Instructor: Dr. Ken J. Kovach
            100 MSS
            PSC 37, Box 3414
            APO AE 09459

Email:  KJKovach@AOL.com
Phone:  Phone (+44) 1353 -860 671
Fax:  +44 1353 860 671

Course Description:  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 assignment problems, forecasting and time-series analysis, inventory concepts, PERT, and mathematical simulation. Prerequisite: College algebra and either undergraduate statistics or MGMT 584, or permission of the instructor.

Course Objectives: This course enables students to understand:

1. problem definition and orientation,
2. a structured approach to data analysis in decision-making,
3. skills in model development, solutions, testing, and validation,
4. business applications such as forecasting, production scheduling, inventory control, capital budgeting, plant location, quality control, and investment options, and
5. 5. the use of statistics in business research.

Course Text:
Anderson, D.R., Sweeney, D. J., & Williams, T.A.  (2001).
8th ed. Quantitative Methods for Business. St. Paul, MN: West Publishing Company. ISBN 0-324-02133

Supplemental Material-software: Anderson, D. R., Sweeney, D. J., Williams, T. A.; Joseph, D.A. (1999). The Management Scientist (5.0). St. Paul, MN: West Publishing Company.
Note: While the software is not required, it is a great opportunity to use current programs for the text problems and real-world applications.

Credit Hours: Three (3)
Meetings:  Term II 2002/2003 (4 Nov 2002–14 March 2003)
Location: Distance Education. Participation at least three times a week will enable attendance requirements to be met.

Teaching Method:  This course will be conducted primarily
through distance education format, group work, and individual studies; however, personal communications through fax, phone, and other means may be used. Problem solving, student reports and case analysis will be used to facilitate learning.
Adjustments to the syllabus may be made as required, and notification will be made to students as soon as known.  While statistics, per se, may be complex, the major concern is to have each student understand what managerial statistics are and how they can be used in making business decisions.

Class Policies:  The main concern is communications! It is very important that you communicate any concerns to the instructor at the earliest.  During these troubled times, you may be away from the course for various periods of time. If you cannot communicate this, have a partner or friend notify the instructor or the UMUC field representative of any unexpected absences. At the least, try to keep the instructor informed. You will also be expected to read the assigned chapters, practice the problems, review the cases assigned, and complete required work at the established due dates. The instructor reserves the right to alter the planned schedule when necessary for class benefit.  Notice will be given prior to any requirement.  Again, communications is the bottom line! Incompletes are not automatic. Students having good reason to extend the course (personal leave, vacations, and so forth are not good reasons) may request an extension to the instructor prior to the end of the course. Incompletes will not be assigned after the course is over. Lecture material will be presented in the Course Content forum, while student assignments and activities will be required in the Conferences. Due dates will be established for required assignments, while some Conference swill remain OPEN for discussions and questions.
 
 

Participation: Student participation includes active communication, positive attitude towards learning, completion of assigned tasks, and communication.  Case study analysis will be assigned by the instructor. Software programs may be used for chapter work; however, no software will be allowed for the exams. For each week, readings, problem work, casework, and other tasks may be identified in the course schedule. Due dates for individual work are established. Participation points will be assessed based on active participation and submission of reports on time. Conference input discussions will be required as part of participation. Study groups may also be assigned. Due dates for required inputs will be noted in the discussions and indicated in the course schedule as well. Quality of responses will be assessed subjectively by the instructor, but length, depth, and presentation of all responses will always be considered. Total value = 40 points.

Examinations:  A midterm examination will include course material involving Chapters 1 thru 6. The exam will be an open book exam, valued at 30 points. UMUC policies for exams will be closely followed, as applicable.  Student work should be shown on the exam to account for full credit. Even though the right answer may not be given, credit for accurate work will be allowed. A final exam (Chapters 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, and 13) will be similarly applied (30 points). The exams will consist of short essays and work problems. Some work problems may be partially answered: the student will be required to complete the answers. The midterm will be in the 7th week of the course (15-20 Dec) and the final exam will be in the final week (9-14 Mar 2003).

Course Schedule

The following class schedule will be general in nature in order to allow you to focus on the required material for each session. You are required to read the assigned chapters for the week, review the end-of-chapter even numbered problems and chapter self-tests, and answer specific odd-numbered problems. Note: Review the Appendices in the text for self-test and even-numbered correct answers. Case studies will also be assigned for specific classes.

Week        Session Dates        Assignments
1 & 2         4 Nov-16 Nov

Read Introduction and review all course materials.
Review the Management Scientist program and pages 24-26 of the text.
Read Ch 1 (course text).
Practice the even-numbered problems and Self-Test items-answers in the back of the text.
Provide a brief bio of yourself (due 10 Nov) in Conference 001.
Work Ch 1 problems 1, 3, 5, 7, 13, & 17 and submit answers to the Assignments area. Do this procedure for all work problems.
Submit answers to Assignments nlt 16 Nov 2001.
Go to the Conference area and submit inputs to Conferences as required. Review Course Content items.
Review MGMT 585 PowerPoint files in the instructor’s faculty web page (http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~kkovach).

Objectives:
1.  Comprehend the course objectives and learning outcomes.
2.  Discuss research hypothesis and methodology.
3.  Become familiar with key statistical terms.
4.  Demonstrate knowledge through assigned work problems.
5.  Understand the course requirements.
6.  Demonstrate knowledge through completion of assignments.
7.  Introduce student participants.

3 & 4     17 Nov–27 Nov

Read Chapters 2 & 3 (text).
Practice even-numbered problems and the Self-Tests.
Work Ch 2 problems 3, 5, 9, 11, & 15: due 27 Nov.
Work Ch 3 problems 5, 7, 11, 19, & 25: due 27 Nov.
Complete Conferences and review Course Content.
Review PowerPoint presentation files.

Objectives:
1.  Explain probability concepts.
2. Discuss the concepts of probability distributions and random variables.
3.  Demonstrate subject knowledge by problem completion.
4.  Develop review and application techniques.
 

5         28 Nov–7 Dec

Read Chapters 4 & 5.
Practice even-numbered problems and Self-Tests.
Work Ch 4 problems 9, 13, 21, & 23: due 7 Dec.
Work Ch 5 problems 3 & 9: due 7 Dec.
Complete Conferences

Objectives:
1.  Determine optimal strategies through decision analysis.
2.  Understand payoff tables and decision tree concepts.
3.  Discuss the fundamentals of decision analysis.
4.  Demonstrate group communications.
 

6 & 7    8 Dec–21 Dec

Read Ch 6.
Practice even-numbered problems and Self-Tests.
Work Ch 6 problems 3, 7, 15, 17, & 27: due 21 Dec.
Complete Conferences.

Objectives:
1.  Discuss forecasting methods and techniques.
2.  Summarize the components of time series forecasting.
3.  Demonstrate knowledge of the subject through assessment.

7  16-20 Dec 2002  Midterm examination!

This will be an open book examination. Material will consist of Chapters 1 through 6.

8,9 & 10    21 Dec 2002–17 Jan 2003
   BREAK–MERRY CHRISTMAS! STAY SAFE & HAPPY!
 

11   18 Jan- 25 Jan 2003

Read Ch 7.
Practice even-numbered problems and Self-Tests.
Work Ch 7 problems 3, 15, 21, 23: due 18 Jan.
Complete Conferences.

Objectives:
1.  Show linear programming graphical methods.
2.  Demonstrate knowledge of linear programming techniques.
 

12 & 13        26 Jan–1 Feb

Read Chs 8 &9.
Practice even-numbered problems and Self-Tests.
Work Ch 8 problems 3 and 15: due 1 Feb.
Work Ch 9 problems 3, & 11: due 1 Feb.
Complete Conferences.

Objectives:
1. Understand linear programming applications.
2. Develop linear programming solutions through applications.
3. Obtain practice and experience in formulating realistic linear programming models.
 

13 & 14     2 Feb–16 Feb

Read Chs 10 and 12.
Practice even-numbered problems and Self-Tests.
Work Ch 10 problems 3, 5, 7 and 15: Due 16 Feb.
Work Ch 12 problems 7, 15, & 19: due 16 Feb.
Complete Conferences.

Objectives:
1. Identify special features of the transportation problem.
2. Become familiar with the types of problems that can be solved with transportation models.
3. Demonstrate application of transportation models.
4. Understand the role and application of PERT/CPM.
5. Demonstrate completion of critical path and project completion time.

15 & 16      17 Feb–7 March

Read Ch 13 and review practice and self-test problems.
Work problems 9 and 19: due 1 Mar.
Complete Final Exam: due 7 March 2002.
Complete all remaining tasks required.
Complete Conferences.

Objectives:

1. Discuss inventory models for independent demand.
2. Determine optimal solution of inventory ordering.
3. Complete all course work.
4. Assess student knowledge and performance.
 

Instructor Short Bio
    Ken J. Kovach has been a faculty member for the University of Maryland University College since 1993 and also has taught research, statistics, and managerial courses for several other universities. Since 1981, he has taught 400+ graduate/undergrad courses in a variety of subjects. Ken previously served 23 years in the U.S. Air Force, first enlisted and then commissioned, in logistics, plans, operations, transportation management, aerial delivery, command staff, and airborne command positions.
    Within distance education, he has continually taught over the Internet since 1995 after developing three university programs for Embry-Riddle and one business management certificate program for the National Business Aviation Association. He has developed research guidelines for various universities and serves mainly as the chair on graduate research project committees. Ken is active in various professional associations, to include the American Counseling Association, American Statistical Association, and Transportation Administration. His recent publication was Corporate Aviation Management.
    Ken's bachelor of science was from the University of Tennessee in business, Master of Arts in guidance and counseling from Wayne State University, and doctorate in higher education from Nova University. He has a British wife, Sally, and two daughters, Katie and Chris.