I.              Course Description:

This course is an introductory treatment to the field of Decision Theory, Linear Programming, Project Management and Waiting Lines (Queueing Theory).  It is suitable for both undergraduate and graduate students.  The field of Operations Research is dynamic, and very much a part of many of the good things that are happening in business organizations.  The subject matter represents a blend of concepts from general management, cost accounting , industrial engineering, quantitative methods, and statistics. 

II.            Prerequisites, Helpful Knowledge and Skills:

The student should have a sound knowledge of mathematical concepts usually acquired in courses such as Finite Math. I & II (MAT 151, & MAT 152) and Statistics (MAT 301).

III.           Learning Objectives/Outcomes:

After completing this course the student should have the knowledge of the principles, concepts and applications of  Operations Research.  Many of these principles and concepts are applicable to other aspects of the student’s professional and personal life.  Consequently, the student should expect the benefits of studying  Operations Researc to serve him/her in those areas as well.

A student who earns a “ C ” or better in this class will have demonstrated the following core skills and will have evidence of such from the materials and work s/he’s completed for class:

 Demonstrate a good grasp of Operations Research  principles, ideas, tools, and practices that Business/Operations managers need to operate successfully and meet the challenges facing them.

 Develop understanding of the analytical approach of assessing the business/operations environments and  opportunities, competitive situations and productivity improvement/optimum resource allocation needs of an organization.

 Demonstrate an awareness and understanding of business/operations  strategies with various stages of the product life cycle.

 An “ A “ student will develop these competencies and more from participating in this course, as well as the personal confidence to move on and pursue interesting independent work, most importantly a deeper understanding of the issues/challenges faced with using operations research  principles.

IV.           Methodology:

The mode of delivery for learning are class discussion, assignments, and three examinations.  Class discussion of the subject matter concepts and interactive dialogue among students and the instructor is expected to ensure clear understanding of production and operations management concepts and its applications to problem-solving.

V.            Resources:

Text:       Production /Operations Management,  Ninth (9th) Edition.

                By;  William J. Stevenson

                IRWIN/McGraw-Hill

VI.           Evaluation & Grading:

The student’s learning is evaluated continuously through class interactions, assignments, and three Exams.  The course grade is based on the student performance on the three exams. and class participation.

                Exam I:                                                                   20%

                Exam II:                                                                  20%

                Exam III:                                                                20%                                                      

                Exam IV:                                                                20%                                                      

                Class Participation:                                               20%

Grading scale:

            How points and percentages equate to grades

VII.     COURSE POLICIES

Incompletes: A grade of Incomplete (I) is given only in emergency situations. The student must request an Incomplete in writing and must obtain my permission. All uncompleted work must be completed within the time limits I set. If you simply don’t turn in the final assignments or the final exam, your course grade will be calculated with the missed portion counting for 0 points.

Academic honesty: Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. Any student found to be engaging in either of these activities at any point in the course will receive a failing grade for the assignment and/or entire course and may be subject to further college sanctions.

Rules of Discussion: The classroom should be a safe haven within which individuals can discuss the widest possible range of topics without fearing retribution, ridicule, or attack. In order for this to happen, we must assume that we are all persons of intelligence and good will who may ultimately disagree, sometimes to a profound degree, with one another but whose characters are not impugned or intelligence disparaged because of this disagreement. The classroom is not a forum for proselytizing, nor it is a soapbox for diatribes by either students or faculty. For the academic endeavor to succeed, we must treat each other with civility, courtesy, and respect. All perspectives and questions are welcome, as long as they are impelled by a genuine desire for knowledge, can be articulated thoughtfully, and supported by sound reasoning.

Students with disabilities: Students with documented disabilities who may need accommodations, who have any emergency medical information the instructor should know of, or who need special arrangements in the event of evacuation, should make an appointment with the instructor as early as possible, no later than the first week of the term.

VIII.         Course Outline:

Weeks (02/16- 03/08):

1.             Decision Theory                                                                Supplement To Chapter  5/Page 205.

                Assignment: Page 220/#s. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 16, 17, 19

                Exam I  (On Decision Theory),   20% of grade.

Weeks (03/08- 04/05):

2.           Linear Programming                                                            Supplement To Chapter  6/Page 278.

                Assignment: Page 303/#s. 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 11

                Exam II (On Linear Programming),   20% of grade.

Weeks(04/05, 05/03):

4.             Project Management                                                                                   Chapter  17/Page 725.

                Assignment: Page 802/#s. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 15.

                 Exam III (On Project Management),   20% of grade.

Weeks(05/03,05/29):

5.            Waiting Lines and Simulation                                                                      Chapter 18/Page 812.

                Assignment: Page 844/#s 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15.

                Exam IV (On Waiting Lines and Simulation),   20% of grade.

IX.      Biography:

About The Instructor: Malek Daaboul has a broad industrial background with a record of contribution in marketing, sales, customer support, engineering, manufacturing, information technology, and business management.  Strong planning and management skills complemented with a thorough technical and analytical background.  Worked at Owens Illinois in Toledo, Ohio for about nine years in different capacities: Manufacturing Engineer, Senior Operations Research Analyst, and Systems Software & Technical Supervisor.  He then worked for Tektronix in Beaverton, Oregon for about Six years as Technical Services Manager before joining Sequent Inc. in Beaverton, Oregon for about four years as Computer Resources Group Manager and Later as Rightsizing Marketing Manager.  Then He worked for IBM Global Services in Portland, Oregon for about four years as a Senior Business Management Consultant/Solutions Manager and for Oracle Corporation in Portland, Oregon for about two years as Consulting Services Practice Manager.  Responsibilities at IBM and Oracle included business development in Oregon, marketing, and selling consulting services as well as overall management of consulting engagements and executive relationships.  Malek has been teaching undergraduate and graduate (MBA) courses since 1974. Courses taught include Strategic Marketing Management, Industrial Marketing, Services Marketing, International Marketing, Management Decisions Making, Decision and Executive support Systems, Economic Decision Making, Managerial Forecasting, Operations Research, Operations Management, Information Technology and Mathematics. He has masters degrees in electrical and industrial engineering and done Ph.D. work (two years) in systems engineering.