Oregon State University

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BA 275 Quantitative Business Methods

Winter 2006, Sections 001 and 002

 

  

[Click here to download class material]

 

 

Instructor:

Ping-Hung Hsieh

Office:

Bexell 407

Office Phone:

737-4297

E-mail:

hsiehph@bus.orst.edu

Office Hours:

Monday 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Tuesday 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.

Wednesday 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

And by appointment

 

 

Course Description

Management decision processes utilizing statistical methods, use and application of probability concepts, sampling procedures, statistical estimation, and regression to the analysis and solution of such business problems as income and cost estimation, sales forecasting, performance evaluation, inventory analysis, and quality control.

 

Course Objectives

This course teaches quantitative methods used in data analysis and business decision making. Topics covered include: descriptive statistics, correlation and regression, hypothesis testing, statistical process control, and forecasting. Business applications of these techniques are emphasized. Students in this course will acquire expertise in computer-based methods for data analysis and decision making, through computer analysis of business datasets.

 

Upon completion of this course, students will understand and be able to use STATGRAPHICS PLUS to analyze business, economic and financial data with various statistical tools.  (The software can be obtained from Milne Computer Center.  Free of charge.)

 

Prerequisite

Math 245 (probability, probability distributions, etc.) and sophomore standing.

 

Text

·         Print Companion to Accompany CyberStats: An Introduction to Statistics (required).

·         A small packet available at the bookstore (required).

 

******  PLEASE BRING THE TEXT, THE PACKET  *****

******  AND A CALCULATOR TO EVERY CLASS   *****

 

Grading  Course scores will be computed as follows:

 

Quizzes

60

(7 quizzes at 10 points each.  One lowest quiz will be dropped.)

Projects

70

(3 group projects)

Midterm

80

(2 midterm exams at 40 points each.)

Final Exam

42

 

Cyberstats

48

(must complete and submit all 24 Cyberstats module assignments online by 5:00 p.m., Friday, March 17, 2006.  Each assignment is worth 2 points.)

 

            Grades will be assigned based on the following scale:        

275 – 300 = A

273 – 274.99 = A minus

270 – 272.99 = B plus

245 – 269.99 = B

243 – 244.99 = B minus

240 – 242.99 = C plus

215 – 239.99 = C

213 – 214.99 = C minus

210 – 212.99 = D plus

180 – 209.99 = D

No D minus

Below 180 = F

 

Important Matters

 

1.       You are expected to adhere to the Oregon State University rules for academic honesty.  These rules are stated in Academic Regulation.  You should be familiar with the statement.

2.       Students are expected to be honest and ethical in their academic work.  Academic dishonesty is defined as an intentional act of deception in one of the following areas:

  • Cheating: use or attempted use of unauthorized materials, information or study aids
  • Fabrication: falsification or invention of any information
  • Assisting: helping another commit an act of academic dishonesty
  • Tampering: altering or interfering with evaluation instruments and documents
  • Plagiarism: representing the words or ideas of another person as one’s own

3.       The goal of Oregon State University is to provide students with the knowledge, skill and wisdom they need to contribute to society.  Our rules are formulated to guarantee each student’s freedom to learn and to protect the fundamental rights of others.  People must treat each other with dignity and respect in order for scholarship to thrive.  Behaviors that are disruptive to learning will not be tolerated, and will be referred to the Office of the Dean of Students for disciplinary action.  Behaviors which create a hostile, offensive or intimidating environment based on gender, race, ethnicity, color, religion, age, disability, marital status or sexual orientation will be referred to the Affirmative Action Office.

4.       Students with documented disabilities who may need accommodations, who have any emergency medical information the instructor should know of, or who need special arrangements in the event of evacuation, should make an appointment with the instructor as early as possible, no later than the first week of the term.  In order to arrange alternative testing, the student should make the request at least one week in advance of the test.  Students seeking accommodations must register with the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities.

5.       Quizzes: No make-up quizzes will be given for any reason.  Period.   Midterm Exams and Final Exam: No make-up exams will be given and the student will receive zero points on the exam missed unless the instructor is notified in advance and an acceptable written excuse or official verification is presented prior to rescheduling the exam.

6.       Computer Projects: all projects are due at the beginning of the class on the specified date.  Two points will be deducted if you miss the deadline (e.g., you turn it in after the class on the due date.)  Two points will be deducted every 24 hours after the due date until you  turn in the project.

7.      Regular class attendance is strongly encouraged.  If you miss class, it is your responsibility to pick up missed handouts, etc.

8.      No communication devices of any type are allowed in the classroom.  Please turn off your cell phone before entering the classroom.

 

CLASS SCHEDULE

 

Statistics is the science of data.  It involves collecting, classifying, summarizing, organizing, analyzing, and interpreting numerical information.

 

Week 1. Exploring Data (1/ 9, 1/11)

Topics:

Housekeeping

Introduction to Statistics

Descriptive Statistics and Graphical Methods

  • Quiz #1 on 1/11 in class

 

CyberStats:

A-1, A-4, A-5

Week 2. Exploring Data (1/16, 1/18)

Topics:

Descriptive Statistics and Graphical Methods

Binomial Distribution

·         Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Observed, no class on 1/16.

  • Quiz #2 on 1/18 in class

 

CyberStats:

A-5, A-6, A-9, B-7

Week 3.  Experiencing Random Behavior (1/23, 1/25)

Topics:

Binomial Distribution

Normal Distribution

  • Quiz #3 on 1/25 in class
  • Computer Project 1 is due on Wednesday 1/25.

 

CyberStats:

B-7, B-9

Week 4.  Experiencing Random Behavior (1/30,  2/ 1)

Topics:

Normal Distribution

Sampling Distribution of the Statistic

  • 1st midterm exam @ 2/ 1 in class.  No quiz this week.

 

CyberStats:

B-11, B-12

Week 5.  Drawing Conclusions from Data (2/ 6,  2/ 8)

Topics:

Statistical Inference: Confidence Intervals

  • Quiz #4 on 2/ 8 in class

 

CyberStats:

B-12, C-1, C2

Week 6.  Drawing Conclusions from Data (2/13,  2/15)

Topics:

Statistical Inference: Hypothesis Testing

  • Quiz #5 on 2/15 in class

 

CyberStats:

C-3, C-4

Week 7.  Drawing Conclusions from Data (2/20 ,  2/22)

Topics:

Statistical Inference about a Population Proportion

Statistical Inference about Two Populations

  • Quiz #6 on 2/22 in class

 

CyberStats:

C-6, C-7, C-8

Week 8.  Modeling Relationships (2/27,  3/ 1)

Topics:

Simple Linear Regression

  • Computer Project 2 is due on Monday 2/27.
  • 2nd midterm exam @ 3/ 1 in class.  No quiz this week.

 

CyberStats:

A-7, A-8, D-1, D-2

Week 9.  Modeling Relationships (3/ 6,  3/ 8)

Topics:

Simple Linear Regression

Multiple Regression

  • Quiz #7 on 3/ 8 in class

 

CyberStats:

D-2, D-3, D-4

Week 10. Testing Qualitative Variables (3/13,  3/15)

Topics:

Multiple Regression

Chi-Squared Test of a Contingency Table

·         No quiz this week
  • CyberStats modules are due by 5:00 p.m., Friday, 3/17.
  • Computer Project 3 is due at 407 Bexell, by 5:00 p.m., Friday, 3/17.

 

CyberStats:

D-3, D-4, B-13, C-10

Finals Week (3/22)

  *** Final exam @ 7:30 a.m., Wednesday, 3/22 (Comprehensive, Room: TBA).  You will receive zero points if you cannot take the examination at the scheduled date and time for ANY reason.  See Important Matters #5.

 

 

 

Using Cyberstats

 

A.  Registration 

 

1.      Point your web browser to http://www.thomsonedu.com/thomsonnow, and click “Create an Account.”

2.      Select “Student”

3.      Change Location to Oregon and enter Oregon State University in the School name box.  Click Search.

4.      Select OREGON STATE UNIV BUS STATS ( Corvallis , OR ).  Do not choose OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY (Corvallis, OR).  Click Continue.

5.      Select Course Key and Content Access Code. 

 

Your Content Access code comes with the textbook you purchased from the bookstore.

Your Course Key code is   

E-5RBSHU4X99T4N (for Section 001), and  

 

E-Y7N5SMXEE96BB (for Section 002.)

 

6.      Click Continue and follow the ensuing instructions.

7.      Click on the “Course Materials” tab.  If you’ve successfully registered your CyberStats content access code, you should see the CyberStats icon on the page.  Click on the icon to enter CyberStats.

 

 

B.   Taking a Cyberstats session

 

1.      Go to http://www.thomsonedu.com/thomsonnow and click Sign In.

2.      Make sure the school name is still OREGON STATE UNIV BUS STATS (shown a few lines above the E-mail Address box.)  If not, change the school name.

3.      If the school name is correct, enter your registered e-mail address and password.

4.      Click on the “Course Materials” tab.  Click on the CyberStats icon to start a CyberStats session.