University of Texas at Dallas - School of Management

Course Title Spreadsheet Modeling & Analytics

Course OPRE 6332
Term Fall 2017

Section Day Time Location

OPRE 6332 001 Wed 16:00 - 18:45 PM JSOM 2.115
OPRE 6332 501 Thu 19:00 - 21:45 PM JSOM 1.102
OPRE 6332 502 Fri 19:00 - 21:45 PM JSOM 11.210

s Contact Information Professor Kannan Ramanathan

Email kxr087000@utdallas.edu
Phone (972) 883-5953
Office Location JSOM 3.622
Office Hours Thursday 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM, by appointment only
Last office hours on November 28th 2017

You can meet with either TA. Make sure you have scheduled an appointment.
Teaching Assistant's Contact Information
Name Elizabeth Wilson
Email eaw160330@utdallas.edu
Office JSOM 2.604
Office Hours Mondays 2:30 - 3:30 pm
Thursdays 5:30 - 6:30 pm
Teaching Assistant's Contact Information
Name Sundar Venkataraman
Email sxv160930@utdallas.edu
Office JSOM 2.604
Office Hours Tuesdays 4:00 - 5:00pm
Fridays 5:00 - 6:00pm

Spring 2017 - Syllabus OPRE6332 - Spreadsheet Modeling

Kannan Ramanathan - Page 1 of 6
 University of Texas at Dallas - School of Management

Course Description
This course introduces the basic concepts of model building and encourages students to take an analytical view of business
decision making. Microsoft Excel (Versions 2013/2016, Windows Environment) is used to build models. The course covers
concepts in effective spreadsheet design and use, and students acquire knowledge about specific decision making
techniques for business, such as optimization. Students build spreadsheet models to identify choices, formalize trade-offs,
specify constraints, perform sensitivity analyses, and analyze the impact of uncertainty. Applications in supply chain
management, transportation, marketing and finance are examined. Note: This is a fun, but demanding, course. Each
week, you should be able to commit a lot of time to prepare for each class, and to complete homework assignments which
are a significant part of your grade
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this course, the student should:
1 be able to identify the conceptual structure of a decision or planning problem
2 understand the logic associated with the components and process of model development
3 assess the significance and limitations of model outputs for managerial insights and action
4 appreciate the power and limitations of MS Excel in modeling
5 appreciate the potential of management science in addressing management issues
Required Text
Introduction to Spreadsheet Modeling and Analytics Book will be available at UTD bookstore ONLY.
Tenth Edition, by Kannan Ramanathan

Quizzes and exams will be based on the tenth edition of the textbook.
The tenth edition has been revised and contains new material.
Do not use a photocopied or scanned version of the textbook
Copyright violation is prohibited by law
Three copies of the book will be on reserve in the library. You can use this resource for free.
Also Required:
Excel 2013 or 2016 Flashdrive - with at least 0.5 GB
(Windows Platform - Any version)
you can use a Mac; but I am not familiar with Mac
DO NOT COME TO CLASS WITHOUT A LAPTOP OR WITHOUT A FLASHDRIVE
Note: make sure you are using Excel 2013 or 2016

Spring 2017 - Syllabus OPRE6332 - Spreadsheet Modeling

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 University of Texas at Dallas - School of Management

Assignments & Academic Calendar

The following is a tentative schedule, which I will try to follow as closely as possible.
Should any changes become necessary, I will announce it in class and by email sent to your UTD email address.
FOR EACH QUIZ AT THE TESTING CENTER, YOU MUST RESERVE YOUR SEAT
Week Section Day Date Topic

1 001 Wed Aug-23 Chapters 1 through 6

501 Thu Aug-24 Getting started with Excel; the command system; the file system; navigation;
502 Fri Aug-25 working with data; referring to data

2 001 Wed Aug-30 Chapters 7 through 11

501 Thu Aug-31 Validating data; Naming Cells; Protecting and Backing Up Data; Formatting; Functions
502 Fri Sep-01

3 001 Wed Sep-06 Quiz 1 - For details see course page on elearning
501 Thu Sep-07 Chapters 12 - 13
502 Fri Sep-08 Date and Time Functions; Lookup and Reference Functions

4 001 Wed Sep-13 Review of Quiz 1

501 Thu Sep-14 Chapters 14 - 16
502 Fri Sep-15 Logical Functions, Math Functions, String Functions

5 001 Wed Sep-20 Quiz 2 - For details see course page on elearning

501 Thu Sep-21 Chapters 17 - 18

502 Fri Sep-22 Information Functions; Finance Functions

6 001 Wed Sep-27 Review of Quiz 2

501 Thu Sep-28 Chapter 18

502 Fri Sep-29 Finance Functions

Review for Mid-Term Exam

7 001 Wed Oct-04 Mid-Term

501 Thu Oct-05 For details see course page on elearning
No class for Sec 001, 501 and 502 after Mid-Term
502 Fri Oct-06

8 001 Wed Oct-11 Review of MidTerm. This review is your only opportunity to discuss questions relating
to the MidTerm. Do not miss this review as I will not discuss the MidTerm later or
501 Thu Oct-12
during office hours.
502 Fri Oct-13 Chapter 19 Spreadsheet modeling and What-If Analyses

9 001 Wed Oct-18 Chapter 19 Spreadsheet modeling and What-If Analyses

501 Thu Oct-19 Chapter 20 Introduction to Optimization

502 Fri Oct-20

Spring 2017 - Syllabus OPRE6332 - Spreadsheet Modeling

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 University of Texas at Dallas - School of Management

10 001 Wed Oct-25 Practice with modeling problems (chapter 20)

501 Thu Oct-26
502 Fri Oct-27

11 001 Wed Nov-01 Practice with modeling problems (chapter 20)

501 Thu Nov-02
502 Fri Nov-03

12 001 Wed Nov-08 Quiz 3 - For details see course page on elearning
501 Thu Nov-09 Chapters 21 through 22
502 Fri Nov-10 Filters, pivot tables

13 001 Wed Nov-15 Review of Quiz 3

501 Thu Nov-16 Chapter 23
502 Fri Nov-17 Introduction to Visual Basic for Applications

14 001 Wed Nov-22 Fall & Thanksgiving Break

No Class
501 Thu Nov-23
(No class this week for Section 001 to be in sync with other sections.)
502 Fri Nov-24

Spring 2017 - Syllabus OPRE6332 - Spreadsheet Modeling

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 University of Texas at Dallas - School of Management

15 001 Wed Nov-29 Quiz 4 - For details see course page on elearning
501 Thu Nov-30 Introduction to Visual Basic for Applications
Review for final
502 Fri Dec-01
Course Concluded

16 001, Sat Dec-09

501,
Sun Dec-10 Final - For details see course page on elearning
502
Mon Dec-11

The course focuses on learning-by-doing. It involves a combination of lectures and extensive class discussions and student
presentations, of materials from the textbook. My intent is to help you think through the issues in a given context, and to
help you articulate your arguments in class discussions clearly and concisely. Students are expected to read the assigned
material before coming to class, and to attend all classes. The course grades will be based on the weights shown below:

Attendance/homework assignments/presentation/class participation 8%

Quiz 1 You are required to do 4 quizzes. All four quizzes are required. If you miss one quiz for a 8%
Quiz 2 documented reason (business travel, or illness) then, for that quiz, you will get 50% of the 8%
average from all other gradable assignments. You do not get any points if you miss a quiz
Quiz 3 8%
and do not submit any documents in support of your absence. Also, you are allowed to miss
Quiz 4 one quiz only - and again, for documented reasons only. Please note that there are no make- 8%
up assignments or quizzes or exams. You can attend class or take quiz/exams only with your
section.
Mid-Term 30%
Final 30%
Penalty for Cell Phone use / Internet use during class (each instance) -5%

Spring 2017 - Syllabus OPRE6332 - Spreadsheet Modeling

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 University of Texas at Dallas - School of Management

Class Attendance, Participation, Professional Conduct

Points for class participation will be based on your punctuality, regular attendance, quality and extent of
discussion in class, and during guest lectures. Class participation requires your studying class materials
before the class. I will also expect you to maintain professional conduct and decorum inside the class
room. USE OF CELL PHONES, TEXTING, EMAILING, AND SURFING THE INTERNET ARE STRICTLY
FORBIDDEN DURING CLASS HOURS - A VIOLATION CARRIES A PENALTY OF 5% FROM YOUR FINAL
GRADE.

Please Note:
Grades will NOT be curved.
There are no make up quizzes or other provisions for extra credit.
If you need to review your tests/exams/quiz/homework, you need to schedule an appointment with
the TA, within one week of the grade for that assignment being posted.
If you miss a class, ask one of your class mates as to what you missed.

I cannot reschedule any quiz/exam to a different date - please do not ask.

Grades will be based on the following point ranges which may differ from other courses:
Points Range Letter Grade
0-74 F
75-76 C
77-79 C+
80-82 B-
83-85 B
86-89 B+
90-92 A-
93-100 A

Comet Creed
This creed was voted on by the UT Dallas student body in 2014. It is a standard that Comets choose to live by
and encourage others to do the same: “As a Comet, I pledge honesty, integrity, and service in all that I do.”

An example of such conduct includes not making / using

illegal
photocopies, or scanned copies, of the textbook.

UT Dallas Syllabus Policies and Procedures

The information contained in the following link constitutes the University’s policies and
procedures segment of the course syllabus.
Please go to http://go.utdallas.edu/syllabus-policies for these policies.

The descriptions and timelines contained in this syllabus are subject to

change at the discretion of the Professor.

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 Homework Assignments - Sections 001, 501 and 502
Homework What is included? Format Complete by Where? APPROXIMATE
Time
11:30 pm on Number of
(Minutes)
Questions
HW1 Chapter 18 Multiple Choice Sat, Oct-14 From anywhere 25 120
HW2 Chapter 19 Multiple Choice Sat, Oct-28 From anywhere 15 120
HW3 Chapter 20 Multiple Choice Sat, Nov-04 From anywhere 10 120
HW4 Chapter 21 and 22 Multiple Choice Sat, Nov-18 From anywhere submit one
120
workbook
Only one attempt is allowed for the homework. Make sure you complete homework ahead of time in case eLearning, your computer,
internet etc., do not work as they should. It is your responsibility to submit on time. Do not email your homework to the TA or to the
professor.
 Quiz What is included? Format Date Duration Approximate
Number of
Questions
Section 001 Section 501 Section 502
Q1 Chapters 1-10 Multiple Choice Wed, Sep-06 Thu, Sep-07 Fri, Sep-08 1 hour 50
Q2 Chapters 1-16 Multiple Choice Wed, Sep-20 Thu, Sep-21 Fri, Sep-22 1 hour 50
Q3 Chapter 20 only Submit Workbook Wed, Nov-08 Thu, Nov-09 Fri, Nov-10 1 hour Not applicable
Q4 Chapters 19, 21, 22 Multiple Choice Wed, Nov-29 Thu, Nov-30 Fri, Dec-01 1 hour 15

Students from Sections 001 can take the quiz between 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM on the date shown above
Students from Sections 501 and 502 can take the quiz between 8:30 AM and 8:00 PM on the date shown above
Please note quiz will automatically close at 5:00pm or 8:00 pm, irrespective of whether you have finished or not
Students from one section will NOT be able to take their quiz with another section (absolutely no exceptions)
Section 001 will have class after the quiz, starting at 5:15 PM. It is your responsibility to come to class on time
Section 501,502 will have class after the quiz, starting at 8:15 PM. It is your responsibility to come to class on time
Students from Section 001,501,502 will need to make a reservation at the Testing Center
Note that the Testing Center will not allow walk-ins
If you miss making a reservation, and miss taking the quiz, I will not be able to assist you, or give you a make-up quiz
Exams What is included? Format Date Duration Approximate
(may be less Number of
than) Questions
Section 001 Section 501 Section 502
MidTerm Chapters 1-17 Multiple Choice Wed, Oct-04 Thu, Oct-05 Fri, Oct-06 2 hours 75
Final Chapters 1-23 Multiple Choice 12/9/2017 To 12/11/2017 2.5 hours 40

The duration of the exam may be less than the times shown above. You will need to book a time slot for two hours or two-and-a-
half hours as indicated above
Students from Section 001,501 and 502 can take the mid-term and final between 8:30 AM and 9:00 PM on the dates shown above

Students from Section 001, 501, 502 will need to make a reservation at the Testing Center
Note that the Testing Center will not allow walk-ins
Students from one section will NOT be able to take their mid-term or final with another section
There will be no class, for any sections, after the mid-term or final