Using Computer as Analysis Tool

Computer as an Analysis Tool
Week 1: Basic Modeling in Excel

Agenda Today
— Lesson Outcome
— Course Outlines and Expectations
— Know the course scope, schedule, assessment and assignments
— Construct simple Excel models
— Exercises
— Retail Gasoline
— Alex Processing
— Achilles and Tortoise

Introductions
— Who am I?
— Ph.D. in Management Information Systems, McCombs School of Business, The
University of Texas at Austin
— Previously taught in the U.S. and in Hong Kong
— Now Associate Professor of Information Systems

— What I have taught?
—
—
—
—

Introduction to Management Information Systems
Business Intelligence and Analytics
Decision Models
Supply Chain Management

— What I teach this semester?
— IS102 Computer as an Analysis Tool (CAT)

What’s it all about?
— What is CAT?
— Use PCs to solicit, consolidate, present information via spreadsheet models

— Excel as a computing tool
— Use models to derive solutions
— Use solutions to generate actionable insights
— It is not a programming course!
— Not Quantitative Methods, Management Science or Operations Research Course
— The art and Science of business modeling

What’s it all about?
— How will CAT benefit you?
— Develop your analytical skills for real world business problem solving
— Increase your competence with PC and exposure to software solutions

Course Outline
CourseOutline.pdf

— Duration:
— 12 weeks in total: Week 1 to 7, Week 9 to 13

— Assessments:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Class Attendance & Participation
Assignments (2x10%)
Pop Quizzes (2x5% each)
Team Project
Final Exams

5% + 10%
20%
10%
30%
25%

Course Schedule
Wk

Topic

Events

1

Basic Modeling in Excel

2

Spreadsheet Engineering

3

Functional Relationship

4

Data Lookup & Linkup

Due: Assignment 1

5

Monte-Carlo simulation

Project team formation

6

Time Related