BSAD 30 is an introductory Decision Analysis / Quantitative Methods course for undergraduates. The goals of this class are to provide students with an understanding of the role quantitative methods play in the decision-making process, to increase their awareness and understanding of different types of problems and solution approaches common in business, improve their decision-making and critical thinking skills, and to improve their quantitative and analytical problem solving abilities. BSAD 30 is required for all business students and mirrors the undergraduate quantitative methods courses taught at other universities. This is a mathematical course and requires students to practice setting up and solving different types of problems. Topics include: 1) basic models of revenue, cost, and profit, 2) a refresher on statistical experiments and sample space and the use of basic descriptive statistics, 3) discrete and continuous random variables and different probability distributions, 4) decision analysis with and without probabilities, 5) setting up, solving, and interpreting basic linear programming models graphically and using MS Solver (software), 5) sensitivity analysis, 6) supply chain / transportation problems (assignment, shortest-path, transshipment), 7) simple and multiple linear regression, 8) time series analysis and forecasting, and 9) scheduling techniques such as PERT/CPM.

This class follows a remote asynchronous modality. This means that there are NO scheduled class meeting times or lectures via Teams. This course requires that students be self-sufficient. All class material is posted and students are responsible for managing when they go through the material. I do not have scheduled office hours, but am accessible via email. I am happy to answer questions or provide clarification via email; however, please note that I am not available 24-7. I will do my best to respond as quickly as possible to email. As a student in this class, you will be responsible for managing the time/effort you devote to the class. This class requires effective time management and individual effort (reading, following lecture notes, problem solving, and experimenting with Excel and Solver) without my direct guidance. The class has an individual focus as opposed to a group or team focus. The class moves VERY quickly and there is a lot of material. We are completing a semester of work in one month! Based on experiences, I anticipate that most students will need to devote somewhere between 20-40 hours a week on this class to pass the class (it depends on the student and their comfort with math and statistics concepts). My suggestion is to devote some time every day to part of the material for each weekly Module as opposed to waiting until Wednesday or Thursday to begin going through the material. Waiting until right before assignments or tests are due to attempt to learn material is NOT a good way to approach the class. Keeping up with reading, lecture notes, and problem-solving exercises is important to your success. You must have a reliable computer and internet connection. This is the responsibility of each student. You cannot successfully complete this class without these things. As the class is remote, being comfortable using your computer to do HW, view class notes, and take tests is essential. This is not an appropriate class section for you if you struggle with remote learning, are not ready for an accelerated/condensed class, or if you have a job or some other conflict that prevents you from devoting the time needed to do well in the class or to take tests during the designated time window on Fridays. Students MUST complete the weekly test every Friday in the time window provided. Please note that I cannot make alternative arrangements with you if you miss parts of the class (for whatever reason) or have technical issues. We will be using MS Excel (with the Solver advanced add-in) extensively in this class. Your grade will depend, in some part, on a level of proficiency with this software. Students must have a computer that can run Excel with Solver. GSB faculty use Windows laptops and desktops. I will be using the Windows interface and the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Access, Visio, etc.). MACs run a version of Excel that is similar to the Windows version, but it is not identical. Please note that I cannot help resolve MAC-related Excel questions, as I do not have a MAC. I will certainly try to help, but not having the proper software installed or not being able to effectively use Excel is not an excuse for not getting work done (tests or HW). I may require you to submit Excel files or pictures of written work for tests.

I will be using two software portals for evaluation: 1) CNOW through the Cengage portal for HW (this is the book publisher’s portal), and 2) UVMs Blackboard portal for the schedule, lecture notes, and tests. You must be able to complete timed tests that are administered through Blackboard to succeed in this class. Note that I cannot grant individual HW or test extensions or makeups. This is not fair to everyone else in the class. The class ends after the final exam on Friday, June 18th! Material is organized into weekly modules in Blackboard. We will cover one module per week and there will be a test each Friday. The final exam will be on Friday, June 18th. We will be moving quickly! • Online homework (one drop) 7% • Test #1 (Friday, May 28th) 21% • Test #2 (Friday, June 4th) 21% • Test #3 (Friday, June 11th) 21% • Comprehensive Final Exam (Friday, June 18th) 30% 100% There are NO test drops and I will not reweight test values. ALL tests are important. If for some reason (whatever that may be) a student misses one test, I will reweight the final exam to count 51% of the total course grade. If a student misses two tests, one of those missed tests will be recorded as a zero. GRADING SCALE: A+: 97 above B+: 87-89 C+: 77-79 D+: 67-69 F: 59 below A: 93-96 B: 83-86 C: 73-76 D: 63-66 A-: 90-92 B-: 80-82 C-: 70-72 D-: 60-62 Prerequisites include BSAD 40, MATH 019 (or MATH 021), STAT 141.