SOOCHOW UNIVERSITY
Fall 2008/Spring 2009
Management Science
Instructor:
Prof. Jinshyang Roan
Office: R3209,
Phone: 23111531 ext. 3423,
E-mail: baroan@scu.edu.tw
COURSE PREREQUISITES
Business Statistics
TEXTBOOK
Selected Chapters from An Introduction to Management Science – Concise edition,
Anderson, Sweeney, Williams, and Roan, Thomson Learning, Custom Publishing, 2008.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Objective 1:
To acquaint you with analytical mathematical modeling techniques and
solution algorithms which can be used to support managerial decision
making.
Objective 2:
To develop your expertise in using and solving management science
models in a personal computer assisted environment.
Objective 3:
To give you experience in analyzing results and making decisions through
assigned homework exercises and case analyses.
COURSE OVERVIEW
The field of management science focuses on the formulation, analysis, and
implementation of quantitative methods to support effective management decision
making. This course will introduce you to mathematical modeling, solutions of models,
and interpretation of results. Such models can provide valuable insights into decision
problems and thus facilitate their effective analysis.
This course will stress the use of personal computers and spread sheet-based
optimization software (Excel Solver). The tremendous power and computing capabilities
of the personal computer allow the student to rapidly solve and interpret the results of a
given model. The results can be examined in the context of the decision problem and the
model can be quickly revised if necessary. This course will particularly emphasize the
"art" of formulating decision problems as optimization models. The student will be
1
required to formulate, solve, and interpret optimization models for applications from
various areas of management including operations management, marketing, accounting
and finance.
YOUR ROLE IN THE COURSE
Every student should be well prepared for each class and should contribute to class
discussions. Assigned sections from the textbook and other course material distributed in
class, such as case problems, should be read before each class. Class participation will be
encouraged and students will be randomly selected to answer questions, explain
solutions, and model/solve problems.
Students will apply the concepts discussed in class to a range of problems and practice
the formulation of models, as well as their solution and analysis using the Excel Solver
through homework assignments. Homework assignments must be prepared
individually or by a group of two students in the same class. One report must be
submitted for the group. All written assignments should be carefully prepared in a
professional manner and should include the students’ name and section time. Computer
results should be displayed in a neat and informative manner. Assignments that are
unorganized, illegible, or incomplete will not be graded. Assignments will be given on
the last class of the designated week and will be collected one week after they are
assigned, at the beginning of the class. Late assignments will not be accepted for any
reason.
Short, 10 to 15 minute announced quizzes will be given periodically throughout the
semester, on the class following the return of the homework assignments unless
otherwise specified. Questions will usually emphasize the most recently discussed
material. No make-up quizzes will be given. The lowest quiz grade will be dropped.
GRADING SYSTEM
The following elements of your coursework will be used to evaluate your performance in
this course:
Class participation
Homework
In-class Quiz
Team Project
Examination 1
Examination 2
Final Examination
5%
10%
10%
10%
20%
20%
25%
COURSE HONOR PRINCIPLE
2
We expect and encourage students to discuss readings, computer exercises, homework
exercises, and other course content with their classmates. Such discussions constitute a
valuable aspect of the student's own learning experience. However, all work submitted
for a grade, including homework exercises, quizzes, and examinations must be produced
solely by the individual student or the group members submitting it. Photocopied
homework solutions and/or computer printouts will not be accepted. In addition,
students are expected to prepare homework and other instructional materials without
using materials or advice from students who have taken the course previously.
Examinations and quizzes will be closed book and notes. Auxiliary tables and formulas
will be included if deemed necessary by the course coordinator. However, each student
will be allowed one A4 sheet for each quiz and evening examination and three such
sheets of handwritten "crib" notes for the final exam (no photocopies or computer
printouts).
Cheating in any form will not be tolerated. Any student caught cheating will be censured
in full accordance with Soochow University policies.
Management Science -- Fall 2008/Spring 2009
COURSE OUTLINE (Tentative)
Week
1
TOPIC AND ASSIGNMENTS
Course Introduction
Linear Programming: Introduction and Graphical Methods
2
Linear Programming: Graphical Methods
3
Linear Programming: Sensitivity Analysis and
Interpretation of Solutions
4
Linear Programming: Computer Solution, Interpretation
and Modeling
5
Linear Programming: Applications
6
Linear Programming: Applications
3
Week
TOPIC AND ASSIGNMENTS
7
Linear Programming: More Applications
Integer Programming: Introduction
8
Exam 1
9
Integer Programming: Computer Solution and Applications
10
Networks: Transportation and Assignment
11
Networks: Shortest Route, Minimal Spanning Tree and
Max. Flow Problems
12
Project Management (CPM and PERT)
13
Decision Analysis
Multicriteria Decision Problems
14
Exam 2
15
Multicriteria Decision Problems
16
Project Presentation
17
FINAL EXAMINATION WEEK
4