Classroom Syllabus

MC 506

Quantitative Methods for Managers

3 Credit Hours

Effective: October, 2007

Fall term 2008/2009

Instructor´s name : Luba Habodaszova

Email :

Required Resources

Anderson, D. R., Sweeney, D. J., & Williams, T. A. (2008). An introduction to management science: Quantitative approaches to decision making (12th ed.). Cincinnati, OH: South-Western.

Anderson, D. R., Sweeney, D. J., & Williams, T. A. (2008).Solutions manual to accompany an introduction to management science: Quantitative approaches to decision making (12th ed.). Cincinnati, OH: South-Western. (CD is required and only comes with new textbooks.)

Research paper guide. (2004).Trenčín, Slovakia: CityUniversity. Available for purchase in the library or online at

Access to a personal computer and the Internet is required. All written assignments must be word-processed.

Copyright 2001-2007 by CityUniversity of Seattle

All rights reserved

MC 506

Quantitative Methods for Managers

This document provides an overview of the course foundation elements, assignments, schedules, and activities. For information about general City University of Seattle policies, please see the City University of Seattle catalog. If you have additional questions about the course, please contact your instructor.

Notification to Students with Disabilities

If you are a student with a disability and you require certain help, please contact the site administrator as soon as possible.

Scholastic Honesty

CityUniversity of Seattle expects each student to do his/her own work. The University has "zero tolerance" for cheating, plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration on assignments and papers, using "notes" during exams, submitting someone else's work as one's own, submitting work previously submitted for another course, or facilitating acts of academic dishonesty by others. The penalties are severe! A first offense can result in a zero grade for the course and suspension for one quarter; a second offense can result in a zero grade for the course and suspension for two or more quarters; a third offense can result in expulsion from the University. The Policy and Procedures may be found at

In addition to providing your work to the instructor for grading, you must also submit an electronic copy for the CUarchives (unless the work is specifically exempted by the instructor). You will not receive a grade for particular work until and unless you submit this electronic copy. The procedure for submitting work to the archives is to upload it via the website Files should include the cover page of the work with the student name, instructor name, course name and number, and date. File names should indicate the type of assignment, such as “researchpaper.doc”, “casestudy.doc” or “ thesis.doc” (student name should not be a part of the file name because the system adds it). All files received into the archives are submitted to for plagiarism checking.

Course Description

In order to be effective in today’s increasingly complex and computerized business environment, managers need to use a variety of mathematical and scientific tools for analysis, planning, monitoring, and decision making. This course covers important quantitative management techniques, including basic statistics, linear programming, regression analysis, project and inventory modeling, and decision making and forecasting methodology. By learning the concepts and how to apply the tools to practical business situations, students will acquire a necessary foundation for most of the other courses in their MBA programs, as well as for their future business careers.

Learning Goals

Upon the successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

  1. Compare and contrast the quantitative and qualitative approaches to management decision making;
  2. Solve linear programming problems to identify optimal solutions;
  3. Analyze quantitative case problems and prepare managerial recommendations;
  4. Develop network representations;
  5. Develop activity schedules for project networks;
  6. Synthesize data as part of problem sets;
  7. Prepare recommendations for simulations;
  8. Evaluate how decision analysis is used to identify the best decision alternative;
  9. Develop forecasts using both quantitative and qualitative methods;
  10. Solve linear programming problems with the use of a computer software program.

Core Concepts

To achieve the goals of this course, you will need to master the following core concepts:

  1. Quantitative analysis and decision making;
  2. Linear programming problems for maximization and minimization problems;
  3. Models of cost, revenue, and profit;
  4. Breakeven analysis;
  5. Graph linear equations;
  6. Interpret computer output and solutions;
  7. Sensitivity analysis;
  8. Network models: Transportation, Assignment, Transshipment, and Production and Inventory;
  1. Project scheduling with PERT/CPM;
  2. Inventory models: Economic Order Quantity (EOQ), Economic Production Lot-Size, Single-Period, Quantity Discounts for the EOQ, Order-Quantity, Reorder-Point, Periodic-Review, and Just-in-Time;
  3. Simulations;
  4. Decision analysis in the face of uncertainty or risk;
  5. Smoothing methods, trend projection, trend and seasonal components, and regression analysis in forecasting;
  6. Qualitative approaches to forecasting: Delphi method, Expert judgement, Scenario Writing, and Intuitive approaches.

Recommended Supplementary Resources

As a City University of Seattle student, you have access to library resources regardless of where and how you are taking this class. To access the resources necessary to complete your coursework, visit the library menu in the My.CityU portal at and the CU Slovakia library home page at

A good place tobegin your research isthroughthemanagement program resources page in the My.CityU library. Itprovides links to relevant journals, books, andWeb sites. Searchthe online databases for journal, magazine, and newspaper articles. For additional help, visit the Slovakia library or submit your question in the Contact Us section of the Slovakia library’s web site.

Overview of Course Activities and Grading

The grade you receive for the course will be derived using City University of Seattle’s decimal grading system, based on the following:

Assignments

Case Problems (three @ 20%) / 60%
Final Examination / 40%
Practice Problems / 0%
TOTAL / 100%

Please see the current City University of Seattle catalog or consult your instructor for guidance in determining your decimal grade.

Explanation of Assignments and Grading

Case Problems

The three case problems are described below. For each case, you are to choose one of the alternatives listed. (Your instructor may assign specific, or different, case problems.)

The case problems should use the required computer software or other appropriate software approved by the instructor. For each case problem, you are required to develop a managerial report which consists of an appropriate combination of several of the following elements (as specified in the text): graphical representation of data, establishment of a decision tree, development of a model, development of a computer program, evaluation of alternative systems, synthesis of data, summary of findings, and the preparation of recommendations. Your instructor will provide the specific format and guidelines for your case problems.

Case Problem #1

Planning an Advertising Campaign from chapter Linear Programming Applications

Case Problem #2

R.C. Coleman from chapter Project Scheduling: PERT/CPM.

Case Problem #3

Property Purchase Strategy from chapter Decision Analysis.

Grading Criteria for Case Problems

Clear demonstration of ability to employ concepts, methods, and techniques / 20%
Logical and sequential development of results and recommendations / 20%
Appropriate depth of analysis / 20%
Appropriate organization and format / 10%
Successful problem completion / 10%
Grammar, spelling, and syntax / 20%
TOTAL / 100%
Examinations

You should be prepared to answer a variety of types of questions pertinent to the concepts covered in or suggested by the course materials and assignments. Your instructor will provide additional information regarding the content, style, and grading criteria for examinations in this course.

Grading Criteria for Essay Questions on Examination

Clear grasp of major issues posed by the question / 20%
Valid arguments; appropriate supportive detail / 20%
Appropriate analysis, evaluation, and synthesis / 20%
Demonstrated ability to employ terms, concepts, and frames of reference from texts, lectures, and other course materials / 20%
Proper organization and logical flow of responses / 20%
TOTAL / 100%

Practice Problems

Your instructor will assign practice problems to help enhance your learning of the course material. The problems are not graded but are to be used for your own feedback and study. The solutions are located in the solutions manual that accompanies your textbook. The solutions should be referenced to only after you have completed the problems to the best of your ability.

Professional Presentation of Written Work

All assignments submitted for this course should be of professional quality. You should present each paper in a format that would be appropriate for submitting to upper management.

This course requires that you use the American Psychological Association (APA) style in preparing any written work where other sources are used. Refer to an APA style guide for proper format, referencing methods, and bibliographic format. References should be cited for all facts, ideas, conclusions, and opinions not your own.

A proper title page should preface all written assignments, unless the instructor prescribes other requirements. The title page should include your name, the title of the paper, the name and number of the course, the start date of your course, the date submitted and the name of the instructor.

Your work should be word-processed on white 8 1/2- by 11- inch paper and all narrative portions should be double-spaced. Pages should be numbered and calculations shown to support answers where appropriate. Some assignments may require that your work be prepared on a computer spreadsheet.

RECOMMENDED COURSE SCHEDULE

The schedule for course activities and assignments is below. If you find you are unable to complete the assignments as scheduled, contact your instructor. Your instructor may elect to adjust the outline to meet the unique needs of the class.

Note: The specific weekly end of chapter practice problems will be determined by the instructor. These problems are not graded and solutions are located in the solutions manual.

Session
/ Topics and Assignments / Readings
1 / Introduction
An Introduction to Linear Programming
Practice Problems / Chapters 1, 2
2 / Linear Programming: Sensitivity Analysis and Interpretation of Solution, Applications
Practice Problems / Chapter 3, 4
3 / Transportation, Assignment, and Transshipment Problems, Network Models
Practice Problems
DUE: Case Problem #1 / Chapter 7, 9
4 / Project Scheduling: PERT/CPM
Practice Problems / Chapter 10
5 / Inventory Models
Practice Problems / Chapter 11.1-11.4
6 / Waiting Line Models
Practice Problems
DUE: Case Problem #2 / Chapters 12.1-12.3
7 / Simulation
Practice Problems / Chapter 13.1-13.3
Session
/ Topics and Assignments / Readings
8 / Decision Analysis
Practice Problems / Chapter 14.1-14.6
9 / Forecasting
Practice Problems / Chapter 16
10 / DUE: Final Examination, Oct 24, at 17:00
DUE: Case Problem #3

MC 506 SYL Page 1 Eff: 10/07