ASSIGNMENT TASKS

• Examine and present the problem in your own words.
• Answer the ten questions posed.

ASSESSMENT ELEMENTS

• A description of the problem (in your own words) and solution (including a print-out of any input files used for software, e.g. spreadsheet).
• Answers to the ten questions.

Report Writing Checklist And Criteria
1. TITLE
- Should give a clear indication of what the report is about
- Should not be too long nor too short

2. TITLE PAGE
- Attractive appearance
- Include title, author(s), date, recipient

3. GENERAL LAYOUT
- Margin widths
- Line spacing
- Font and size
- Format for sectioning, paragraph spacing etc consistent
- Page numbers
- Inclusion of tables and figure with titles for same
- Correct referencing of other work

4. ABSTRACT OR SYNOPSIS AND/OR EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- In abstract include the problem addressed, the solution approach, the main findings, conclusions, implications, recommendations
- Length - no more than a page

5. STRUCTURE
- Introduction - the problem addressed and why it is important
- Modelling - background, model description, rationale for choice (where appropriate)
- Data description if necessary
- Results
- Conclusions
- Optional - glossary, table of contents, executive summary, appendices

6. CONTENT
- Clarity and directness
- Coherence
- Structure
- Spelling, grammar, sentence and paragraph structure and content

7. MISCELLANEOUS
- The text must tell the story, so don't rely on graphs, diagrams and numbers to tell the story.
- Don't include graphs and tables and not refer to them in the body of the report.
- Ensure that there is a flow from one section to the next.
- Support all assertions by facts.
- Do not have too much nor too little white space around a table, figure or graph. Ensure that the format of these elements is the same throughout the document.

This subject is concerned with practical aspects of quantitative management, and covers recent developments in various areas of application. Applications considered include personnel scheduling, supply chain management (including logistics and inventory control), production planning and control, transportation problems and financial applications. The subject involves various case studies and study of recent journal publication.

Subject Objectives

Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
1. Identify, model and solve problems involving the application of Operations Research methodology to real-life and realistic problems;
2. Use terms peculiar to the field; and,
3. Communicate your understanding of the subject orally and in written form.

Course Contribution

This subject presents the methodology commonly used in operations research/quantitative management practice in the analysis of complex systems and may include discussions on recent developments in various applications of operations research such as personnel scheduling, production planning and control, transportation problems, inventory control, supply chain management and financial applications of operations research. The subject involves various case studies and intensive study of recent journal publications.

This subject focuses on the development of some of the skills required in professional practice, and the application of skills and knowledge acquired in the other quantitative management subjects.

Content

• Professional development through real-life applications and use of spreadsheet modelling;
• Research methodology and practice.

Subject Topic

1. Operations Research Methodology and spreadsheet modelling
2. Linear Programming
3. Network Modelling
4. Quantitative Techniques for Project Management
5. Multiple Objective decision-making
6. Inventory Models
7. Decision Models and software
8. An introduction to queuing models
9. Simulation
10. Forecasting