Syllabus

University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Department of Information Systems

IFSM 300 -- Introduction to Management Science

Spring 2002, Sections 0101 & 0201, Dr. R. Robinson

General Information

·        Section 0101 Monday/Wednesday 5:30-6:45 PM, Social Sciences 003

·        Section 0201 Monday/Wednesday 7:00-8:15 PM, Social Sciences 003

·        Dr. R. Robinson: e-mail randyrobi@cs.com, phone 410-472-0148.

Course Description

This course introduces the field of operations research (called management science in the course title and in your textbook) by reviewing examples of OR methods and applications.

The impact of operations research on information technology has been increasing rapidly, to the extent that the top IT job in most sizable companies soon may require a strong OR background. Over the last several decades, executives from IBM and other computer vendors have preached that the real payoff from automation will be the ability of computers to furnish crucial management information.  OR uses technology to create valuable -- often extremely valuable -- management information.

While non-OR aspects of IT focus on software, hardware, and communication to deliver management information, OR focuses on the information itself. Roughly speaking, if the development of management-information content goes beyond common sense and elementary arithmetic, the development work is OR. When management wants the best supporting information, “OR rules.”

These days, most organizations are computerized. An advantage – a competitive edge – therefore requires doing more than routine computerization. In the realm of creating information to assist management, gaining a competitive advantage depends on applying OR.

Among current IT buzzwords, those with OR behind them include decision support systems (DSS), intelligent systems, online analytical processing (OLAP), data mining, and optimization (as in the optimization components of e-commerce systems and of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, for example). Other popular applications, approaching buzzword status, include supply chain management and revenue management.  As we shall see in the course, these are but a few of the many successful applications now benefiting business (virtually all industries), health care, government, and the military.

Course Objectives

The main objective is to give every student a substantial career boost. To gain the most, you should take full advantage of this opportunity to learn what OR is and what it can do, see how OR works, develop a few OR skills, and leave with good feelings about OR.

Course Materials

The textbook for all IFSM 300 sections is Forgionne, Guisseppi A., Management Science, Wiley (custom text), 1999. Additional materials include special handouts, class notes, homework answers, and exam answers. We will employ some analytical software, and we will have a class Web site.

Attending Class

Please come to class regularly, and on-time. In class you will have a chance to better learn topics in the book. Moreover, we will cover many, many points that do not appear in the book.

You can earn up to 4 extra-credit points by attending class regularly; see grading (below). To implement this extra-credit opportunity, I take attendance at the beginning of each class. You will be counted as “present” if you are there when I call the role and then stay for the entire class.

Homework

Please do the homework, carefully. Experience has shown that you can expect to get much more from the course, and score far higher on the exams, if and only if you do the homework.

You can earn up to 6 extra-credit points by submitting good homework; see grading (below).

Keys to Your Success

Read the assigned sections of the book, and read my lecture notes posted on our Web site. Attend class regularly. When in class, tune in. Ask questions. Do the homework thoroughly and submit it on time. Study homework answers, reviewed in class and posted on the Web site. Study for each exam. Read exam questions carefully before answering.

Office Hours

Sorry, no office on campus. Please don’t hesitate to see me before or after class, send me e-mail, or phone me. I want to help you succeed.

Grading

There will be three in-class exams and no final exam. You will be able to obtain extra credit (up to 10 points), and thereby significantly improve your numerical course results, by submitting good homework and attending class regularly.

Your numerical grade will be: (1/3)(exam 1 grade) + (1/3)(exam 2 grade) +  (1/3) (exam 3 grade) + extra-credit points. Your final letter grade, then, will be assigned to this numerical grade from the class “curve.”

The maximum number of extra-credit points available from homework is 6. The procedure is summarized in this table:

The maximum number of extra-credit points available from attendance is 4. The procedure is:

The numerical grades of sections 0101 and 0201 will be pooled and placed in rank order. Letter grades will be assigned from a “curve” I select. Most likely the curve will approximate A – 20%, B – 30%, C – 40%, D or F – 10%. 

I will consider those whose tentative letter grades fall below C case by case. If I find evidence of reasonable effort in homework, attendance, and class participation, I may at my discretion move the grade up to C.

Academic Conduct

By enrolling in this course, each student assumes the responsibilities of an active participant in UMBC’s scholarly community in which everyone’s academic work and behavior are held to the highest standards of honesty and integrity. Cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, and helping others to commit these acts are all forms of academic dishonesty and they are wrong. Academic misconduct will result in disciplinary action that may include failing the course, suspension, or dismissal.

Non-Academic Conduct

I expect every student to be considerate, courteous, and respectful. Please turn off your cell phone, arrive before class starts so that you won’t interrupt when you enter, avoid leaving an in-progress class, refrain from talking except during your class participation, and stay alert.

Class Plan

Class 1 (Mon., Jan. 28). Welcome and procedures. Begin overview.

Class 2 (Wed., Jan. 30). Complete overview.

Class 3 (Mon., Feb. 4). Chapter 2 (modeling).

Class 4 (Wed., Feb. 6). Homework 1 (overview and chap. 2) due. Begin chapters 4-5 (decision analysis).

Class 5 (Mon., Feb. 11). Return homework 1 and review answers. Continue chapters

4-5.

Class 6 (Wed., Feb. 13). Complete chapters 4-5.

Class 7 (Mon., Feb. 18). Homework 2 (chaps. 4-5) due. Begin chapters 7-9 (linear programming).

Class 8 (Wed., Feb. 20). Return homework 2 and review answers.

Class 9 (Mon., Feb. 25). Exam 1 (overview, chaps. 2, 4, 5).

Class 10 (Wed., Feb. 27). Continue chapters 7-9.

Class 11 (Mon., Mar. 4). Continue chapters 7-9.

Class 12 (Wed., Mar. 6). Complete chapters 7-9.

Class 13 (Mon., Mar. 11). Homework 3 (chaps. 7-9) due. Begin chapters 11-12 (networks).

Class 14 (Wed., Mar. 13). Return homework 3 and review answers.

Class 15 (Mon., Mar. 18). Continue chapters 11-12.

Class 16 (Wed., Mar. 20). Continue chapters 11-12.

(Mon., Mar. 25). No class – spring break.

(Wed., Mar. 27). No class – spring break.

Class 17 (Mon., Apr. 1). Continue chapters 11-12.

Class 18 (Wed., Apr. 3). Complete chapters 11-12.

Class 19 (Mon., Apr. 8). Homework 4 (chaps.11-12) due. Begin chapter 14 (inventory control and supply chain management).

Class 20 (Wed., Apr. 10). Return homework 4 and review answers.

Class 21 (Mon., Apr. 15). Exam 2 (chaps. 7, 9, 11, 12).

Class 22 (Wed., Apr. 17). Complete chapter 14 and supply chain management.

Class 23 (Mon., Apr. 22). Homework 5 (chap. 14) due. Begin chapter 15 (queuing models).

Class 24 (Wed., Apr. 24). Continue chapter 15.

Class 25 (Mon., Apr. 29). Complete chapter 15. Begin chapter 17 (simulation).

Class 26 (Wed., May 1). Complete chapter 17 (simulation).

Class 27 (Mon., May 6). Homework 6 (chaps. 15, 17) due. Return homework 5 and review answers.

Class 28 (Wed., May 8). Return homework 6 and review answers.

Class 29 (Mon., May 13). Exam 3 (chaps. 14, 15, 17).

No final exam ...