Faculty Contact Information:
William (Bill) Keller
Mailing Address: U of Maryland, Unit 29216 APO AE 09102
DSN Phone: 370-7157
Email Address: wkeller@faculty.ed.umuc.edu or billkelofumd@hotmail.com
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Consultation:
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Consultation: Office Hours are before and after class or contact me via e-mail for a virtual or real conference
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Required Texts and Readings:
TEXT
(2006). Quantitative methods for business, (10th ed.). Mason, OH: Thomson South-Western.
READINGS
American Psychological Association. 2001. Publication manual of the American Psychological Association, (5th ed.). Washington DC: Author
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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
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Recommended Journals:
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A variety of full-text, online, free-of-charge and pay-per-view academic journals are listed at the UMUC library website.
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Course Description:
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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.
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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 90%+
B 80 – 89%
C 70 – 79%
F Below 70%
Please note that Bowie State University does not use "D" for graduate students. The grade F 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.
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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:
Participate in classroom discussions 10%
Write graduate case studies 20%
Orally/visually present prepared paper 20%
Complete two written examination(s) 50%
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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.
Participate in classroom discussions: You are expected to come to class prepared to engage in all discussions in a professional and informed manner.
Write graduate level papers or case studies: 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. Moreover, all students are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with current UMUC-Europe/BSU standards regarding plagiarism, as all class papers are subject to being sent to turnitin.com for authentication.
Orally/visually present prepared material: You are required to present your research in a professional manner. In a face-to-face course, this typically means an oral presentation accompanied by appropriate visual material. In a DE class, this means creating a visual/textual presentation for your instructor and classmates.
Complete two written examination(s): The examination process in this class will assist you in developing the writing and critical thinking skills necessary to successfully passing the comprehensive exam required of all graduate students. The questions used for this course will either be taken directly from past comprehensive exams or written as though to be included on a comprehensive exam.
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Course Schedule:
1/20 AM
Introductions
Review of syllabus
Clarification of goals, objectives and requirements
Chapter 1 Problems 3, 8, 12, 17
1/20 PM:
Chapter 2 Problems 2, 6, 13, 17, 21, 25
1/21 AM:
Chapter 3 Problems 1, 5, 8, 12, 14, 20, 27, 29
1/21 PM:
Chapter 4 Problems 4, 9, 12, 17, 24
CASE Due 2/4/2006 Lawsuit Defense Strategy p145
2/3 AM:
Review Homework
Chapter 5 P 2, 4, 7, 12
2/3 PM:
Chapter 6 P6, 10, 18, 27
2/4 AM:
Chapter 7 P8, 14, 15, 26, 28, 49
2/4 PM:
Chapter 8 P7, 9, 22, 30
Case Due on 2/18/2006 Workload Balancing p 281
2/17 AM:
Review Homework
2/17 PM:
Chapter 10 P 5, 9, 13, 20, 27
Chapter 11 P 4, 6, 10, 16
2/18 AM:
Midterm in class
2/18 PM:
Chapter 12 P5, 8, 11, 15, 20
Chapter 13 P 3, 11, 26, 28
Case due 3/4/2006 River City Fire Department p 548
3/3 AM:
Review Homework
Chapter 14 P 5, 14, 18
3/3 PM:
Chapter 15 P 5, 9
3/4 AM:
Final Examination
3/4 PM:
Student presentations
Course evaluations
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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.
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Faculty Bio:
Bill Keller has his MBA from the University of Maine and a BBA in
Accounting from the University of Massachusetts. He has two years of
Doctoral studies in Accounting at Ohio State University with minors in Industrial Engineering and Statistics. He is originally from Rockland, Massachusetts that is midway between Boston and Plymouth.
He has been teaching with the University of Maryland - European Division since 1989. During that time, he has taught at Military Education Centers in Bahrain, Belgium, Bosnia, England, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Holland, Portugal, Turkey and Spain. He is normally in Rota, Spain where he teaches at the Navy College at Naval Base, Rota. He has prior teaching experience at Kent State University, the University of Toledo, Framingham (Mass) State College and Massasoit Community College.
He has prior work experience in both Public Accounting (CPA) and Private Accounting before entering the academic environment. During that time he had a successful small (only 2 horses) harness racing stable although was more successful when he was not the horse trainer. Professor Keller spent 3 years in the US Army with tours in Germany and Vietnam. Sports of all types are an interest area. Favorite team is the Boston Red Sox and roots for all Boston teams.
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