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Need help with Excel's Solver: Check out this page: SolverFAQ

Crystal Ball Software: As described in the syllabus, the course will use a piece of software called Crystal Ball version 2000.  The software will be distributed to the students in class. We will start using it in class in Lecture 9.  If you go to the bookstore you might see Crystal Ball Version 4.0 (an earlier version that does not work with Office 2000).  That version is there for students of a different course (Exec MBA - B7015). Do not buy Version 4.0 from the bookstore!

Didn't get a readings book?  There should be extra copies in 208 Warren.

Getting started with Solver: To get started using solver, simply go to Excel and then choose Tools|Solver.  If Solver is not there, then you will need to go to Tools|AddIns and check off "Solver Add In".  Then click OK and go back to the Tools menu.  Now solver should be there. Check the SolverFAQ file for additional help.

Article from WSJ on decision models in the airline industry: wsj-article.pdf

SolverTable can be downloaded here.  NOTE: If you cannot get SolverTable to work on your computer, then you will have to resolve the problems as we usually do (go to solver, hit solve).  It is not absolutely essential that you get SolverTable working.

Adobe Acrobat Reader: All lecture notes on this web page are saved in PDF format. They can be viewed and printed using Adobe Acrobat Reader (To download click here and follow the instructions.)

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Course Description

This course provides an introduction to computer-based models for decision making. The emphasis is on models that are widely used in diverse industries and functional areas, including finance, accounting, operations, and marketing. Applications will include production planning, supply chain management, foreign exchange and commodity trading, asset-liability management, portfolio optimization, corporate risk management, and yield management, among others.

The aim of the course is to help students become intelligent consumers of these methods. To this end, the course will cover the basic elements of modeling --- how to formulate a model and how to use and interpret the information a model produces. The course will attempt to instill a critical viewpoint towards decision models, recognizing that they are powerful but limited tools.

The applicability and usage of computer-based models have increased dramatically in recent years, due to the extraordinary improvements in computer, information and communication technologies, including not just hardware but also model-solution techniques and user interfaces. Twenty years ago working with a model meant using an expensive mainframe computer, learning a complex programming language, and struggling to compile data by hand; the entire process was clearly marked "experts only." The rise of personal computers, friendly interfaces (such as spreadsheets), and large data bases has made modeling far more accessible to managers. Information has come to be recognized as a critical resource, and models play a key role in deploying this resource, in organizing and structuring information so that it can be used productively.
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Winston and Albright, 1997, Practical Management Science: Spreadsheet Modeling and Applications, Duxbury Press, Belmont, CA. (W&A)

Crystal Ball 2000 Standard Edition: Forecasting & Risk Analysis for Spreadsheet Users (an add-in for Excel for creating simulations in a spreadsheet).

The textbook is available at the Columbia Bookstore. A readings book will also be handed out the first day of class with a Crystal Ball disk.  The manual for Crystal Ball is available on that disk. The text is also on reserve in the business school library.
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We will use spreadsheets fairly extensively throughout the course. In the lectures we will refer to the Excel 97 spreadsheet package for Windows 95. This spreadsheet has extensive optimization capabilities built in. Crystal Ball is an add-in for Excel which makes it much easier to run simulations in a spreadsheet.
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There will be two homework assignments that will be assigned during the course. The homeworks are individual assignments, and are designed as practice for the final exam. The main case case can be done in groups of five or less and is due Wednesday, October 18 at 5:00 pm. In addition for many of the class sessions, you will be asked to prepare a case for discussion in class.

The readings book has a set of practice problems. Many of these practice problems were based on past midterm and final examination questions. Some spreadsheets (in Excel .XLS format) related to these problems can be downloaded at the bottom of this page. The TA will go over the solutions to selected problems during the Friday review sessions or during office hours. Additional practice problems can be found throughout the W&A text.
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Exam

There will be four hours for the final exam, although most students should be able to finish in three hours or less. The exam will be open book and open notes. A common final exam will be used for all sections of the course. Notebook computers will be needed in the final exam. Think of the computer as a fancy calculator: it is useful for checking one's work and for some questions the computer will be needed to get final answers. However, the majority of the points on the exam will be given for correct methods and analysis; correct numbers will only count for a small portion of the points. Printing will not be allowed in the final exam. Any answers from the computer must be transcribed into the answer book.
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The course grade will be based on a weighted average of the homeworks, main case, and the final exam. The weights will be 20% for the homeworks, 30% for the main case, and 50% for the final.
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Notebook PCs

Notebook PCs will be used in this course. It is recommended that students bring their notebook PCs to the Friday review sessions for software-related questions. Students should bring their notebook PCs to class on Lecture 8. Also, notebook computers will be needed for the final exam.
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Review Sessions

There will be weekly review sessions for the course.  They will be held in Fridays from 1:20-2:40pm, Room TBA.  The TA will go over practice problems and answer any computer related questions.  It is recommended that students bring their notebook PCs to the Friday review sessions for software-related questions.

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	Date	Topic	For next class	Download
Lecture 1	Thu 9/07	Course overview Introduction to decision models; scale and complexity  Linear programming formulation  Demonstration of the spreadsheet optimization method	Formulate and solve the "Shelby Shelving" case (in the readings book or on pp.68--69 in the W&A text).  Prepare to discuss the case in class, but do not write up a formal solution.  Readings:  "An Introduction to Spreadsheet Optimization Using Excel" in the readings book. Also read Chapter 1, Chapter 2.1--2.4, 2.6, 2.8, and Chapter 4.1, 4.2 in the W&A text. Optional readings: "OR Brews Success for San Miguel" and "Logistics Steps Onto Retail Battlefield" in the readings book. Try Optimization Practice Problems #1 and #3 (in the readings book).	Lecture 1 Notes  bland0.xls  bland.xls
Lecture 2	Tue 9/12	Two Formulation Examples Shelby Shelving case	Homework 1 is assigned homework1.pdf Read and try question (a) of "Petromor: The Morombian State Oil Company."  (Prepare to discuss the case in class, but do not write up a formal solution.)  Read Chapter 4.4 in the W&A text.  Optional reading: "Graphical Analysis" in the readings book.  Load the SolverTable macros into your Excel. (You need to have Solver installed before attempting to load SolverTable. They are separate programs.) Instructions are here.	Lecture 2 Notes  trans0.xls  trans.xls  staffing0.xls  staffing.xls  shelby0.xls  shelby.xls shelby-tables.xls  petromor.pdf
Lecture 3	Thu 9/14	Sensitivity analysis (on Shelby) Bidding / Assignment models	Read Chapter 2.9 and 3.7 in the W&A text.  Try Optimization Practice Problems #2 and #5 (in the readings book).	Lecture 3 Notes petromor0.xls petromor.xls shelby-ST.xls
Lecture 4	Tue 9/19	Multiperiod planning Cash Flow Matching LP, Project funding example	Read Chapter 5.1 and 5.5 in the W&A text. Optional reading: "Improving Gasoline Blending at Texaco" in the readings book.  Read pp. 310-313 and Section 6.11 in the W&A text.	Lecture 4 Notes nsc0.xls nsc.xls  projfund0.xls  projfund.xls  projfund-with-ST.xls
Lecture 5	Thu 9/21	Integer Programming: plant location example  Portfolio Optimization - I	Optional readings: "Exploring the New Efficient Frontier'' and "Asset Allocation in a Downside-Risk Framework" in the readings book.  Try Optimization Practice Problems #7, #8 and #9 (in the readings book).	Lecture 5 Notes plant0.xls plant.xls plant_if.xls invest0.xls invest.xls invest-ST.xls EmoryU-Article
Lecture 6	Tue 9/26	Portfolio Optimization - II Homework #1 is due!	Read Section 7.3 of the W&A text. Solve the "GMS Stock Hedging" case, pp.330-331 in the W&A text.  (Prepare to discuss the case in class, but do not write up a formal solution.)   Homework 2 is assigned. Download it here later!	Lecture 6 Notes ten-stocks.xls ten-stocks0.xls ten-stocks-with-shorting.xls ten-stocks-with-int.xls negcorrel.xls highcorrel.xls lowcorrel.xls
Lecture 7	Thu 9/28	GMS Stock Hedging Introduction to Retailer Simulation	Crystal Ball software will be handed out in class! Read the case "Retailer: A Retail Pricing Simulation Exercise" on pp.529-534 in the W&A text.  Download the Retailer files.  (Please put all of the Retailer-related files into the same directory on your computer.)  Remember to bring your notebook computer to the next class.  Optional readings: "His Goal: No Room at the Inns," "Computers as Price Setters Complicate Travelers' Lives," "Making Supply Meet Demand in an Uncertain World," and "Yield Management at American Airlines" in the readings book. Try Optimization Practice Problems #11, #13 and #14 (in the readings book).	Lecture 7 Notes gold.xls gold0.xls retail.xls retail-zip-file
Lecture 8	Tue 10/3	Retailer case (bring computer) Retailer analysis	Read Chapter 12, pp.581--594 in the W&A text. Install Crystal Ball on your computer.	Lecture 8 Notes ret_lp0.xls ret_lp.xls
Lecture 9	Thu 10/5	Introduction to simulation Introduction to Crystal Ball Risk management simulation example	Optional reading: Chapter 12.5-12.12 and Chapter 13 in the W&A text. Try Simulation Practice Problems #1 and #2 (in the readings book).	Lecture 9 Notes coin.xls asianoil0.xls  asianoil.xls
Lecture 10	Tue 10/10	Ski Jacket case Homework #2 is due!	Read "Identifying, Measuring, and Hedging Currency Risk at Merck," "Merck's 1995 Annual Report," and "Managing Risk" in the readings book.  At this point we have covered enough material on simulation for you to begin the Final case. Download the case here: TBA Even though the case isn't due until October 18th, it is a good idea to start this case now!	Lecture 10 Notes ski0.xls  ski.xls ski2.xls
Lecture 11	Thu 10/12	Risk Management at Merck Using Simulation for Foreign Currency Risk Management	Try Simulation Practice Problem #3 (in the readings book).	Lecture 11 Notes merck_u0.xls merck_u.xls merck0.xls merck.xls
Lecture 12	Tue 10/17	Introduction to Value at Risk Bond Applications Course review and wrap-up		Lecture 12 Notes putnam.xls putnam0.xls premier.xls premier0.xls
Final Exam	10/20: 10am-1pm  Open Book, Open Notes, Bring your computer!			SampleQuestions.pdf SampleSolutions.pdf briton.xls nifty.xls

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• Optimization Practice Problems

•   Simulation Practice Problems