TMMBA 511: Summer 2004
Decision Support Models

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Instructor: Mark Hillier
Office Hours: The hour before class on class days, and by appointment
Virtual Office Hours: Sunday evenings, 7:30-8:30
e-mail: mhillier@u.washington.edu

TA: Michael Berman
Office Hours/Review/Help Sessions: Tuesday evenings (check WebCT Calendar)
Virtual Office Hours: Thursday evenings, 7:30-8:30
e-mail: bermanm@u.washington.edu

WebCT Portal: http://vistahosting.webct.com

 

Course Description

This course introduces you to the concepts and methods of management science, which applies mathematical modeling and analysis to management problems. Our principal interest is to help you develop the skills necessary to build and evaluate models and to understand the reasoning behind model-based analysis. Another important goal is to foster a disciplined and critical approach to management situations. You will become more confident in understanding the role of models and their application in other courses and on the job. In particular

  • The course will introduce you to the basic principles and methods of a modeling approach to managerial decision making. You will be able to recognize not only the advantages of this approach but also the assumptions and limitations.
  • You will learn how to use some of the more important models and computer software, becoming proficient with these in much the same way you use an automobile. Just as you can drive a car without detailed knowledge of internal combustion engines or physics, you can use computer-related quantitative models without a deep understanding of mathematical algorithms.
  • The course will strengthen your ability to structure problems and to analyze them in an organized and coherent fashion.
  • You will become familiar with practical situations in which models have been particularly effective.

 

Required Materials

Hillier and Hillier, Introduction to Management Science, Second Edition, Irwin/McGraw-Hill, 2003.

Course Packet includes copies of class transparencies.

 

Course Binder

I have prepared extensive course notes that I use as overheads during lecture. These course notes include examples that we will work together in class and other lecture material. The course notes are not intended as material that you use to prepare for class; my intent is for them to make it easier for you to listen, ask questions, and participate in class, rather than take lots of your own notes during the lectures.

 

Software

Microsoft Excel (including Solver), Solver Table (available online), and Crystal Ball (available on the textbook CD).

 

Grading Policy

The course grade will be based upon scores on the two problem sets and the exam, using the following weights:

Problem Sets 40%
Exam 60%

 

Problem Sets

There will be two problem sets to be prepared by each student. Working with others in your study group is encouraged, however it is expected that you will make every effort to complete each assignment relying primarily on your own understanding of the material. The study group should be used to resolve difficulties that you cannot manage on your own. Information sharing should be in the form of discussion and explanation, and should not include copying of computer files. Each student should turn in his/her own solution to each problem set electronically no later than the start of class on the day it is due. Please title the file as your lastname. If possible, include all spreadsheets in a single workbook on separate tabs. The problem sets will be graded and returned electronically with comments in red.

 

Exam

The exam will be open book, open notes, but must be completed without assistance from any other person. You will be given one week to complete the exam.

 

Topics

  • Linear Programming
  • Sensitivity Analysis
  • Integer Programming
  • Simulation