DSCI 3870: Management Science Course Outline: Fall 2018 Section

1

DSCI 3870: Management Science

Course Outline: Fall 2018

Section 1737: Tuesday & Thursday 5:00 — 6:20 PM, BLB 055

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Instructor: Fouad H. Mirzaei

Office: 319 E – BLB

E-mail: [email protected]

Telephone: (940) 369 5072

Office Hours: Tuesday 3:30 – 4:30 pm & Wednesday 11:00 am – 1:00 pm, or by appointment

(The details of test office hours to be announced during lectures)

COURSE OBJECTIVES

To provide the student with a working knowledge of management science/operations research

techniques for use in business. This will be achieved by using a real-world problem oriented

approach, and using examples that emphasize the multi-disciplinary nature of business problems.

Spreadsheets will be used to strengthen students’ ability to make business decisions. The course uses

case studies and assignments that require communication and interaction, to strengthen students’

understanding. Techniques covered will include linear, integer, and non-linear programming,

network optimization and implementation issues. This course may seem challenging, but it will

provide you with "current" and "marketable" skills in the field of Quantitative Analysis/Business

Analytics.

Prerequisite(s): Please see UNT Undergraduate Catalog:

(It is assumed that students taking this course have completed the college algebra course and also

have a good foundation in calculus, basic statistics and probability theory as covered in the basic

statistics course. Although some review of elementary concepts and terminology is provided in the

textbook, it is not intended to replace a complete course, but rather to refresh your memory. While a

high degree of mathematical skill is not necessary in an “applied” course such as this, there are

certain insights into the course that are gained through the mathematics involved.)

2

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK

Anderson, Sweeney, Williams, Camm, Cochran, Fry and Ohlmann, An Introduction to

Management Science: Quantitative Approaches to Decision Making, 15th Edition*, ©

2018, Cengage Learning ISBN-10: 133740652X, ISBN-13: 9781337406529.

You can also purchase or rent the digital version of the textbook at the following

address:

https://www.cengage.com/c/an-introduction-to-management-science-quantitative-approach-15e-anderson

* It is alright if you have bought the 13

th

or 14

th

Edition of this textbook. (14

th

Edition, ISBN-10:

1111823618, ISBN-13: 9781111823610)

If you intend to enroll in DSCI 4510 later, please don’t sell your book (either edition). We will be

using it in DSCI 4510 too.

MEANS OF COMMUNICATIONS

From the instructor to students: In-class announcements, e-mails, course website, Office hours

From students to the instructor: Brief in-person discussion before/after class, Office hours, e-

mails

If you need any additional assistance, simply contact me via email. I am here to help you.

REQUIRED RESOURCES

Business or scientific calculator; must be able to perform at least the following functions: square,

square root, raise to nth power, extract nth root, logarithm. The lack of a calculator does not excuse

the student from making math errors on exams. Graph paper will also prove to be quite useful.

ASSIGNMENTS/READINGS

Problems, including those marked as “Self test” from the textbook will be assigned as the course

progresses. Some “Self test” problems are already assigned in the “Tentative Course Agenda” which

appears later. The student is responsible for solving these problems in a timely manner. The assigned

problems will not be collected or graded. However, I can provide you feedbacks if you want.

Students are also welcome to see me if they have difficulty solving any of the assigned problems.

3

Some of the problems are challenging. You can work together on homework assignments in groups

of up to four people. It is OK to turn in just one paper with the names of the group members who

worked on it. I will also provide you real business cases and hand out readings (magazine articles,

newspaper clippings etc.).

EVALUATION

Grades are a measure of the performance of a student in individual courses. Each student shall be

judged on the basis of how well he or she has command of the course materials.

One Test = 8%

Group Project = 17%

Group Evaluation = 5%

MS-Excel Certification = 10%

Midterm = 25%

Final Exam = 25%

+ 10% your best performance over two exams (Midterm and Final)

Letter Grades:

90% + = A 80% + = B 70% + = C 60% + = D Below 60% = F

All exams will be multiple choice or a combination of multiple choice and problem

formulation/analysis. The exams will be open book, open notes. Laptops and calculators will also be

allowed.

Students are responsible for their materials on an exam. There will be no loaning or sharing of books,

calculators, or other items, or sharing of any type of information among students while taking the

exam. If the student fails to bring his or her required materials, she or he must perform the exam to

the best of his or her ability without them. Students are encouraged to collect the exams when they

are returned.

Exams are not cumulative of previous exam coverage. Exam information and marks will be posted

on course website. Since exams are not cumulative, please take all exams. Missed exams will receive

zero marks unless a legitimate excuse is presented. If you miss an exam, please follow the steps

below:

4

Step 1: If you miss an exam for any acceptable reason, please e-mail the instructor as soon as

you are able about the reason why you missed the exam.

Step 2: Then, you may provide the instructor proof in the form of an official document as soon

as you are able with proper documentation. Your documentation should be acceptable based on

an interpretation of College of Business or University policy.

Step 3: After the instructor receives an acceptable proof, the instructor will then e-mail you to

schedule a make-up exam.

MS-Excel Certification. Our industry partners have emphasized the need for our students to have

spreadsheet skills and we have listened. COB has a new initiative to certify all COB students in MS-

Excel at no cost to the student. In this semester of this initiative all DSCI 3870, ECON 4140, LSCM

3960, and OPSM 3830 courses are incorporating certification as part of the course grade. Fine-tune

your Excel skills using Gmetrix software and after you have completed the training you will be able

reserve a time slot to complete your certification testing at the Sage Testing Center during the week

of 12-November. Details will be provided during your lecture session.

ATTENDANCE & PARTICIPATION

The student is expected to attend each class session and actively participate in class and group

activities, ask relevant questions and keep up with the material discussed in earlier class sessions.

DISABILITIES

The College of Business Administration complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act in

making reasonable accommodations for qualified students with disability. If you have an established

disability as defined in the "Act" and would like to request accommodation, please see your

instructor as soon as possible. Office hours and phone number are shown at the top of this syllabus.

LAPTOPS & CELL PHONES

You may bring your laptop/tablet computers to class, but you will NOT be permitted to have them

open during the lectures, unless authorized by the instructor. You may not use cell phones or other

electronic communication devices in class. Out of respect for your classmates, please turn your cell

phones off, or set to vibrate mode.

5

HONOR CODE

http://facultysuccess.unt.edu/academic-integrity:

As an institution of higher education, UNT is committed to creating and sustaining an environment

that facilitates students’ academic, personal, and ethical development. This commitment balances

freedom of individual choice and expression with the expectation that individual members of the

community will:

 Be honest

 Demonstrate self-respect and respect for others

 Demonstrate respect for the law and University policies, procedures, and standards.

Engaging in any form of academic dishonesty, such as plagiarism (representing the work or ideas of

others as one’s own without giving proper acknowledgment), cheating (e.g., using unauthorized

resources or assistance on coursework, copying the work of another person, falsifying data,

sabotaging the work of others, and the unauthorized use of electronics, media, or data), or other

acts generally understood to be dishonest by faculty or students in an academic context will subject

the student to disciplinary action. Any UNT policy regarding grounds for Dismissal from the Course

is effective in this course.

CAMPUS CLOSING POLICY

In the event of an official campus closing, please check your UNT e-mail account (EagleConnect) for

instructions about how to turn in various assignments, how the due dates are modified, etc. I will do

my best to accommodate your needs.

Please do not hesitate to contact me, if you need to discuss anything.

6

TOPICS AND TENTATIVE LECTURE SCHEDULE

This schedule is subject to change according to the needs of the class. I will try my best to give you

advance notice about any changes.

WEEK TOPICS/CASES Practice Problems

Week 1 Course Introduction Chapter 1

STE – 8, 12

Week 2 An Introduction to LP Chapter 2

STE – 1, 2, 6, 13, 24

Week 3 An Introduction to LP (continued) Chapter 2

– Case Problem STE – 34, 42, 43

Week 4 Review for Exam 1

Week 5: Test 1, Tue, Sept 25

Week 5 Linear Programming Chapter 3

Sensitivity Analysis and Interpretation of Solution STE – 6, 10

Week 6 Linear Programming Chapter 3

Sensitivity Analysis and Interpretation of Solution STE – 12, 13

Week 7 Linear Programming Chapter 3

Sensitivity Analysis and Interpretation of Solution STE – 12, 1

– Case Problem: Product Mix

LP Applications in Marketing, Finance and Chapter 4

Operations Management

Week 8 LP Applications in Marketing, Finance and Chapter 4

Operations Management (continued) STE – 1, 15

Decision Theory

Week 9 LP Applications in Marketing, Chapter 4

Finance and Operations Management STE – 19

– Case Problem 3: Textile Mill Scheduling

Review for Midterm

Week 9: Midterm, Thr, Oct 25

7

Week 10 Distribution and Network Models Chapter 6

Decision Making Under Uncertainty STE – 1, 2, 6

Week 11 Distribution and Network Models Chapter 6

STE – 11 (17), 17(9), 23, 29

Week 12 Integer Linear Programming Chapter 7

Week 12 Tue, Nov 13, NO CLASS TODAY

Please take the MS-excel certification exam this week.

Week 13 Integer Linear Programming Chapter 7

– Case Problem: Textbook Publishing STE – 2, 5, 7

November 22 – 25, Thanksgiving Break

Week 14 Integer Linear Programming Chapter 7

Business Case: Decision Making Under Uncertainty

Week 15 PROJECT PRESENTATION

Final overview

Week 16: Final, Tue, Dec 11

5:00 to 7:00 PM, in our classroom.

Some or all of the Case Problems may be solved in class. Self test Problems will not be collected or graded.

However it is imperative for students to solve these problems and also go through any assigned readings in

order to be better prepared for the examination.

“STE” above stands for Self test Exercises that appear in the book.

You can check deadlines at:

https://registrar.unt.edu/exams/final-exam-schedule/fall

8

GROUP PROJECT

As soon as you choose your project topic, clear it with me to avoid duplication. Sometimes your first choice

topic may not work out, so be sure to allow sufficient time to find an alternative. Scheduling to meet your

group members near the middle of the semester is best, but other schedules will work too. If you plan to take

pictures for project, be sure to get permission if needed. Turn in both a printed paper copy and an electronic

copy of your final report.

The goal of this project is to observe and understand an actual process and relate it to this course. Think about

the key strategic issues and decisions that a DFW-based company (or community, system, project, etc.) faces

and relate them to the analytical methods that we study in this course. That is, discuss which of our methods

and concepts they are now using, or could potentially use, for their marketing, operations, finance, human

resource, or accounting policies and decisions. Think of yourself as a management consultant rather than a

reporter, when doing this project.

Working in groups of six, this project begins with defining a relevant topic for your project. Toward the end of

the semester, each group will give a 10 to 15 minutes presentation to the class on their group project. This talk

could describe a company's products (or services) and the manufacturing process and how the decisions for the

process are made. You present different aspect of your analytical model (the decision factors, objective

function, the relationship between factors, constraints), the solution, the managerial insights and

recommendations. It should include some kind of visual aids such as PowerPoint slides, transparencies or

paper charts to hang on the blackboard to make the presentation more organized and interesting. Regardless of

the visual aids, the presentation will need some rehearsing and good coordination among the members of your

team. If possible, bring in samples of the company's product and/or raw materials to show to the class. The

quality of the presentation, as well as the content is important. Presentation PowerPoint file is due the day

before the presentation date by 10:00 a.m. The presentation does not need to cover all the topics in the written

report and not everyone in the group needs to speak.

Sample Outline for the Written Report

1. Background on the subject/problem (not too long), why this topic is important?

2. Model description

3. Model solution

4. Recommendations for improving the management of the process

5. Final comments.

The written report, which is due at the end of the semester, should be no more than 10 typed pages, plus all

attachments. Using what we have discussed in this class, make recommendations for how the management of

the process could be improved. This is an opportunity to be creative and develop insights by integrating

suggestions from each member of the group. Be sure to have everyone in your group proof read the report to

improve its style. Please not that copying text or the process diagram for your report from the website is not

acceptable. This paper should contain your own thoughts and how they relate to the material in this course.

Your project grade will be determined by the quality of the written report and the presentation, and by your

active participation in the project as evaluated by other members of your group. Have fun and good luck!

9

EVALUATION FORM FOR GROUP WORK

This form is for evaluating the relative contributions of your team members to the group project and

the homework (if done jointly). Make comments to clarify differences in the evaluations. This form

covers both the level of each member’s participation and the value of their contributions. List each

member of your team (including yourself) and rate their contribution from 5 (High) to 1 (Low) in

the two categories. Then sign the form and turn it in at the final exam or return it to my office. (You

can fold it and slide it under the door or give it to me directly.) I will keep these evaluations

confidential.

Level of Value of

Team Member Participation Contribution

------------------------------- ----------------------- -----------------------

Name: _________________________ Signed: ________________________________

Describe the things you did on the group project. (If jointly with someone else, say so.)

10

This page is intentionally blank.

11

DSCI 3870

STUDENT DATA SHEET

Name:

Major Field:

MINOR FIELD (If Applicable):

Classification (FR, SO, JR, SR):

Email (Students are required to have EagleConnect by University policy and regularly check the

“Official” folder in their account for class related emails. You can easily set an Auto-Forward to your

preferred (i.e. hotmail, yahoo etc.) email account from within EagleConnect if you don’t log in

regularly. Please provide your EagleConnect address below):

Are you taking this as a “required” course? As an optional elective?

Do you intend to work in the field of decision modeling or related areas in the future? In any case,

please pen a few words on your prospective future career choice i.e. after college.

Please read the above syllabus and agree to abide by the class policies and procedures set forth

therein. Please get an EagleConnect account and check it regularly for “official”

announcements.