Quantitative
Approaches to
Business
Decisions
MGMT
0250
Instructor:
Kathie Sullivan, Ph.D
Course
Overview:
The
broad focus of this course is on the decision making process – how to structure
decisions and solve problems. Structuring problems, generating alternatives, and
reaching decisions are important functions for all managers. Success in any
business operation is directly related to the quality of the organization's
decision making. However, our specific objective is to learn how to use various
quantitative techniques and models to assist our decision making. In developing
our toolbox of approaches, we will cover probability measures and distributions,
decision analysis, forecasting and regression techniques, and linear
programming.
Prerequistes:
You
are expected to have taken Software Applications (MGMT
0107) and
Statistics (MATH 0108). If you have any questions about your
ability to succeed in this class, please contact me at ksullivan@wsc.ma.edu.
Textbook:
Quantitative
Methods for Business,
10th edition. Anderson, Sweeney, Williams; Thompson South-Western,
2006. ISBN:
0324312652, ISBN13: 9780324312652
The
text is also available as an e-textbook from the following web
site:
Course
Format:
In
addition to our regular class meetings, the content of the course will be
presented online in Learning Modules, which correspond to textbook chapters.
Each Learning Module will contain a wide variety of materials that will help you
master the textbook chapter content. They include: lecture outlines and notes,
power point presentations, additional problems and solutions, homework
assignments, relevant and interesting web links, and chapter quizzes. For each
Learning Module, you will read assigned materials and complete assignments and
assessments by posted due dates.
In
order to successfully complete the course, you are expected to attend class on a
regular basis, read all assigned readings, complete the homework assignments,
and take the chapter assessments for each Learning Module. The assessments are
provided to help you master the material and check your comprehension. They are
not timed and you can take them multiple times until you achieve the grade you
are satisfied with. The average of all of your assessment grades will be
included in your final grade.
Learning
Modules will be available approximately every one and a half weeks over the
course of the semester. You are expected to check PLATO on a regular basis
(every two or three days) for new or changed course readings and assignments.
There
will also be three online exams, each of which will cover approximately three
Learning Modules. These exams are timed and can only be taken once, but you will
have a flexible exam window over which each student can select an exam time that
best suits their schedule.
Assigned
homework problems and questions will be collected and your total performance on
these assignments will also be factored into your final
grade.
Final
Grade:
Your
final grade will be determined by your performance on the three exams, your
assessment average, and your homework grade.
Get
Up to Speed with PLATO:
Before
the semester begins, make sure you are ready for the online experience. Visit
the following websites to learn everything from “how to login”, to “checking
your browser configuration.”
http://www.wsc.ma.edu/plato/Seven_Steps_To_Logging_Into_Vista.html
http://www.webct.com/tuneup/viewpage?name=tuneup_start
http://www.webct.com/tuneup/viewpage?name=tuneup_browser_troubleshoot
Academic
Honesty:
Academic
integrity is submitting one’s own work and properly acknowledging the
contributions of others. Any violation of this principle constitutes academic
dishonesty and is liable to result in a failing grade and disciplinary action.
Forms of academic dishonesty include:
·
Plagiarism
– submitting all or part of another’s work as one’s own in an academic exercise
such as an examination, a computer program, or written
assignment.
·
Cheating
– using or attempting to use unauthorized materials on an examination or
assignment, such as using unauthorized texts or notes or improperly obtaining
(or attempting to obtain) copies of an examination or answers to an
examination.
·
Facilitating
Academic Dishonesty
– helping another commit an act of dishonesty, such as substituting for an
examination or completing an assignment for someone else.
I
fully expect and trust that everyone taking this course will comply with the
College’s policy on academic honesty. Plagiarism and cheating are serious
offenses and may be punished by failure on the exam, quiz, paper, or project;
failure in course; and/or expulsion from the College. Students who submit any assignment,
assessment, or exam which has been completed by someone else will receive a
failing grade for that work. The
situation will also be referred to the appropriate dean for further
action.
Additional
Questions:
Please
drop me an email if you have any questions or concerns – ksullivan@wsc.ma.edu.