University of Economic Ho Chi Minh City

School of International Business and Marketing

INTRODUCTION TO MANAGEMENT SCIENCE

Semester 1, 2017

COURSE SYLLABUS

Instructor:

Office hours: 3 credits

Class time and room numbers: 3 credits

Course delivery: This course is student-centered and uses multiple approaches, which include case
study, in-class discussion, and group homework to enhance student learning and application of key
concepts of the course.

Lectures and discussion: 30 hours

Quiz and Group exercises: 15 hours

Course learning objectives

Upon completion, students are expected to be able to:

- Understand and explain in your own words ways in which model-based support systems are
needed and can be utilized in managerial decision processes.
- Explain how and why modeling is used in the support system environment.
- Identify and differentiate different model components.
- Understand and explain the modeling process and be able to apply it in a variety of different
business situations.
- Compare and contrast different decision structuring techniques and to use these techniques
to analyze various situations.
- Evaluate models applying good modeling and validation techniques.
- Implement model-based management solution using Risk Solver Platform for Education
(RSPE).
- Apply major quantitative techniques in order to improve managerial decisions.
- Develop analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills in a business context.

Course description: key content: Linear Programming, Risk Solver Platform for Education (RSPE),
What-If Analysis, Network Optimization, Decision Analysis, Decision Trees.

Course materials:

Required readings:

Textbook: Hiller (2014). Introduction to Science Management: a Modeling and Case Studies
Approach with Spreadsheets. 5e. McGraw-Hill.

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Testing and Grading: Each student's grade will be determined by the number of points that he/she
accumulated during the semester. There will be a total of 10 points derived from the following
sources: 4 quizzes, 5 group homework, and a final exam. The final exam will cover topics discussed
after the previous test and other important selected topics from the course. Cutoff points very close
to 90%, 80%, 70%, 60% … will be used to determine grades.

1. Attendance and in-class discussion: This is a discussion-based course and your participation
is important to the learning experience. Much of the learning in this course will come from
the chance to express your ideas and exchange them with your peers. Please note that
simply attending all classes and being unprepared does not make one successful in this
course.
2. Quizzes: There are 4 quizzes in the week 2, 3, 5 and 6. Each student must pass the quiz
before doing the next.
3. Group homework: There are 03 Group homework in the weeks 9, 10 and 11. Homework is
considered an essential learning tool and provides excellent preparation for tests. Some
assignments will include use of the computer.Whether electronic or hard copy, the
homework should be legible, clearly documented and prepared according to instructions.
4. Evaluation:

Attendance and In-class discussion 10%

Quizzes (4) 10%

Group homework (03 cases, week 9,10,11) 30%

Final exam 50%

Class schedule

Dates Learning objectives/topics/activities

Week 1 Welcome
Course introduction
Group formation
Linear Programming: Basic Concepts
- A Case Study: The Wyndor Glass Co. Product Mix Problem
- Formulating the Wyndor Problem on a Spreadsheet
- The Mathematical Model in the Spreadsheet
- The Graphical Method for Solving Two-Variable Problems
Week 2 Linear Programming: Basic Concepts
- Using Excel’s Solver to Solve Linear Programming Problems
- Risk Solver Platform for Education (RSPE)
- A Minimization Example – The Profit and Gambit Co. Advertising – Mix
Problem.
- Linear Programming from a Broader.
Quiz 1
Group homework:
Case 2-1: Auto Assembly (textbook p.60)
Week 3 Linear Programming: Formulation and Applications
- A Case Study: The Super Grain Corp. Advertising – Mix Problem.
- Resource – Allocation Problems.

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 - Cost – Benefit – Trade-off Problems
- Mixed Problems
- Transportation Problems
- Assignment Problems.
- Model Formulation from a Broader Perspective.
Quiz 2
Week 4 What-If Analysis for Linear Programming
- The Importance of What-If Analysis to Managers.
- Continuing the Wyndor Case Study.
- The Effect of Changes in One Objective Function Coefficient.
Week 5 What-If Analysis for Linear Programming
- The Effect of Simultaneous Changes in Objective Function Coefficients.
- The Effect of Single Changes in a Constraint.
- The Effect of Simultaneous Changes in the Constraints.
Quiz 3
Group homework:
Case 5-2: Controlling Air Pollution
Week 6 Network Optimization Problems
- Minimum-Cost Flow Problems
- A Case Study: The BMZ Co. Maximum Flow Problem.
- Maximum Flow Problems.
- Shortest Path Problems.
Quiz 4
Week 7 Decision Analysis
- A Case Study: The Goferbroke Company Problem.
- Decision Criteria.
- Decision Trees.
- Sensitivity Analysis with Decision Trees.
Case 9.1: The Goferbroke Company Problem
Week 8 Decision Analysis
- Checking Whether to Obtain More Information.
- Using New Information to Update the Probabilities.
- Decision Tree to Analyze a Sequence of Decisions.
- Sensitivity Analysis with a Sequence of Decisions.
- Using Utilities to Better Reflect the Values of Payoffs.
- The Practical Application of Decision Analysis.
Week 9 Group homework:
Case 3-3: Fabric and Fall Fashions.
Week 10 Group homework:
Case 6-1: Aiding Allies.
Week 11 Group homework:
Case 9-3: Brainy Business.