Professor

Paul Damien

Office

CBA 5.242

Office Hours

MON/WED 9:00 a.m. to 10:00

Phone

512 232 9461

E-Mail

paul.damien@mccombs.utexas.edu

Course Web Page

Canvas

TA

David Puelz (Email: David.Puelz@utexas.edu)

Office

GSB 5.334 C

Office Hours for David

Mon/Wed 5 to 6 p.m.

Course Objectives
This course introduces the concepts of mathematics and statistics with an emphasis on applying
them to business problems. By the end of the term you will learn to make rational decisions in a
variety of business contexts using quantitative notions.
Leadership and this Course
A noteworthy quality of leadership is the ability to ratiocinate quantitatively and qualitatively.
This course targets this aspect of leadership.
Materials
Text Book Title: Business Analytics
Subtitle: Data Analysis & Decision Making
Subtitle: Customized for Paul Damien at The University of Texas at Austin
Author: Albright/Winston
Edition: 5th ISBN: 9781305049635
Data: All the data files needed for the class will be posted on Canvas.
Canvas: All e-files files will be logically organized and posted. The only link you have to use on
Canvas is MODULES! Note you do NOT ever click on any other link (such as Assignments,
etc.) on Canvas since they are not needed. Assignments, Teams for Assignment, etc. will also be
posted under MODULES.

Computer: Please bring your laptops to class. If you dont have one, you could always check one
out at Media Services. This is a computationally intensive course, and so having computers will
help you considerably to better learn the material.
Software: The Decision Tools Suite: Make sure to have this installed. The link where you can
access the software can be found here:
http://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/Tech/Computer-Services/COE.aspx
If you have a MAC, then see SWAT (details below) for help. Alternatively, you could use the lab
computers since they have the software installed on PCs.
Do NOT install software before Sep 1, since the software expires on August 31.
SWAT (Students With Advanced Technology) Shop
Hours: MF 8:00am5:00pm when classes are in session
Location: CBA 1.324
Contact: SwatShop@mccombs.utexas.edu, 232-6616

Course Requirements and Grading

Assignments: Two individual assignments; two team assignments. I will assign teams using a
randomized scheme.
Assignments Due Dates: Individual Assignment 1, September 15; Individual Assignment 2,
October 15; Team Assignment 1, November 12; Team Assignment 2, December 7
Tests: There will be two in-class Tests. (October 22 and November 24). There is no final exam.
Grade Breakdown: Tests: First test 10% + Second test 25% =35%
Two Team Assignments: First 15% + Second 15% = 30%
Two Individual Assignments: First 15% + Second 20% =35%.
Grading Policy
The standard McCombs grading policy for courses will be used to determine your final grades.
Heres the Deans office statement on grade average:

Recommended average GPA in undergraduate courses is: 3.0-3.2 in core courses taken by all
McCombs students and in Business Foundations Program courses.
Please note that there is no way I can guess at what your final grade will be until the final
assignment has been graded. The overall grade for the course will be determined when I curve
the total of all the components that comprise the grade.
!!!!!!!!Do NOT use an APP to figure out your grade, including the TOTAL column on Canvas
which is a built-in app, and which is not the one I will use to determine the final grade. These
APPs can be misleading. For example, theres no guarantee that if your overall total (using the
grade breakdown from above) happens to be, say 92, your final grade would be an A-; likewise
there is no guarantee that if your overall total (using the grade breakdown from above) is say, 94,
your final grade would be an A, and so forth. This is because we have to follow the Deans
guideline given above. Bottom line, your final grade will be subject to the Deans grade
constraint for the course. Please understand this rule is outside my control!!!!!!!
Make-up Tests/Assignments
NO make-up Tests or Assignments will be entertained. You MUST take the tests in the section in
which you are enrolled. NO EXCEPTIONS!!
In-class Quiz: There will be anywhere from 4 to 7 quizzes throughout the term. You will not be
graded on these. They are mainly to ensure that youre following the material in class.
PART I: PRELIMINARIES
The topics listed below are ideas you covered in the prerequisite to this course. We will review
some of these preliminaries. Additionally, you are required to know the material from the
prerequisite course, and that are not listed below.
At the end of each chapter, the textbook details functions or options in Excel (or STATTOOLS)
you need to know. Additionally, on Canvas, I will post details of certain Excel options as and
when needed to help you gain a more solid understanding of the use of the software. In this
regard, an Excel Tutorial file has been posted. Please make sure that you practice with
commands that you dont know. In particular, practice with the DATA TABLES and/or IFTHEN illustrations. You are expected to know Excel for the course.
I have also posted a math tutorial file on Logarithms and Exponentials. Please read carefully.
Chapter 5: Sections 5.2, 5.3, 5.4 and 5.5

Practice Problems: Two files containing several Normal and Binomial Distribution problems
are posted.
Logarithms/Exponentials Math Review Session

PART II: REGRESSION

Chapters 10 will be covered in its entirety.
Practice Problems: A file titled REGRESSION PRACTICE PROBLEMS contains several
detailed solutions to problems, along with datasets.
PART III: DECISION ANALYSIS AND BASIC SIMULATION MODELS
Chapter 6
Single-Stage and Multi-Stage Models only. You only have to focus on pages 290 to 300, plus the
problems that we will discuss in class.
Practice Problems: Work out the following from the book: 37, 38, 79, 82. Solutions are posted
on Canvas.
Chapter 15
Chapter 15 will be covered entirely.
No Practice Problems, instead we will solve problems in class. Thats the best way to learn this
material since it is computer intensive.
LECTURES
Even though I have included weeks in the following, note that it is impossible to anticipate
where each lecture would end. Hence sometimes the topics in a given week might wind up being
covered earlier or later, as the case may be. But the sequence of the topics given below will be
followed faithfully and should therefore help you read ahead of the lecture.
See the CANVAS Calendar for Lecture Summary. This will contain highlights of the lecture,
specifically which Modules will be covered. I will update this calendar throughout the term

depending on what material we cover in each class. You can check it on the weekend prior to the
new week to see what topics will be covered. The Modules contain all the details, including data
sets and software that will be used in the lecture.
August 27 September 8

Module-Elements of Decision Making

Module-Types of Data

Module-Types of Graphs

Module-Measures of Central Tendency, Variability, & Relative Standing

DATA SET: Movie Star Salaries

STATTOOLS: Create a stattools data set and learn to use it to produce graphs and
statistical summaries.
Module-Normal Distribution

EXCEL FUNCTIONS: NORMDIST(x, mean, SD, 1) gives the probability up to and

including the point x.

NORMINV(probability; mean, SD) gives the value of the percentile corresponding to the
probability that you specify.

QUIZ 1
Module-Binomial Distribution and Module-Normal/Binomial Problems

EXCEL FUNCTIONS: Binomdist(x=k successes, NTrials, Psuccess, 0) ; Binomdist(x <=

k successes, NTrials, Psuccess, 1)

CRITBINOM(NTrials, PSuccess, probability) gives you the percentile value

corresponding to the probability you specify.

Language: No more than, Less than or equal to, At most all mean the same.

No less than, Greater than or equal to, At least all mean the same.

Between X1 (inclusive) and X2 (inclusive) means X1 <= k successes <= X2. In English,
you have at least X1 successes and at most X2 successes.

QUIZ 2

September 10 September 22
Modules- Regression 1; Regression 2; Regression 3; Regression 4; Regression 5

Dataset: Overhead Costs

STATTOOLS: Regression Module

Describing Regression Output Word File

Topics: Scatterplots; Correlation; Dependent versus Independent Variables; Simple

Linear Regression; Intercept versus Slope; R-Squared; Standard Error of Regression (aka
Standard Error of Estimate); Multiple Regression; p-value; confidence interval;
predictions

September 24-29
Modules-Regression 6; Regression 7

Datasets: Bank Salaries; Home Prices Case

QUIZ 3

October 1-15
Modules- Regression 8; Regression 9; Regression 10

Datasets: Bank Salaries; Power; CarSales

QUIZ 4

October 20-22 EXAM WEEK

Review Session + EXAM 1

October 27-November 3

Module-Decision Analysis

Software: PRECISION TREE

Problem 38 and 82

Problem 79

November 5-December 1
Module-Simulation

Software: @RISK

November 19: Exam 2 review Session

November 24: Exam 2

December 3: No Class Day

December 7: Assignment 4 is due in the IROM office no later than 12:00 noon.

McCombs Classroom Professionalism Policy

The highest professional standards are expected of all members of the McCombs community.
The collective class reputation and the value of the Texas BBA experience hinges on this.
The Texas BBA classroom experience is enhanced when:

Students arrive on time. On time arrival ensures that classes are able to start and finish
at the scheduled time. On time arrival shows respect for both fellow students and faculty
and it enhances learning by reducing avoidable distractions.

Students display their name cards. This permits fellow students and faculty to learn
names.

Students attend the class section to which they are registered. Learning is enhanced
when class sizes are optimized. Limits are set to ensure a quality experience. When
section hopping takes place some classes become too large and it becomes difficult to
contribute. When they are too small, the breadth of experience and opinion suffers.

Students respect the views and opinions of their colleagues. Disagreement and debate
are encouraged. Intolerance for the views of others is unacceptable.

Laptops use. ZERO tolerance for web surfing, emailing, etc, during class hours.

Phones and wireless devices are turned off. ZERO tolerance for these devices in class.
After the 2nd warning, you will lose 15 points off of your test scores. Usually that
translates to a drop in the final letter grade.

Academic Dishonesty

Zero tolerance for acts of academic dishonesty. Such acts damage the reputation of the school
and the degree and demean the honest efforts of the majority of students. The minimum penalty
for an act of academic dishonesty will be a zero for that assignment or exam.
Students with Disabilities
Upon request, the University of Texas at Austin provides appropriate academic accommodations
for qualified students with disabilities. Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) is housed in
the Office of the Dean of Students, located on the fourth floor of the Student Services Building.
Information on how to register, downloadable forms, including guidelines for documentation,
accommodation request letters, and releases of information are available online at
http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/ssd/index.php. Please do not hesitate to contact SSD at (512)
471-6259, VP: (512) 232-2937 or via e-mail if you have any questions.

Privacy in Canvas: Information in Canvas is protected by your UTEID login.

Please be aware that I will use a merged Canvas site for all sections of the
course that I am teaching this semester. This will allow students in other
sections to see that you are enrolled in the course and send you email from
within Canvas. However, they will not actually learn your email address and
no other personal data will be revealed through Canvas. If you have any
concerns, please contact the ITS Help Desk at 475-9400 for help removing
your name from view of other students.