51348 OPTIMISATION APPLICATIONS I

Year	No.	Offer	Mode	Description			Cred. Pts
01	51348 	S1  	D 	OPTIMISATION APPLICATION I	1.00

Contents

• Staffing
• Pre-requisite(s)
• Synopsis
• Objectives
• Topics
• Texts
• Reference Materials
• Student Workload
• Assessment Details
• Other Requirements

STAFFING:

PRE-REQUISITE(S)

51340

SYNOPSIS:

This  unit,  together  with  51349,  covers  the  Operations  Research
techniques  and algorithms which are most commonly used  in  business.
These   methods  are  presented  primarily  as  applications,  without
neglecting  the  mathematical understanding of  their  operation.  The
emphasis  is  on  formulation of problems, and the  interpretation  of
solutions obtained from an appropriate computer software package.

OBJECTIVES:

Completion of this unit will enable students to:

1. Formulate business problems in mathematical terms.
   
2. Choose the appropriate technique for a particular problem.
   
3. Identify the requirements use of the different techniques
   covered in this unit, in terms of information.
   
4. Use software calculation, as appropriate, to derive solutions
   to business-related problems.
   
5. Interpret the mathematical and computer solutions from the
   algorithms in business terms.
   
6. Present management reports incorporating the solutions and the
   information derived from the above.
   

TOPICS:

 Description                                                    Weighting(%)

Formulating business information as mathematical                      5.00
equations. The meaning of variables and constraints.

Linear Programming. Standard form and the Simplex method              20.00
of solution.

Computers in LP formulation and solution.                             5.00

Interpretation of solution output. Sensitivity Analysis               20.00
and the use of Duality.

Integer programming and mixed linear programming.                     20.00

Special-case linear programming. The transportation and               15.00
assignment algorithms.

Other special cases. Network optimisation algorithms.                 15.00

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed:

Smith, B. & Summers, J. (eds) 1997, Faculty of Business Communication
Skills Handbook, 2nd edn, Faculty of Business, USQ, Toowoomba, Qld.

USQ External Study Package

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the unit and enrich their learning experience.

Eppen G D & Gould F J & Schmidt C P, 1993 Introductory Management
Science, 4th ed, Prentice-Hall Inc, New Jersey.

Winston W L, 1994, Operations Research: Applications and Algorithms,
3rd ed, Belmont, Calif: Duxbury Press.

Lee S M, Moore L J & Taylor B W, 1990, Management Science, 3rd ed,
Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

Any text in Management Science or Operations Research will be useful

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS:

	ACTIVITY				HOURS
Directed Study                                	33
Private Study                                 	87
Assessments                                   	45

ASSESSMENT DETAILS:

No  *F/S Marks     Due        Description                              Wtg(%)    LBL WWW
1   S              19/03/01  ASSIGNMENT 1                                        Y   N
2   S              30/04/01  ASSIGNMENT 2                              35.00     Y   N
3   S              04/06/01  ASSIGNMENT 3                              15.00     Y   N
4   S    60.00     END S1    EXAMINATION 3 HOURS                       50.00     N   N

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

1    1    To obtain a pass in this unit the student must obtain 50% in
     aggregate  in  the assignments, and 50% in the  examination.   To
     obtain  a higher grade the student must perform at a commensurate
     level  in  both  assignments  and examination.   The  appropriate
     levels  are  set out in the following extract from the University
     Handbook.
     High  Distinction  - HD - Students assigned a `High  Distinction'
     grade  will,  in  addition  to  the  passing  requirements,  have
     demonstrated  achievement of all objectives at an extremely  high
     level, or achievement of most objectives at an outstanding  level
     of performance.
     Distinction  - A - Students assigned a `Distinction' grade  will,
     in addition to the passing requirements, have demonstrated either
     achievement  of  some objectives at an extremely  high  level  of
     performance or achievement of a large number of objectives  at  a
     high level of performance.
     Credit  -  B - Students assigned a `Credit' grade shall have  met
     the  passing  requirements and will have demonstrated achievement
     of some objectives at a high level of performance.
     Pass   -  C  -  Students  assigned  a  `Pass'  grade  will   have
     demonstrated satisfactory levels of achievement in all objectives
     designated as essential for passing the unit.
2    The due date of an assignment is the date by which a student must
     despatch  the assignment to the University, and is normally  that
     defined  in the relevant unit specification. The onus is  on  the
     student to provide, if requested, proof of date of despatch.
3    Students  should organise their affairs to ensure that they  meet
     due  dates  for all assignments. Extensions will be granted  only
     under exceptional extenuating circumstances, normally involving a
     significant medical condition.
4    Students  may  apply  for  an  assignment  extension  either   by
     application  through  DEC before the due  date  or  by  including
     application  with the submitted assignment after  the  due  date.
     Such  applications  should be in writing and  include  supporting
     documentary evidence. The authority for granting extensions rests
     with the relevant Unit Leader.
5    All  assignments  despatched after due dates without  appropriate
     extension  approvals or after approved extension  dates  will  be
     penalised  up to a maximum of 20% of the assigned mark  per  work
     day.
6    Students  must  retain a copy of all assignments  which  must  be
     provided if/when required by the Unit Leader.
7    Unit  weightings of topics should not be interpreted as  applying
     to  the  number  of  marks allocated to questions  testing  those
     topics in an examination paper.