PROBLEM SOLVING / DECISION MAKING
ETM 5251
COURSE SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR
Dr. David Pratt
322 Engineering North, OSU, Stillwater Campus
405-744-6055 (office)
405-744-4654 (fax)
e-mail: dpratt@okstate.edu
OSU EXTENSION CONTACTS
Lee Ann Rollins, email: rollink@okstate.edu, phone: 405-744-5148, fax: 405-744-5033
CLASS SESSIONS
The lectures for Problem Solving / Decision Making are contained in eleven video files
on the course CDs. The slides for each lecture, homework assignment, and the
supplementary reading material are contained in the course workbook.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course explores the processes utilized by successful managers for problem solving
and decision making. These processes involve developing an understanding of a
situation, investigation through systematic questioning and logic, decision making among
alternatives, and ensuring the success of decisions. The Rational Management
methodology developed by Kepner-Tregoe, Inc. forms the foundation of the course.
TEXT
Kepner, Charles H. and Benjamin B. Tregoe (1997), The New Rational Manager: An
Updated Edition for the New World, Princeton Research Press, Princeton, NJ
You can obtain a copy of the text through Kepner-Tregoe, Inc. at 1-800-537-6378 or
through their homepage at www.kepner-tregoe.com. The cost is approximately $15.
ADDITIONAL REFERENCES
A small portion of following additional reference will be used. A copy of the required
reading material will be provided.
Canada, John R, William G. Sullivan, and John A. White (1980), Capital Investment
Analysis for Engineering and Management, Prentice Hall, Inc., Upper Saddle River,
NJ, Chapter 20, pages 483-496.
The following additional references provided useful information about creative thinking
but are not used directly in the course and are not required.
de Bono, Edward (1985), de Bono’s Thinking Course, Facts on File Publications, New
York, NY.
Nadler, G. and S. Hibino (1999), Creative Solution Finding, Prima Publishing, Roseville,
CA.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
1. To develop an understanding of the concept of rational management and the four
basic rational processes required for its implementation.
2. To develop an understanding of the set of methods and techniques required to utilize
the rational processes.
3. To develop management skills in the practice of the methods and techniques.
4. To gain an understanding of the requirements for installing rational management at an
organizational level.
METHOD OF INSTRUCTION
Eleven recorded lectures are provided on CD. Lectures are devoted primarily to
presentation of text and literature material. Course grades are based on one homework
assignments and one exam. The two components are equally weighted. Each student is
responsible for preparing a homework assignment. Students may choose to complete
either one of two possible assignments. Details regarding the assignment and the choices
are provided in Lecture 1. The exam is a multiple-choice exam. Additional details
regarding the exam content and structure are provided in Lecture 1.
GRADING
A student's course grade will be based on total points accumulated. Possible points are:
Assignment
Exam
100
100
200
Total
Letter grades will be determined as follows:
Percentage of Total Points
Accumulated
90% - 100%
80% - 89.99%
70% - 79.99%
60% - 69.99%
< 60%
Grade
A
B
C
D
F
A student earning the above stated point percentages is assured the specified grade. The
instructor reserves the right to lower the curve as circumstances warrant.
Tentative Schedule of Topics
The tentative schedule of course topics is shown below. Specific reading assignments in
support of this schedule are indicated. You should read the assigned material prior to
viewing the lecture.
Lecture
Number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Topic
Course Introduction
Introduction to Rational
Management
Problem Analysis
The Uses of Problem Analysis
Decision Analysis
The Uses of Decision Analysis
Potential Problem
(Opportunity) Analysis
Situation Appraisal
Managing Human Performance
Problems
Installing Rational
Management
Analytical Hierarchy Process
Reading
none
Approximate
Lecture Minutes
30
Text, Chapter 1
Text, Chapter 2
Text, Chapter 3
Text, Chapter 4
Text, Chapter 5
90
90
60
90
60
Text, Chapter 6
Text, Chapter 7
60
90
Text, Chapter 8
60
Text, Chapter 9
Lecture 11
Supplemental reading
90
90