Ping Wang, Ph.D., James Madison University

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Q&A for COB291 Introduction to Management Science --- Abode Reader may be needed to open some of the files.

Course Syllabus -- Office hours, and Class sections/times/classrooms will be posted on Blackboard

Q & A:

What should I have known before taking COB291?

What are to be covered in COB291?

What are expected BEFORE each class and what are expected for each homework assignment?

Where can I find a list of COB291 tutors? 

What should I do if I have a question outside of the class? 

How can I upload files to Digital Dropbox on Blackboard? 

Where can I find some COB291 course materials?

Where can I find answers for some of the questions in quizzes and homework?

Where to find the data sets for assigned homework?  In the Excel file, please check each spreadsheet by click its tab at the bottom of the Excel file, i.e., data sets for HW2 Regression are in HWRegression.xls with tabs as small, phone and heat.

Where to Find Q.exe, MonteCarlito, treeplan.xla, PremSolv.exe and other items?

Q & A:

What should I have known before taking COB291?

  1. Access to JMU Blackboard.  You may watch Blackboard Access Video if you need.  All of COB291 materials will be posted on JMU Blackboard.

  2. Know well MS Excel. 
    bulletYou need to go through the Excel Tutorial if you did not take COB191 at JMU.  You are responsible to catch up your Excel skills.
    bulletJMU Carrier Library Excel Tutorial through Atomic Learning.  If you would like to learn more about Excel@, you may go to JMU Library website and select Research Database and Resources, then search A to locate Atomic Learning at the bottom of the list and click it, then search Excel 2007 to see a list of Excel functions available in QuickTime format, one or two minutes each piece Or the following link.

What are to be covered in COB291?

  1. Test 1 Covers:

    1. Introduction in Ragsdale Chapter 1

    2. Forecasting in Ragsdale Chapter 11
    3. Regression in Regsdale Chapter 9
    4. Decision Analysis in Ragsdale Chapter 15
  2. Test 2 Covers:
    1. Queuing or Waiting Line Models in Ragsdale Chapter 13
    2. Simulation in Ragsdale Chapter 12
  3. Test 3 Covers:
    1. Algebra Review and Breakeven Analysis
    2. Optimization and Linear Programming Problems and Graphic Solution in Ragsdale Chapter 2 
    3. LP Models and Using Excel Solver for Solutions in Ragsdale Chapter 3
    4. Integer Programming Models in Ragsdale Chapter 6
  4. Final Exam is comprehensive.

 

What are expected BEFORE each class and what are expected for each homework assignment?

  1. Finish assigned homework and quiz based on the COB291 Instructions for Homework/Video and Report Writing Example.  Points will be deducted if not following these instructions, such as, missing cover page, and/or not stapled together, tried to finish in class.

  2. Read the corresponding chapter of the textbook, understand examples there.  You may also watch the corresponding video segments in your study.
  3. Prepare answers for the problems to be discussed.  Homework of similar problems will be assigned and answers will be discussed in the next class.

 

Where can I find a list of COB291 tutors? 

  1. at BB/Staff Information if anyone is available.  Please email me your name, phone number and email if you would like to be a COB291 tutor.

  2. David Gonzales COB291 Website:  at http://sites.google.com/site/davidcob291/Home and his email gonza2dj@jmu.edu.

 

What should I do if I have a question outside of the class? 

bullet

Post your question at BB/Discussion Board.  Anyone would be able to answer the question.  I check it regularly.

bulletEmail to me if it is about yourself.  You should receive my reply within 24 hours.

 

How can I upload files to Digital Dropbox on Blackboard? 

bullet

rename the file as either COB291HW?LastName_FirstName.xls or COB291HW?LastName_FirstName.doc

bullet

follow Blackboard/Digital Dropbox/Send Files

 

Where can I find some COB291 course materials?  Follow the links on the top/bottom menu bars

 

Where can I find answers for some of the questions in quizzes and homework? 

  1. Answers to questions related to the use of Excel in the course:

    1. How to print multiple Summary Outputs of Regression on one page?  Answer: 1) cut and paste these tables onto one spreadsheet, 2) highlight the whole area to be printed, 3) click Page Layout/Print Area/Set Print Area, 4) click Office Bottom/Print/Print Preview, 5) click Page Setup/Fit to the default is to print on one page.

    2. How to print Gridlines and Headings?  Answer:  1) highlight the whole area to be printed, 2) click Page Layout/Print Area/Set Print Area, 3) click Print Gridlines and Headings as Print.

    3. How to get Data Analysis and Solver for MAC?  Answer: 1) click Tools/Addins/Data Analysis and Solver, 2) select Data Analysis and Solver in the new Window.

  2. Answers to questions related to Quiz 1 and Homework 1 Forecasting:

  3. Answers to questions related to Quiz 2 and Homework 2 Regression:

    1. How to regenerate Summary Output Table when the p-value of a variable is greater than the significant level α (0.05)?  Answer: 1) click Data/Data Analysis/Regression, 2) disselect the variable with the p-value greater than the significant level α, 3) clike Solve.

    2. How to regenerate Summary Output Table when the p-value for the intercept is greater than the significant level α (0.05)?  Answer:  1) click Data/Data Analysis/Regression, 2) click Constant is Zero.

  4. Answers to questions related to Quiz 3 and Homework 3 Decision Analysis:

    1. How to use Data/Data tools/What if for sensitivity analysis?  please be sure to read the Figure 15.8 on page 736, note the equations in cell C10, B13, C13 and so on.  Set Column Cell only.

  5. Answers to questions related to Quiz 4 and Homework 4 Queue or Waiting Lines

  6. Answers to questions related to Quiz 5 and Homework 5 Simulation

  7. Answers to questions related to Quiz 6 and Homework 6 LP

 

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