Transcript OPIM 101 Overview

Introduction to the Computer
as an Analysis Tool
OPIM 101
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Overview
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Staff
Syllabus and organization of the course
Problem solving with computers
ToDo
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Staff
• Instructors
– Jan W. Buzydlowski (Sections 01 & 02)
– Panos Markopoulos (Sections 03 & 04)
• Course Coordinator
– Steven O. Kimbrough
• Head Teaching Assistant
– Karthik Balasubramaniam
• Teaching Assistants (TAs)
– Undergraduate Assistants
• Graders
– Ph.D. Students
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Texts
• Free:
– Kimbrough (2003). Information and Decision Technology: An
Introduction to Computer-Based Modeling and Analysis
» “IDT Book” On-line in PDF from course homepage
– Non-Programmers Tutorial for Python by Josh Cogliati.
» “EasyTut” On-line at Course Homepage
– Course Pack
» available on-line from the course homepage
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Texts
• Not free:
– Moore, Weatherford, et al (2000). Decision Modeling with
Microsoft Excel
– MOUS Essentials: Excel 2000
» PIN Codes
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Course Requirements
• Graded:
– Cases
» Internet: 5%
» Excel: 10%
» Database: 15%
– Exams
• Multiple choice and short answer
» Mid-term: 30%
» Final: 30%
– MOUS Exam
» Excel: 10%
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Grading Policies
• Grades curved per Wharton core-course
guidelines - approximately
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25% As
45% Bs
30% Cs
Ds and Fs (if earned…)
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Tips
• Learning is not a spectator sport!
– Hands-on essential to learning
• Do assigned work on time
– Do assignments and attend class
– Catching up in OPIM 101 is difficult
– Case and tutorials take time -- plan ahead
• Get help when you need it
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RTFM: read the manual
online help (e.g. Office Assistant)
e-mail: [email protected]
office hours (TAs, Graders, Faculty)
for info re private tutor for any Wharton course, contact Anita
Henderson (215.898.7608)
• Check course homepage regularly!!!
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Working with the Staff;
Etiquette
• OPIM 101 is demanding for the staff also, so
please be thoughtful.
• All questions about the grading of the case
should be directed to the grader for the case, not
the TAs.
• Please prepare before coming to office hours to
use TAs’ efficiently
– If your questions will require access to your file, please upload
it to your futures account for downloading during office hours.
• Maintain high standards of civility / protocol.
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Academic Integrity
• We strongly endorse the University of
Pennsylvania’s Academic Code of Integrity and
will report any violation for official action.
• Each student must work independently on Case
1: Internet. Work in groups of 2-3 for Case 2 &
Case 3.
• Otherwise, we encourage you to:
– discuss with other students the course materials – readings,
tutorials, and homework exercises
– create an effective study group
» form a project group for Cases 2 & 3 (now!)
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Course Objectives
1. Develop analytical, quantitative, & problemsolving skills for:
– using computer to model, analyze, and solve management
problems
– communicating analyses, conclusions, and recommendations
for managerial action
2. Useful for:
– other courses
– summer jobs
– professional career after college
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Management Problem Solving
• Develop a concept (model) for representing and solving the
problem (Abstraction)
– How shall we think of solving the problem? What is our solution
concept?
– Spreadsheet modeling, LP, decision analysis, etc.
• Model the solution
– How can we actually solve the problem by gaining effective access to
the data, models, documents, etc. needed to implement our solution
concept?
– Programming, database
• Analyze, interpret, and communicate the solution results
– How good is our solution? Metrics? What exactly does it mean? Are
the findings stable or do they rest on precarious assumptions?
– Sensitivity Analysis
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THE MODELING PROCESS
Real
World
Management
Situation
Results
Interpretation
Symbolic
World
Abstraction
Model
Analysis
Intuition
Decisions
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Example
• The problem: to understand what is actually going on in a
business and competing companies and to take actions that
improve the profitability of the firm.
– Problem representation or model
» Solution concept: The records of the firm’s business transactions
contain a great deal of useful information on how and how well the
firm is conducting its business. Explore those records.
– Solution implementation
» Implementation: in Access. Gather data from the Web. Organize the
transaction records in a well-designed relational database. Use the
database query facilities, especially SQL and QBE, to make the
calculations needed to reveal the essential business patterns needed
to understand what is going on.
– Solution interpretation
» Interpretation: Use the query facilities to explore beyond a fixed set
of reports. Perform what-if queries, plot data, etc.
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Course’s Main Topics
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Modeling with Excel
Deterministic Models
Probabilistic Models
Scripting
Database Management Systems
Internet
"To be able to implement a well-built and organized model in
Excel and to populate the model with required data
extracted from a variety of sources"
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Course’s Homepage
http://opim-sun.wharton.upenn.edu/~opim101/spring03/
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ToDo
• Read
– IDT book
» Chapter 1: "Introduction and Overview"
– MW book
» Chapter 1: "Introduction to Modeling"
• Download Today's Lecture
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