Text & Excel supportText & Excel SupportLOYOLA MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITYSPRING 2011MBAA 607: Operations Analysis & Decision Support SystemsInstructor: Linda Leon, Hilton #209, 338-7634, [email protected] Time:Class Room:Monday 4:25 – 7:05 pmHilton 113Office Hours: Monday 8:15 - 9:15 am, 2:15 - 4:15 pmWednesday 8:00 - 9:15 am, 12:15 - 1:00 pmThursday 11:00 am - 12:00 pmText: Ragsdale, Spreadsheet Modeling and Decision Analysis, 5th edition Revised, South-Western College Publishing, 2008. Prerequisites: MBAA603, sound knowledge of algebra, basic spreadsheet proficiencyLearning OutcomesUpon completion of the course, the student should:1. Understand how to model operations management and decision-making problems using quantitative management science techniques.2. Understand various operations management and decision-making problems encountered in today's business world, including resource allocation, demand forecasting, inventory management, project management and queueing system analysis.3. Have developed analytical and computer modeling skills necessary to implement and analyze decision problems.4. Be able to integrate the information provided by the use of quantitative techniques and computer models into the decision-making process and be aware of the limitations of the quantitative technique used.Course DescriptionThis course is intended to expose the potential manager to operations management and help discern the value of information provided by quantitative models for decision-making in various operation applications. The emphasis will be on model formulation, the interpretation and modification of solutions, and the understanding of the mathematical versus verbal explanation of a situation. Some solution techniques will be introduced and Excel will be used in depth to solve and analyze problems. Cases and computer exercises will be assigned to complement the lecture material. Class time will be utilized to structure, analyze and discuss these exercises. Students are expected to attend class, read the assigned case materials beforehand, attempt the in-class computer exercises and homework, and participate in the class discussions. Course Requirements and Grading PolicyTwo projects will be assigned and graded. These projects will require each student to develop his/her own spreadsheet model. Students will submit a typed 1 to 2 page executive summary and supporting computer files in MyLMUConnect. At least two weeks will be allowed for completion of the projects. Late projects and projects not meeting the required format will not be accepted.Problems from the book and short computer exercises will also be assigned as homework for each course topic in order to reinforce the concepts, methods and techniques studied. These problems and exercises will not be graded and solutions will be provided on the course website the next lecture. Cases will be used as a basis for several small group class discussions and exercises throughout the semester. Students are expected to prepare the cases before the class lecture period so that they can participate meaningfully in the discussions. Background work for three of the cases will be collected and graded to reflect your preparation effort. These three cases are marked on the syllabus.Flash snippits will be posted as course documents in MyLMUConnect as they become relevant. These optional snippits will provide support for many of the intermediate Excel concepts required in this class. The course outline identifies the topics where the different snippits will be relevant to the material being presented in class. If you miss class or if you are struggling with Excel, you should make sure that you review these snippits as they are assigned. Some of the snippits will be interactive, which can provide you with additional practice and support.There will be three noncumulative exams that will be based on the recommended homework problems, projects, class lectures and case discussions. All exams are closed book, closed notes and will require use of the laptop to complete. You may bring in one 8.5 x 11 sheet paper with whatever notes you believe are useful. The final course grade will be distributed as follows:ASSIGNMENT WEIGHTProject 1: Linear Programming 11%Exam #1 24%Project 2: Waiting Line Simulation 11%Case Preparation (3 instances) 6%Exam #2 24%Exam #3 24%TOTAL 100%All assignments will be graded on the scale 0-100. The point scores will then be combined according to the above weights to determine your final percentage score. A letter grade at the end of the course will be assigned based on the final percentage score according to the following guidelines:Final % Score Grade Final % Score Grade93 - 100 A 70 - 75 C+90 - 92 A- 66 – 69 C86 - 89 B+ 60 – 65 C-80 - 85 B Below 60 F76 - 79 B-Important Notes:1. Files containing class handouts and spreadsheet models will be distributed to the class through the web page http://myweb.lmu.edu//lleon/mbaa607/. Students will also be required to use MyLMUConnect at http://mylmuconnect.lmu.edu to submit files for their project assignments and case preparations, to access snippits for Excel support as well as some assigned readings, and to view grades. 2. No make-up examinations will be offered. If you are excused from an exam due to a documented medical situation or a pre-scheduled business trip, the weights used to determine the final grade will be adjusted. Otherwise, the exam will have a score of 0.3. This course requires the use of Excel add-ins, in particular Solver, Crystal Ball Pro and Treeplan. These add-ins are available for the PC with the purchase of a new 5th edition Ragsdale text. If you are considering purchasing a used version or renting the text, check to see if the Student CD and access authorization for Crystal Ball are included. NOTE: Do not purchase the new 6th edition of this text as it involves very different software!4. If you use a MAC, you should be aware that Excel 2008 will not allow the installation of the Excel add-ins needed for this class. Please see the Document Section in MyLMUConnect thatdescribes one work-around solution for Solver. Otherwise, you should be aware that if you want to use your Mac for course purposes, it is your responsibility to virtualize your Mac to run a Windows machine on it so that essential course software can be installed and run. You can do this by creating a dual boot machine or by using virtualization software