BADM 641 (sec. 7D1) (on-line) Decision Analysis August 16 October 6, 2017 CRN: 83777 SEMESTER: Fall 2017 INSTRUCTOR: Jack Fuller, Ph.D. OFFICE: 108 Business and Economics Building, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506 PHONE: (304) 293-7935 E-MAIL: jfuller@wvu.edu or jack.fuller@mail.wvu.edu TEXTBOOK: Ragsdale, C.; Spreadsheet Modeling & Decision Analysis, West Virginia University, eighth edition, Cengage Publishing [ISBN: 9781337457064]. This is a custom textbook that I developed especially for WVU. This book is in printed looseleaf form or electronic form. Since this is a newly published book, the printed version may not available on the first day of class. If this happens, the publisher will provide me with a link and instructions so that you can access the ebook version until you receive the printed version. The electronic version of the new book can be purchased by clicking on the following link: https://www.cengagebrain.com/shop/productdisplay?langid=- 1&storeId=10151&catalogId=10057&productId=844311 I recommend that you purchase the electronic section option for $74.49 to make sure you have access through the whole semester. Both the printed and electronic versions of the textbook be acquired either directly from Cengage Publishing or through the WVU Bookstore when they become available. I will keep you posted as to future textbook availability notices. COURSE OBJECTIVES AND PHILOSOPHY: This is a quantitatively oriented course and, as such, relies on skills that you have acquired in earlier courses. The central theme of the course is decision analysis and decision model building and solving these decision models utilizing various combinations of spreadsheets. This also refers to the art of facing a real-world problem and expressing it in quantitative terms in order that an improved understanding of the situation can be achieved. This will often require skills learned in functional areas as well as the experiential learning accumulated through work experiences in the real world. One focus in the course will be on the use of a field project to present issues and develop the student s problem solving skills. The applications discussed will focus on a variety of managerial decision making issues and problems. PERFORMANCE EVALUATION: Ultimately, you will have to judge from examining your own decision making and decision modeling skills what you have learned from this course. In addition to my responsibility to design and implement an effective course, I must also assess your level of understanding and performance on the examinations and
field project as indicated in this course outline. Your course grade will be based upon the following components and weights: 2 Worst exam 35% Best exam 45% Field project 10% Submitted problems 5% Participation on Discussion Board 5% Total 100% There will be two examinations (midterm and final), which will be problem oriented and open book. The midterm exam will be given after the completion of Module 3 and the final exam will be given after the completion of Module 8. A key to making a good grade is diligently keeping up with all of the module activities and assignments within the time frame laid out in the course. This is not the type of material that can quickly be learned the day before an examination. Students will be periodically asked to submit problems for review. The normal schedule will be for the instructor to assign the class a homework assignment on each Friday of the course. The assignment will then be due the following Tuesday. Some of the assignments will be submitted directly to the instructor using Star, while other assignments will be worked on collaboratively with the other students in the course using the Discussion Board in ecampus. During the course, the instructor will be communicating with you using the STAR system at WVU. The final examination will not be comprehensive. Software and Computers The course will be based on Excel 2013 (although those using a version as old as Excel 2007 should be alright). The course is not meant to be focused on teaching Excel. If you are unfamiliar with Excel, my recommendation would be to get an introductory Excel book to review. The software used in the course assumes that you are running a Windows based operating system. If you are using a MAC computer, you must have the latest operating system loaded on it for the software we will be using in the course to work properly. CLASS SCHEDULE: The following course outline identifies the topic and general preparation for the course. Module 1 (August 16-22): Introduction to Decision Analysis and Decision Modeling
3 1. Read chapters 1 and 2 in textbook. 2. Review Module 1 lecture. Module 2 (August 23-29): Introduction to Spreadsheet Decision Modeling 1. Production planning decisions 2. Product selection decisions 3. Make vs. buy decisions 4. Investment decisions 5. Transportation decisions 1. Read sections 3.0 through 3.11.7 in textbook. 2. Review Module 2 lecture. Module 3 (August 30 September 5): Continuation of Spreadsheet Decision Modeling 1. Blending decisions 2. Production and inventory planning decisions 4. Multi-period cash flow decisions 1. Read sections 3.12 through 3.14.10 and sections 3.16 through 3.17 in textbook. 2. Review Module 3 lecture. Module 4: Midterm exam and beginning of field projects Midterm exam will be from 6:00-9:00 pm ET on Wednesday (September 6, 2017). Field Project Assignment: 1. Start to think of possible field projects with others on your team following the completion of the midterm exam. 2. You are to utilize the information you have gained from this course to work on the field project. 3. Utilize the Ten Step Process to clarify your understanding of the field project problem. 4. The end product from this assignment will be a written report to be submitted electronically to the instructor by the last day of class. An example table of contents for your written report will be provided. 5. Team Field Project Reports need to be submitted electronically to the instructor by
4 midnight ET on Sunday (October 8, 2017) Module 5 (September 7-12): Network Models 1. Transshipment decisions 2. Shortest path decisions 3. Equipment replacement decisions 1. Read sections 5.0 through 5.3.1 in textbook. 2. Review Module 5 lecture. Module 6 (September 13-19): Continuation of Network Models 1. Transportation/assignment decisions 2. Generalized network flow decisions 3. Maximal flow decisions 4. Minimal spanning tree decisions 1. Read sections 5.4 through 5.10 in textbook. 2. Review Module 6 lecture. Module 7 (September 20-26): Integer Programming 1. Employee scheduling decisions 2. Capital budgeting decisions 1. Read sections 6.0 through 6.11.7 in textbook. 2. Review Module 7 lecture. Module 8 (September 27 October 3): Continuation of Integer Programming 1. Line balancing decisions 2. Fixed charge decisions 3. Quantity discount decisions 4. Contract award decisions 1. Read sections 6.12 through 6.17.6 in textbook.
5 2. Review Module 8 lecture. Module 9: Field project and final exam Final exam will be from 6:00-9:00 pm ET on Wednesday (October 4, 2017) Field Project Assignment: 1. Finish work on a joint field project study with others on your team. 2. You are to utilize the information you have gained from this course to work on this project. 3. Utilize the Ten Step Process to clarify your understanding of your field project problem. 4. The end product from this assignment will be a written report to be submitted electronically to the instructor by midnight Sunday (October 8, 2017). An example table of contents for your written report will be provided.