03 Jan 6. What are some of

COM315 Decision Support Systems

Module 1 Discussion

1. What is the difference between a deterministic variable versus a probabilistic variable?

2. What makes one model deterministic and another model probabilistic? Give examples.

3. Identify and discuss the steps in the decision modeling process. Give examples.

4. Please select topic (not identified above topics) from the assigned chapter reading.

Please try your best not to use outside sources to paste into your discussion.

the purpose of these discussion to see that students are learning/grasping the material being presented from the chapter reading.

COM315 Decision Support Systems

Module 2 Discussion

Please use one of the following discussion questions to discuss. Unless, off course, all questions have been discussed.

1)In Ch7 intro and section 7-1, in one to two paragraphs, summarize how the ‘simplex method’ is used and why?

2)In Ch7 section 7-2, describe Step1 of the Simplex Solution Steps.

3)In Ch7, section 7-2, describe Step2 of the Simplex Solution Steps.

4)In Ch7, section 7-2, describe Step3 of the Simplex Solution Steps.

5)In Ch7, section 7-2, describe Step4 of the Simplex Solution Steps.

6)In Ch7, section 7-2, describe Step5 of the Simplex Solution Steps.

7)In Ch7, section 7-2, explain why the Second Simplex Tableau is needed?

8)In Ch7, section 7-2, explain why the Third Simplex Tableau is needed?

9)In ch7, section 7-3, explain the purpose of ‘surplus variable’

10)In ch7, section 7-3, explain the purpose of ‘artificial variable’

11)In ch7, section 7-4, select topic from ‘Solving Minimization Problems’ to discuss.

12)In ch7, section 7-5, what is an ‘Unbounded; solution and under what conditions is it possible?

13)In ch7, section 7-5, what is an ‘Infeasibility’ solution and under what conditions is it possible?

14)In ch7, section 7-5, what is an ‘Degeneracy’ solution and under what conditions is it possible?

15)Explain the fact that a linear programming problem can have an infinite number of solutions.

16)What are the assumptions of a linear programming model?

COM315 Decision Support Systems

Module 3 Discussion

Chapter 8 talks about the financial advantages and applications in linear programming. Linear programming can be used to optimize the best allocation of a budget for the greatest return on investment while taking into consideration the demographic, geographic, economic factors while taking that decision. I wanted to find a real-life example, and I found out that Amazon uses linear programming to manage their warehouses. They’ve found a way to find items quickly. It’s actually quite chaotic. What this 95 second YouTube video to see how:

How Amazon Arranges Its Warehouses

COM315 Decision Support Systems

Module 4 Discussion

1. Explain how a change in resource availability can affect the optimal solution of a problem.

2. Explain how a change in an objective function coefficient can affect the optimal solution of a problem.

3. What is a sensitivity report? How is it used?

4. How do we detect the presence of alternative optimal solutions from a Solver Sensitivity Report?

5. What is the shadow price? Give an example. Why would a firm find information regarding the shadow price of a resource useful?

6. Explain binding and non-binding constraints. How can you tell in the sensitivity report that a constraint is binding.

When all of the above have been selected, please review text chapter/section(s) assigned for module 4 to select a topic that has not been discussed.

COM315 Decision Support Systems

Module 5 Discussion

1. Explain the difference between a balanced transportation model and an unbalanced transportation model. How does the fact that a model is balanced or unbalanced affect the constraints of the model?

2. Explain the difference in the approaches in solving balanced and unbalanced transportation problems.

3. What is the enumeration approach to solving assignment models? Is it a practical way to solve 5 row x 5 column models? Why?

4. What is the minimum-spanning tree model? What types of problems can be solved using this type of model?

5. What is the maximal-flow model? What types of problems can be solved using this type of model?

6. What is a shortest path model? What type of problem can be solved using this type of model?

7. What is a flow balance constraint? How is it implemented at each node in a network?

When all above topics selected, then please select a topic (that has not be discussed) to discuss from section assigned for module 5.

COM315 Decision Support Systems

Module 6 Discussion

1. Compare the similarities and differences of linear programming (LP) and goal programming (GP).

2. What is the difference between pure and mixed Integer Programming (IP) problems? Which do you think is most common, and why?

3. What is meant by satisficing, and why is the term often used in conjunction with Goal Programming?

4. What are deviation variables? How do they differ from decision variables in traditional LP problems?

5. If you were the president of the college and were employing GP to assist in decision- making, what might your goals be? What kinds of constraints would you include in your model?

6. What does it mean to rank goals in GP? How does this affect the problemÕs solution?

7. Provide your own examples of problems where the objective is nonlinear and one or more constraints are nonlinear.

8. What are some of the questions that can be answered with project management?

9. What are the major differences between PERT and CPM?

10. What is an activity? What is an immediate predecessor?

11. Discuss what is meant by critical path analysis. What are critical path activities, and why are they important?

COM315 Decision Support Systems

Module 7 Discussion

1. Give an example of a good decision you made that resulted in a bad outcome. Also, give an example of a bad decision you made that resulted in a good outcome. Why was each decision good or bad?

2. What is an alternative? What is an outcome?

3. Discuss the differences between decision making under uncertainty and decision making under risk and explain what decision making strategies are used in each situation.

4. What is the EMV? Give an example.

5. What is the difference between the EVPI and the EV with PI?

6. Explain Opportunity Loss and give an example.

7. What is the purpose of Bayesian analysis? Describe how you would use Bayesian analysis in the decision-making process.

8. What is Utility Theory and how is it used?

9. What is a queuing problem? What are the components of a queuing system?

10. What are the assumptions underlying common queuing models?

11. Describe the important operating characteristics of a queuing system.

12. Describe three situations in which the FIFO discipline rule is not applicable in queuing analysis.

13. Explain what is meant by a finite or limited waiting line. Provide four examples.

14. Do you think the Poisson distribution is a good estimation of arrival rates in the following queuing systems? Defend your position in each case>

a. School cafeteria

b. Barbershop

c. DentistsÕ office

d. College class

e. Movie theater

15. What ’s the difference between single-server and single-phase? Give an example of each.

16. What is Kendall notation? Give some examples.

17. Explain the costs associated with a queue. Explain the typical relationship between these costs.

COM315 Decision Support Systems

Module 8 Discussion

1. What is the difference between a casual model and a time-series model?

2. What is the meaning of least squares in a regression model?

3. What are some of the problems and drawbacks of the moving average forecasting model?

4. What effect does the value of the smoothing constant have on the weight given to the past forecast and the past observed value?

5. Why wouldn’t a company always store large quantities of inventory to eliminate shortages and stock outs?

6. What are some of the assumption made in using the EOQ model?

7. What is the ROP? How is it determined?

8. What assumptions are made in the EPQ model?

9. What happens to the EPQ model when the daily production rate becomes very large?

10. Describe what is involved in solving a quantity discount problem.

11. Discuss the methods used to determine safety stock when the stock out cost is known and when the stock out cost is unknown.