BUAN / OPRE 6398-0W1 – Prescriptive Analytics
Professor: Dr. Avanti Sethi
Office: JSOM 3.212
Phone: 972-883-5816
E-mail: ASethi@[Link] (Please make sure you put OPRE 6398-0W1 in subject heading)
Office Hours: Via email
TA: Vikram
Text: Ragsdale, C. T. Spreadsheet modeling & decision analysis: A practical introduction to business
analytics (8th ed.). Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning. (ISBN-10: 1-285-41868-9; ISBN-13: 978-1-285-
41868-1).
Software: The software to be used in this course, Analytic Solver Platform (Solver), is an Excel add-in
both for Windows-based systems and Apple computers.
Prerequisites: OPRE 6301 : Statistics & Data Analysis
Course Modality and Expectations
Asynchronous / Online. For details, please visit [Link]
Instructional Mode
2020/fall-2020-registration-information/
Course Platform MS Teams (if needed)
Expectations No attendance required.
Asynchronous
[Link]
Learning Guidelines
Computer Requirement: You do need a computer for this class.
You must have access to a Webcam or you’ll not be able to take your tests which will be proctored (for
free) by an online service. More info will be provided as it becomes available. UTD still doesn’t have a
signed contract.
Please review the important technical requirements on the Getting Started with eLearning webpage.
More info is available here: Student eLearning Tutorials. Also, please get familiar with Microsoft
Teams.
COVID-19 Guidelines and Resources: The information contained in the following link lists the
University’s COVID-19 resources for students and instructors of record. Please see
[Link]
Course Description: Introduction to decision analysis and optimization techniques. Topics include
linear programming, decision analysis, integer programming, and other optimization models.
Applications of these models to business problems will be emphasized. The course is about the science
of better, i.e., applying analytical tools to make better decisions and improve the efficiency of a system.
Topics to be covered include linear programming, integer programming, network models, time series
forecasting, queuing theory, decision analysis, and project management. The primary goal is to
acquaint students in business and relevant disciplines with useful concepts, theories, and solution
methods in predictive analytics. Much emphasis will be placed on practical applications of the models
discussed in class.
Learning Objectives
Students are expected to become familiar with the Excel-based software required for the class and
develop skills in formulating problems, identifying solution methods, solving problems manually or by
computer, & interpreting results. Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able
to:
• Use Analytic Solver Platform proficiently;
• Formulate real-world problems as analytical or optimization models;
• Identify appropriate program(s) in Analytic Solver Platform for solving models formulated;
• Apply programs identified to solve problems manually or by computer; and
• Interpret results obtained and implement them in practice.
E-mail: You can email me at ASethi@[Link] using your personal email account, smart phone, or
whatever. Please make sure that you put OPRE 6398 in the subject field of every email.
Grading Policy: There will be 3 tests and multiple quizzes / HW. The Quizzes will be mostly Chapter-
based.
Assessment Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 Assessment Sets
Weight 26.67% 26.67% 26.67% 20%
Item Due date Item Due date
Quiz 11 Sun-30-Aug Quiz-Transport Sun-25-Oct
Quiz 13 Sun-06-Sep Quiz-Assignment Sun-25-Oct
Quiz 14 Sun-13-Sep Test 2 Sun-1-Nov
Test 1 Sun-20-Sep HW-IP Sun-15-Nov
HW-LP Sun-11-Oct HW-Network Sun-22-Nov
Quiz-4 Sun-18-Oct Quiz-15 Sun-29-Nov
Test 3 Sun-06-Dec
The Quizzes are to be done / submitted online. You may have multiple attempts on some of them, and
if so, your score will be the highest of all the attempts. Note: The questions may change between
attempts (just the numbers, not the narration).
The tests will be online and will be proctored by an online service (check class website for updates).
You are allowed a 5x8 cheat-card (written both sides) for each test. You can use any calculator. Cell
phones are not allowed.
The grade distribution will be based on the following table.
Letter grade A B+ B C+ C F
Percentage 90% 85% 80% 75% 70% < 70%
BUAN 6398-0W1 ::: Prescriptive Analytics ::: Tentative schedule
Chapter 1: Intro to Modeling and Decision
Week 1 Mon-17-Aug Analysis
Chapter 11: Time Series Forecasting
Chapter 11: Time Series Forecasting
Week 2 Mon-24-Aug
Chapter 13: Queuing Theory
Chapter 13: Queuing Theory
Week 3 Mon-31-Aug
Chapter 14: Decision Analysis
Chapter 14: Decision Analysis
Week 4 Mon-07-Sep
Test 1 review
Test 1 Online Proctored Tentative time
Week 5 Sun-20-Sep
Ch 11, 13, 14 3:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Chapter 2: Introduction to Optimization and LP
Week 6 Mon-21-Sep
Chapter 3: Modeling and Solving LP Problems
Chapter 3: Modeling and Solving LP Problems
Week 7 Mon-28-Sep
Chapter 3: Modeling and Solving LP Problems
Chapter 4: Sensitivity Analysis
Week 8 Mon-05-Oct
Chapter 4: Sensitivity Analysis
Transportation method
Week 9 Mon-12-Oct
Assignment Method
Assignment Method
Week 10 Mon-19-Oct
Test 2 Review
Test 2 Online Proctored Tentative time
Week 11 Sun-01-Nov
Ch 2, 3, 4, Transportation, Assignment 3:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Chapter 6: Integer Linear Programming
Week 12 Mon-02-Nov
Chapter 6: Integer Linear Programming
Chapter 5: Network Modeling
Week 13 Mon-09-Nov
Chapter 5: Network Modeling
Chapter 5: Network Modeling
Week 14 Mon-16-Nov
Chapter 5: Network Modeling
Chapter 15: Project Management
Week 15 Mon-23-Nov
Chapter 15: Project Management
Test 3 Online Proctored Tentative time
Week 16 2-Dec
Ch 5, 6, 15 3:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Special Assistance: For help with test anxiety or time management, the following resources are available:
your academic advisor, the Learning Resource Center (MC2.402), the Counseling Center (SU1.608), the
New Student Programs Office (SU1.610), your instructor.
Expectation: University guidelines recommend that you study 2-3 hours per week for every credit hour
in which you are enrolled. That is, University expectations suggest you spend 4-9 hours outside of class
every week on OPRE6301 homework and studying.
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Plagiarism, especially from the web, from portions of papers for other classes, and from any other source
is unacceptable and will be dealt with under the university’s policy on plagiarism (see general catalog for
details). This course will use the resources of [Link], which searches the web for possible
plagiarism and is over 90% effective.
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