State University of New York at Buffalo
SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT
MGQ 301 - Computers & Statistical Decisions J. Boot
Fall 2006
SYLLABUS
Office/Telephone: 325E Jacobs / 645-3254 / E-mail:
[Call between 8:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. for best chance to reach me rather than answering machine.]
I prefer NOT to be called or e-mailed for Ahousekeeping@ matters, (when are the homework questions due?). Neither myself nor the departmental office will convey the grade information by telephone. HAND IN POSTCARD OR ENVELOPE WITH FINAL, AND THE GRADE (and final) WILL BE RETURNED BY MAIL POSTHASTE. Final grades will also be on the web.
Office Hours: Mon-Tues-Wed-Thurs: 8:30-9:15 a.m.
whenever in office or by appointment
Textbook: Keep textbook used in prerequisite course, MGQ 201.
STATISTICS NOTES by John C. G. Boot
Thomson Custom Publishing
3rd edition, 2005
ISBN# 07-5938981-0
Available at the University Bookstore for $13.95 each.
Course
Content: This course has MGQ 201 as a prerequisite. In that course descriptive statistics (averages, variances) were covered, and some rudimentary aspects of counting techniques, and several statistical distributions.
We will take up where MGQ 201 left off, with the first few classes providing re-enforcement of the MGQ 201 coverage, including another look at averages, and the counting techniques. Subsequently:
# Random variables and probability distributions
# Central limit theorem and estimation (of means and proportions)
# Hypothesis testing (of means; also: chi-square)
# Regression analysis (simple, multiple)
Homework: Homework exercises will, for the most part, come from the Statistics Notes package. Homework exercises are due in the class following the class where they were assigned. Homework is NOT used for grading in ANY way: students are invited to work together on their homework. All homework exercises will be Aanswered@ in class following the one in which they were assigned.
ASix Week@ There will be a Adry run@ test which counts for 0% (zip, nada, nothing) after about six weeks, to familiarize you with my testing and grading approach, and to help you assess whether you are Awith it.@ THIS TEST IS A PLACEBO -- it will neither count against you, nor count in your favor; it simply will not count at all for the grade. It is a learning experience, not a grading instrument.
-2-
Midterm: There will be a Amidterm@ Thursday, October 26, 2006, during regular class, or Friday, October 27, 2006, in Knox 20 and Knox 110 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. The midterm will count for 30% of the final grade. It will be open-book, open-notes, calculator advised.
Final: There will be a FINAL DURING THE SCHEDULED EXAM PERIOD: don’t book early flights out. The final counts for 70% of the course grade. Open book, open notes, etc. There will also be a final on Sunday, December 17, 2006, from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. in Knox 20. You can take either final.
Grading: Both midterm and final will consist of 3 to 6 exercises. Each exercise will be graded for each student, with a ZERO (0) as BEST score, and a TEN (10) as worst. A blank answer will get EIGHT (8) points. A poor answer SIX (6), a Ahalf-way@ answer FOUR (4), a blemished answer TWO (2), a less than perfect answer ONE (1), a correct answer ZERO (0). An answer worse than nothing will get TEN (10) points.
30% of the midterm point score is added to 70% of the final point score, and the total score is then graded such that roughly 25% will get an A, 50% a B, 25% a C or F. A+@ and A-@ scores will be given, but no D grades will be given. The midterm will ONLY be graded with a numerical score.
Different exams will be Acalibrated@ so that the average score for all tests is the same.
Cheating: Every effort will be made to prevent cheating. Cheating accusations will be levied in public. Every cheating infraction will lead to a quest on my part to get you expelled from this University.
Incompletes: You may opt for an Inc/F grade, which can be made up in the subsequent semester. This grade will NOT allow you to register for MGQ 302. To make up grade, DON’T register for course, just take the midterm and final (and attend class as desired), and state on exams that you are making up an Incomplete from semester you registered for course.
Special
Needs: Students who need individualized services and/or accommodations as certified by the Office of Disability Services ought to meet with me (in the privacy of my office) early during the semester, and again (shortly) before the midterm and final tests, so as to enable me to provide such services and/or accommodations.