Department of Accounting & Business Analytics
OM 422: Simulation and Computer Modelling Techniques in Management
Course descriptionFall 2021
Lectures: Tuesday/Thursday 2:00 – 3:20 PM, CL 1-30 Instructor: M. Hosein Zare
Office: BUS 4-21F
Email: [email protected]
Office Hours: Thursdays 3:30 – 5:00 PM or by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Official course description: Computer modelling of management systems in such functional areas as accounting, finance, marketing and operations. Basic concepts of deterministic and probabilistic (Monte Carlo) simulation and their applications. Microcomputer implementation of case studies using spreadsheets particularly emphasized. Required term project.
Prerequisites: MGTSC 312 (or equivalent STAT course), MGTSC 352 or OM 352; and FIN 301 or ACCTG 311. Not to be taken by students with credit in MGTSC 422.
Skills you should have at the end of the term:
• Be able to analyze situations that involve uncertainty, such as ordering when demand is uncertain, the value of financial options, scenario analysis, etc.
• Specify input probability distributions (cost, revenue, demand) and generate output probability distributions (profit, waiting time, rate of return).
• Use software that is appropriate to the task
COURSE MATERIALS
Textbook:There is no required textbook for this course. Optional textbooks are
• Chapters about simulation in Practical Management Science by Winston and Albright (textbook is previously used in OM352; used /older editions are OK).
• Discrete-Event System Simulation (5th Edition), Jerry Banks, John S. Carson II, 2009.
• Simulation Modeling and Analysis, Law and Kelton book (5th edition), 2014.
Slides: There are five sets of lecture slides on (1) Introduction to Simulation (2) Statistics (3) Monte-Carlo Simulation (4) Queuing Theory and (5) Discrete-Event Simulation. Lecture notes will be posted on the eClass prior to topics being discussed in class. Note that the lecture notes are NOT an adequate substitute for class attendance.
Ivey Cases: We will be using Ivey cases in the course. As the online format seems to be the preference of most students, please purchase all the cases to be studied directly from www.iveycases.com. Please see the instruction posted on eClass for purchasing the course pack.
Simul8®: You will receive a product key to download the student version of a discrete‐event simulator (DES) software called Simul8®. You will also receive two tutorial guides: The first is called “An Introduction to simulation in the manufacturing industry using Simul8 ®” by Shalliker & Ricketts, and the second is called “An Introduction to simulation in the service industry using Simul8 ®” by Shalliker. The two versions have similar content but you may be more familiar with one of either industry, which may help you have a better understanding of the software and its applications. I recommend reading both as it would broaden students’
expertise, but for earlier simulations, pick one and carry on. We will use DES as an experiential learning tool to enrich our understanding, analysis and decision making of processes and queuing systems in general. Note that I cannot guarantee availability of features or software for Mac OS. I strongly recommend you complete assignments on Business lab computers or look into software like Parallels to run Windows on your machine.
EVALUATION
Class participation 22 Sessions 15%
Assignments A1 – A5 25%
Exams 2 Exams 35%
Project Presentation/Report 25%
Participation: You will be evaluated each session with regards to your participation, particularly during case discussion. This is NOT attendance. This is you stepping up and adding to the discussion. I understand that we can be shy and struggle with participation, but I can guarantee that all contributions are welcome and I’ll strive to provide an equitable learning environment from which we can all benefit. I’ll look for and guide towards insightful contributions that add to the analysis, problem-solving and decision-making
aspects of the lectures, exercises and cases.
Assignments: There will be five assignments referring to each unit taught. Assignments will be posted online, they are individual (i.e., not group) and each assignment will count towards your final mark (i.e., no assignment will be dropped).
Exams: There will be two exams through the semester where the questions will be similar to the assignments. To pass the course, a student must obtain an average of at least 40% on the two exams.
Group Work:
• The project in this course is intended to develop your ability to formulate, develop and analyze a simulation model based on a real world system. More details will be given during the course.
• Teams of 4 or 5. Undergrads with undergrads, MBAs with MBAs.
• Project presentation 10% (last week of class), project write-up 15%
Students will receive the same grade as their team members for the same group report.
Students are expected to contribute substantially to group work. Every student understands that all group members are equally responsible for the entire project. If an individual(s) has not contributed significantly to the group’s work, the individual in question may be severed from the group and receive a grade independent from the group. The faculty reserves the right to assign a failing grade to any individual who has not meaningfully contributed to the group.
The faculty may request each student to independently evaluate the contribution of other group members.
Absences from Exams and Projects: Occasionally life events occur that require a student to miss term work, term examinations, or projects. However, excused absences are not granted automatically and will be considered only for acceptable reasons. Unacceptable reasons include, but are not limited to, personal events such as vacations or travel arrangements.
When a student is absent without an acceptable excuse, a final grade will be computed using a raw score of zero for the work missed.
In the case of the final group project, no extension will be provided to the group unless there are indications that all group members were incapacitated by legitimate and adequately documented reasons. Also, there will be no deferred term exams in this course.
Learning Outcomes: This course incorporates the Learning Goals of the BCom program, in particular:
• Quantitative Skills – throughout the course, you will learn new tools for solving quantitative problems, while also learning the technical limitations of those tools;
• Written Communication – homework assignments, quizzes, and projects will all have a written component, where you will be challenged to communicate ideas in a clear and concise manner, with proper report structure and grammar, and with the right tone and technical level for the intended audience.
• Teamwork – project work will be completed in groups, giving you an opportunity to exercise your teamwork skills.
There is a similar set of MBA learning goals, which also align with this course.
COURSE POLICIES
Face masks in the classroom: To promote a healthy and safe learning, working, and living environment, non-medical face masks must now be worn in all public indoor areas on University of Alberta where physical distancing is not possible. The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the U.S. Centre for Disease Control (CDC) both formally recommend mask use indoors. Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw also recommends mask usage to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Given that there is not a minimum of 2 meters between the instructor or among students in our classroom, students are required to wear face masks while in the classroom. For more information please see the University of Alberta’s measure for fall return to campus and safety guide for students.
Personal Electronics in the Classroom: Personal electronics are allowed in the classroom as long as they are used exclusively for class-related work (note taking, viewing files, related spreadsheets, etc.) and not used in a way that is distracting to the other students in the class.
Using cell phones, in any form, is not allowed in this class as it is detrimental to the class.
Class Attendance: Students are expected to attend all classes. If the student misses a class for any reason, they are responsible for all materials covered, announcements made, and handouts provided. The professor will not email handouts distributed in class or solutions to the in-class problems. If a serious conflict arises (religious observance, serious illness, death in the family, etc.), the student should notify the professor as soon as possible so that accommodations can be made.
ACADEMIC SUPPORTS
The Academic Success Centre provides professional academic support to help students maximize their academic success and achieve their academic goals. The Centre offers appointments, advising, group workshops, online courses, and specialized programming year- round to students in all university programs, and at all levels of achievement and study.
Location: 1-80 Students' Union Building, University of Alberta, North Campus Website: https://www.ualberta.ca/current-students/academic-success-centre Phone: 780-492-2682
Email: [email protected]
Accommodating Disabilities: Students who require accommodations in this course due to a disability affecting mobility, vision, hearing, learning, or mental or physical health are advised to discuss their needs with Specialized Support and Disability Services, 2-800 Students' Union Building, 492-3381 (phone) or 492-7269 (TTY) and to contact me as soon as possible so that we can discuss appropriate arrangements.
ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT:
The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (online at www.governance.ualberta.ca) and avoid any behaviour which could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University.
Students who commit any act of plagiarism, cheating, or misrepresentation in this course will be penalized. All assignments (except for the group projects) are to be completed individually. However, I recognize the value of studying together and comparing notes when working on assignments. To help you judge what I consider acceptable and non-acceptable collaboration, consider the following:
Do:
• Discuss the course material with other students.
• Ask classmates for help when you are stumped.
• Offer help to other students.
• Do your own work.
Don’t:
• Discuss numerical answers with other students.
• Use someone else's words without proper attribution.
The best way to avoid using another student's words is to never look at another student's written answers to an assignment.
If you cite an article, book, web page, or any other source in your project report, then you must include complete information about that source.
• Copy another student's spreadsheet file, Arena file, or other computer file.
There are no exceptions to this rule. Copying another student's file for an assignment (or another group's work, for the group project) is not acceptable, under any circumstances. It is immaterial whether the copying is done electronically or manually.
Policy about course outlines can be found in section 23.4(2) of the University Calendar.
