Faculty Contact Information:
Mr. Andreas Rambow
Adjunct Associate Professor
University of Maryland University College
European Division
Email: arambow@faculty.ed.umuc.edu | |
Consultation:
Email anytime: arambow@faculty.ed.umuc.edu. I check my email daily, but you should allow adequate time for responses.
Fax/Voicemail: +32-2-706-5194. Please reserve this number for emergencies. | |
Required Texts and Readings:
TEXT
Anderson, D.R., Sweeney, D.J., & Williams, T.A. 2004. Quantitative Methods for Business, (9th ed.), with Management Scientist, 6.0. U.S.A.: Thompson Learning.
READINGS
American Psychological Association. 2001. Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, (5th ed.). Washington DC: Author | |
Supplementary Readings:
All graduate students should be prepared to utilize the UMUC online library at http://www.umuc.edu/library/.The library contains a large number of full text academic journals that are free of charge and immediately available. The library homepage also contains a number of links related to improving students' research and writing skills.
USEFUL WEBSITE: http://quant.swcollege.com | |
Recommended Journals:
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Course Description:
| Prerequisites: College algebra and either undergraduate statistics or the permission of the Program Director. Acquaints students with the quantitative techniques commonly used in the decision-making process. Sample topics include concepts of decision making and decision analysis, linear programming, sensitivity analysis, transportation and assignments problems, forecasting and time series analysis, inventory concepts, PERT, and mathematical simulation. | |
Course Goals:
As a required course in the policy track of the MPA and an elective in the M.S. in Management Information Systems, this course develops analytical skills necessary to the quantitative analysis of policy proposals and executive decisions. Upon completion of this course, participants should have an understanding of:
- The reasons for applying Quantitative decision making in the Public Sector.
- Problems in modern decision systems.
- Quantitative methods for data presentation.
- Quantitative methods of data extraction.
- The mathematical basis of forecasting theory.
- Models for risk and payoff prediction.
- Methods of problem assessment and categorization.
- Alternative methods to traditional decision making systems.
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Course Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Analyze management policy for decision-making purposes.
- Investigate problem identification and definition as a part of problem solving and decision making.
- Generate relevant statistical charts, graphs and models.
- Interpret relevant statistical charts, graphs and models.
- Review elements of statistical probability requisite for management science.
- Examine data for cyclical trends.
- Apply risk assessment models.
- Create a PERT chart.
- Manage inventory on a cyclical or non-cyclical basis.
- Generate Waiting Line models.
- Manage the process of product trans-shipment.
- Apply linear programming models.
- Determine utility factors relevant to policy success.
- Distinguish between relevant and irrelevant sources of decision data.
- Execute a multiple regression table, and analyze it.
- Apply multicriteria (quantitative and qualitative) methods of decision-making.
- Organize, present and explain decision systems to others more effectively.
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Grading Information:
Grades for this course will be assigned as follows:
A--------------- 100 - 89.5%%
B----------------89.4 – 79.5%
C----------------79.4 – 69.5%
F----------------69.4% and less.
A curve may be applied.
Please note that Bowie State University does not use "D" for graduate students. The grade F(a) is used to designate academic failure. F(n) is used to designate failure for non-completion. Grades of Incomplete or Withdrawal are governed by UMUC-Europe policies. For further details, please refer to the UMUC-Europe Graduate Catalog.
Hard copies of the catalog are available in your local Education Center. | |
Course Requirements:
Graduate school at the masters level focuses on helping students obtain the education needed for success as professionals in their chosen fields. Thus, UMUC-Europe Graduate Programs and Bowie State University share the common goals of promoting excellence in academic scholarship through thoughtful inquiry and the skillful application of knowledge and theory for the betterment of society. In order to maximize your graduate educational experience in general and this course in particular, you are required to:
Participation in Class---------------------------10%
Assigned Problem Sets----------------------------20%
Midterm Examination------------------------------25%
Final Examination (not cumulative)---------------25%
Writing a gradudate level paper------------------20% | |
Description of Course Requirements:
Successful graduate students in American universities dedicate approximately three hours of preparation/study time for every hour spent in the face-to-face classroom. Thus, the following course requirements were developed on the assumption that students would be prepared to spend approximately 150 hours of their own time working on them. In an 8-week term, that is the equivalent of a half-time job. Most 14-week graduate distance education courses require at least 10 hours per week of dedicated time, plus time spent in the virtual classroom.
Participation in Class: You are expected to come to class prepared to engage in all discussions in a professional and informed manner. Attendance is mandatory and roll will be taken. Any absence should be communicated as soon as possible to the instructor. Students are responsible for catching up on any missed work or assignments.
Assigned Problem Sets: You will be asked to solve a set of problems for each chapter discussed in class. The problems will be made available via download from the instructor's website.
We will cover one chapter per session in the course. This is a weekend course; please refer to the course schedule below for exact dates. The problem sets are due the following weekend unless otherwise specified by the instructor. Late submissions need my approval and are restricted to duty-related reasons, emergencies, or unforeseen events. Private issues do not fall under this policy.
Midterm Examination: The midterm exam will be given during the third weekend of the course. Please refer to the schedule below for the exact date and time. The test will preferably consist of problems and short essay questions.
Final Examination: The final exam for this course will be "take-home". The final exam is not cumulative. It covers only the material covered after the midterm. The format will be short essay questions and problem solving.
Writing a Graduate-Level Paper: As a graduate student, it is important to develop good and professional writing skills and to be able and present a critical analysis of issues in quantitative decision-making. The writing assignment will consist of analyzing a current topic in quantitative decision-making by utilizing the concepts and theories discussed in this course. You are required to conduct professional-level research, including appropriately citing works of others and avoiding plagiarism. Resubmission of course work from previous classes (whether or not taken at UMUC, UMUC-Europe or BSU), partially or in its entirety, is not acceptable in this course and will result in an automatic failure on the assignment. If you have questions about the resubmission, please speak with the instructor directly. | |
Course Schedule:
Please note that this is a weekend term with the following meeting dates: 28/29 Aug, 12 Sept, 25/26 Sept, and 09/10 Oct.
Weekend 1: 28/29 August
Chapter 1: Introduction. Problems Discussions, page 20
Chapter 2: Introduction to Probability. Problem Discussions, page 51
Chapter 3: Probability Distributions. Problem Discussions, page 88
Chapter 4: Decision Analysis. Problem Discussions, page 133
Weekend 2: 12 September
Chapter 5: Utility and Decision Making. Problem Discussions, page 167
Chapter 6: Forecasting. Problem Discussions, page 208
Weekend 3: 25/26 September
Midterm Exam covering Chapters 1 through 6
Chapter 7: Introduction to Linear Programming. Problem Discussions, page 260
Chapter 8: Linear Programming: Sensitivity Analysis and Interpretation of Solution. Problem Discussion, page 315
Chapter 9: Linear Programming Applications. Problem Discussions, page 389
Weekend 4: 09/10 October
Chapter 10: Transportation, Assignment, and Transshipment Problems. Problem Discussions, page 442.
Chapter 11: Integer Linear Programming. Problem Discussion, page 496.
Chapter 12: Project Scheduling: PERT/CPM. Problem Discussions, page 538.
Chapter 13: Inventory Models. Problem Discussions, page 587.
Final Exam Take-home covering Chapters 7 through 13. The exam is due no later than Friday, October 15, 2004 by email or by fax. | |
Academic Policies:
The University has a license agreement with Turnitin.com, a service that helps prevent plagiarism from internet resources. I may be using this service in this class by either requiring students to submit their papers electronically to Turnitin.com or by submitting questionable text on behalf of a student. If you or I submit part or all of your paper, it will be stored by Turnitin.com in their database throughout the term of the University's contract with Turnitin.com. If you object to this temporary storage of your paper, you must let me know no later than two weeks after the start of this class. Please Note: If you object to the storage of your paper on Turnitin.com, I may utilize other services to check your work for plagiarism.
The official university policy on Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty can be found at http://www.umuc.edu/policy/aa15025.shtml. Section I.C. states: Faculty may determine if the resubmission of course work from previous classes (whether or not taken at UMUC), partially or in its entirety, is acceptable when assigning a grade on that piece of course work. Faculty must provide this information in their written syllabi. If the resubmission of course work is deemed to be unacceptable, a charge may not be brought under this Policy and will be handled as indicated in the written syllabi.
Please refer to Description of Course Requirements for specific information on how resubmissions will be treated in this course and to the UMUC-Europe Graduate Catalog for information on the following:
Academic Integrity
Course Load
Exception to Policy
Grade Appeal Process
Make-up Examinations
Nondiscrimination
Students with Disabilities
Hard copies of the catalog are available at your local Education Center. | |
Faculty Bio:
| Professor Rambow has been a faculty member since 1995. He took his degrees from George Mason University, Marymount University, and his Doctorate of Business Administration, with an emphasis in Economics, from Newport University. | |