SCMD Assignment 1: Report Structure

1. Cover page
a. Report’s title
b. Names and student IDs
2. Problem formulation (please ensure that all mathematical symbols are correct and
consistent)
a. Define decision variables with a measurement unit (e.g. pallets, kg, or km)
b. Provide an objective function and constraints and clearly show how you formulate
them with an explanation what each equation means
c. Ensure that decision variables and each equation are linked back to the data
3. Problem solving (i.e. process of how you find the solution step-by-step)
a. Explain how you implement the model in the Excel spreadsheet
i. Explain how you implement each equation in the model using what
functions in Excel (e.g. SUMPRODUCT) and where you place it on the
spreadsheet (e.g. at Cell B2). If constraints are of the same kind and
implemented in the same way, you just need to explain the first one and
summarise the rest.
b. Explain how you set up Solver in Excel
c. Do not forget to submit the Excel spreadsheet together with the Word report
4. Discussion
a. Discuss the optimal solution based on the results that you find
b. If you conduct sensitivity analysis, the results should be presented here.
5. Recommendations
a. List and discuss what action should be taken based on the discussion.
i. For example, the results may suggest that the optimal solution for the
production problem is to make 3 units of X and 4 units of Y. In addition,
sensitivity analysis indicates that an increase of each Resource A can
increase the profit by $5, up to the maximum of 100 units of Resource A.
Your first recommendation can be to produce 3 units of X and 4 units of Y,
and the second recommendation is to procure additional 100 units of
Resource A.
6. Presentation
a. Discussion and explanation are succinct
b. There is a link between each section. And when the report is read, the reader should
not feel jumpy (i.e. some important information is omitted).
c. Cross-referencing and citations are correct, if any
d. All headings and sections are in place
e. Images or figures are clear
f. The writing is readable. You may use Flesch–Kincaid readability tests to evaluate
your report.