appointment.

Required text: Balakrishnan, Render, and Stair, Managerial Decision Modeling with Spreadsheets, 2e, Prentice-Hall, 2007.

Supplemental reading:  Various readings from INFORMS, Harvard Business Review, the Journal of Operations Management, Production and Operations Management, Interfaces, Operations Research, Management Science, or Decision Analysis. Find journal articles either online or in the periodical holdings of O'Grady Library.

Course description: In this course you will get exposure to and practice in the use of mathematical tools for aiding managerial decision-making in the corporate and public sectors. I intend to introduce you to a number of quantitative models proven effective in solving classes of managerial problems. You will use these tools to model various representative sample problems in class and in homework. Several quantitative techniques are reviewed, solved with Excel, and practiced with problems and short cases from the text. The tools to be surveyed include linear programming, network programming and analysis, integer programming, sensitivity analysis, inventory control models, stochastic processes, decision theory, queuing theory, simulation, decision support systems and project management techniques.

Class sessions are three hours in length and meet twice weekly for eight weeks.

Course objectives: This course seeks to improve your understanding of quantitative decision-making for management. I want this course to cause you:

• To develop an understanding of how quantitative tools and analysis may lead to improved decision making.
• To improve your quantitative reasoning ability.
• To increase your facility with spreadsheets.

Teaching strategy:  Material will be presented by a variety of teaching approaches including lectures, in-class exercises, web site exercises, homework, case analysis, and class discussion of assigned problems and readings. When possible a cooperative, student-centered learning approach will be utilized to enable a high level of student involvement.

Course outline
Week 1:
Introduction
Microsoft Excel use, layout, and function
Decision-making
Spreadsheet modeling with Microsoft Excel

Weeks 2:
Linear programming introduction
Graphical analysis
Spreadsheet solutions

Weeks 3:
Linear programming - applications
Linear programming - sensitivity analysis, post-optimality analysis

Week 4:
Exam 1
Linear programming - transportation, assignment, and integer programming

Weeks 5:
Probability and probability distributions
Discrete probability distributions
Continuous probability distributions
Decision theory and analysis
Utility theory

Week 6
Networks/Project scheduling

Weeks 7:
Waiting lines
Simulation

Week 8:
Forecasting
Regression analysis
Review and final exam

Grading:  Your grade will be determined by your performance in the following areas:

Participation/attendance: (10%) I encourage you to be prepared to take part in constructive class discussion. Class participation includes answering questions related to assigned problems, cases, or readings. You will earn a participation score for each class session. Missed sessions earn scores of 0.

I recommend you come to class. I appreciate your presence and active participation during each class period. Your willingness to share personal work experiences and insights enhances course value for all students.

While I take attendance, attendance is not mandatory in the same manner as passing the exams, reading the course material, and doing the homework is not mandatory.

Examinations: (60%) Points will be split between an intermediate examination (25 points) and a final examination (35 points). The final examination will be comprehensive and will be administered during the last class session.

Quizzes: (25%) Unannounced quizzes may be given periodically. Quizzes will be made up of questions or problems taken from lecture material, assigned readings, and homework problems.

Homework problems may be collected, graded, and counted as a pop quiz.

If I do not offer a sufficient number of quizzes or collect sufficient homework to justify a grade in this category, I may add points in this category to the final examination.

Homework (included in quiz points): Late homework will not be accepted. Do your work early.

At my discretion, homework assignments may be collected and reviewed or graded. Homework assignments that I collect and grade will be counted as quiz scores. Homework assignments will be reviewed not only on their content, but also their appearance (just as your boss does at work).

Please adhere to the following guidelines:

1) For non-Excel problems, do your homework on engineering graph paper (the green ruled engineering paper is available in the bookstore and at most office supply stores) - the ruled paper makes graphs easier to construct, problem calculations easier to follow, and handwritten content easier for me to read.

2)  Precede homework solutions with a brief or abbreviated restatement of the homework question in order to create a complete record of the problem.

3)  Show all work. Indicate intermediate steps you took to arrive at each answer. Box your answers.

4)  For computer spreadsheets, please print separate "values" views and "formulas" views. 

5) For all Excel spreadsheets, make sure to print "gridlines" and "row and column headings" so I can properly evaluate your work.

I encourage you to form and work in study groups to do homework problems. I have found discussion within study groups contributes to overall understanding. A cautionary note, I expect you to do your own work. You should use your group as a means to help hurdle specific problem areas, not to replace your own problem-solving thought process.

Each class period we will review homework problems. You may be assigned to present and explain your solution to the class.

Journal article critique/review: (5%) You will be required to review and critique one substantive article of your choosing found in a peer reviewed journal, "Interfaces", "Operations Research", "Management Science", or "Decision Analysis". You will write and submit a one-page summary and critique of the article. Your critique must not exceed one single-spaced, typewritten page. It MUST include a recommendation.

Format your write-up/critique and recommendation to look like a Choice article. Choice is a publication of the Association of College and Research Libraries, a Division of the American Library Association. To see model articles, find back issues of Choice online at O'Grady Library.

Keeping in touch with me:  First, ask questions in class (it helps you and likely helps others). Alternatively, visit me during my posted office hours. Slide a note under my office door ("Old Main" room 370).  Call me (360 438-4587).  Or, send me an email (dstout@stmartin.edu).

Special assistance: The Learning Center offers individual learning consultations, study group assistance, handouts and books on study skills, and free peer tutoring in the following subject areas: math, chemistry, physics, economics, accounting, Spanish, French, and Japanese.  The tutoring schedules are posted outside the door in Old Main, room 212. To learn more about resources available through the Learning Center you are encouraged to drop by room 208 or visit their website:  www.stmartin.edu/academics/learning_center/index.htm.

Special needs:  If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, if you have medical and/or safety concerns to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible.

Office:  
Room 370 "Old Main"

Phone:
360.438.4587

E-Mail: dstout@stmartin.edu

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