OPRE315: Decision Science:

Making Good Strategic Decisions

Course Information
http://home.ubalt.edu/ntsbarsh/ECON/course315.htm

Professor: Dr. Hossein Arsham, harsham@ubalt.edu

Course Description: A study of a range of problems and applications to managerial decision

making using scientific and analytical methodology. Topics include an in-depth understanding
of linear programming and sensitivity analysis and an introduction to decision analysis and
Queuing-Simulation. Problem recognition, model building, model analysis and managerial
implications are the primary objectives with special emphasis on understanding the concepts
and computer implementation and interpretation.

Required book: Applied Management Science, Lawrence and Pasternack, Wiley, 2002.

Grading Criteria: Homework: Problem solving and readings (20%), Midterm examination
(40%), Final examination (40%).

Grading System: (90-100%): A, (80-89%): B+, (70-79%): B, (65-69%): C+, (60-64%): C

Homework: For chapters to be read and HW assignment visit weekly the Course Information
Web site.

Course Structure: Your course materials are divided into the following ordered topics:

1. Foundation of Decision-Making Process.

http://home.ubalt.edu/ntsbarsh/opre640/opre640.htm
http://home.ubalt.edu/ntsbarsh/opre640/partXIII.htm
2. Deterministic Models: What You Expect Is What You Get.
http://home.ubalt.edu/ntsbarsh/opre640a/partVIII.htm
3. More Applications: Linear Program and Network Models
http://home.ubalt.edu/ntsbarsh/opre640A/partIII.htm
4. Probabilistic Models: What You Expect You May Not Get.
http://home.ubalt.edu/ntsbarsh/opre640a/partIX.htm

How to Access the Lecture Notes and Course Information Web Sites? The Links to both the
lecture notes and course information is available on the first page of my Home Page. To access
my home page, use any search engine and type Arsham in the search-box, and then click on
Dr. Arsham Home Page.
Homework: For the chapters to be read and HW assignment visit weekly the Course
Information site.

Your homework assignments (worth 100 points each) will be collected and graded. Your
homework assignment consists of two parts:

1. Reading the lecture notes, and Reading and problem solving from your textbook (80
points).
2. Compute implementation and commentaries using the WinQSB, or Excel, since without a
statistical computer package one cannot perform any realistic statistical data analysis (20
points).

Homework Due Date: Meeting deadlines and even sending me material before deadlines are
very important, since you will be engaging in group learning activities where time is crucial. So
you should make every effort to complete your work on time. Therefore, late homework
submissions carry no credit at all.

You do not have to type your homework assignments; you may save some times in spending
more on learning than typing. In this case please, please hand-in your eligible homework on
time.

Course Ingredients: The Course Ingredient Components Include:

1. A Set of Technical Keywords and Phrases,

2. A Collection of Problem-Solving Methodologies, and
3. Managerial Interpretations and Solutions Implications.

Learning Objects: There are varieties of sources in helping you to understand the foundation of
decision making. Each of the following items provides you with different perspective on our
weekly topics.

1. Textbook: Your textbook is the main source reading and the exercise before your each
class meeting.
2. Lecture Notes: Lecture notes are not your textbook substitute. They are designed to meet
your needs, as I perceive while lecturing.
3. Live Lectures & Handouts: The lectures are the bases of your interactions as a learning
process, with your classmates and me.
4. Computer Assisted Learning: My teaching style deprecates the “plug the numbers into
the software and let the magic box work it out” approach. The Computer Assisted Learning is an
effective tool for experimentation in serving your needed “hand on experience” for
understanding the managerial implication of the concepts for yourself.